Indian myths and modernity: Their application in Tagore, Anand, and Narayan’s selected short stories

Abstract

Indian myths have long served as a source of inspiration for Indian literature because they are ingrained in epics, folklore, and religious traditions. These myths are not just preserved in contemporary Indian short fiction; they are also reimagined, challenged, and incorporated into the present. This essay explores how myth and modernity interact in nine chosen short stories by R.K. Narayan (God and the Cobbler, The Cursed Land, Under the Banyan Tree), Mulk Raj Anand (The Legend of the Sacred Thread, The Idol Breaker, The Parrot in the Cage), and Rabindranath Tagore (The Hungry Stones, The Devotee, The Victory). The study looks into the ways in which each author uses myth to examine spirituality, social change, and cultural continuity.
Tagore frequently uses mystical and legendary aspects to delve into philosophical issues and human psychology. The Victory uses mythological justice to address moral triumph; The Devotee explores the fine line between religion and fanaticism; and The Hungry Stones uses Persian-Mughal legend to explore obsession and memory. Anand takes a critical and reformist stance; The Parrot in the Cage criticizes gender inequality ingrained in tradition, The Idol Breaker questions idol worship, and The Legend of the Sacred Thread reveals caste-based customs. The Cursed Land examines rural superstition, God and the Cobbler depicts heavenly intervention in a humble man’s life, and Under the Banyan Tree honours storytelling as a divine gift. Narayan’s writing style skillfully incorporates myth into ordinary life.
This study illustrates how Tagore employs myth for introspection, Anand uses it for societal critique, and Narayan uses it for cultural affirmation through qualitative textual analysis bolstered by thematic mapping. The results show that myth is still a dynamic, flexible framework for addressing the existential, cultural, and moral issues facing contemporary India rather than being an archaic narrative form.