• DR. RANU KHARELIYA

This paper examines Indian English drama as a literary and performative form that intertwines aesthetics with the social fabric of India. While Indian poetry and fiction in English gained visibility early, drama struggled to establish itself, primarily due to the absence of a robust theatrical infrastructure in English. Yet, the genre evolved into a powerful medium for articulating social concerns, addressing issues such as caste, gender, politics, urban alienation, and cultural identity. By analyzing works of seminal playwrights like Asif Currimbhoy, Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad, and Mahesh Dattani, this study investigates how Indian English drama engages with the theatre of social realities, functioning both as a mirror of societal contradictions and as a catalyst for change. The paper also interrogates the role of performance, audience reception, translation, and globalization in shaping the trajectory of Indian English drama.

Indian Drama, Social Realities, Postcolonial Theatre, Gender, Identity,

" Indian English Drama and the Theatre of Social Realities", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 10, page no.g530-g534, October-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2410662.pdf

" Indian English Drama and the Theatre of Social Realities", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 10, page no. ppg530-g534, October-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2410662.pdf