Nissim Ezekiel (1924–2004) is considered one of the foundational figures in Indian English poetry.
He is often called the "father of modern Indian English poetry" because he brought an urban, conversational style and Indian sensibility to English verse.
His poetry often reflects themes of Indian middle-class life, cultural identity, alienation, and human concerns, using English in a distinctly Indian way—sometimes deliberately incorporating Indianized expressions, grammatical quirks, and idioms.
The collection "Very Indian Poems in Indian English" is a series of humorous, satirical poems by Ezekiel where he mimics the way English is commonly spoken in India, blending humor, irony, and social commentary.
These poems reflect the linguistic peculiarities and mindset of the Indian middle class using English in a non-native style.
For example, one of his famous lines from this collection:
"I am standing for peace and non-violence.
Why world is fighting fighting?"
This playful, "Indianized" English was a tool for social satire and deeper cultural critique.
Year-wise PYQs
