Absurdity and Existential Crisis in Modern Indian Fiction: Reimagining the Absurd in a Postcolonial Context

The concept of absurdity, central to twentieth-century existential philosophy, describes the tension between humanity's search for meaning and the apparent indifference of the universe. Although the philosophy of the absurd is commonly associated with European thinkers such as Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre, similar existential concerns emerge in modern Indian fiction. This article explores how selected Indian writers reinterpret absurdity within the socio-cultural and philosophical frameworks of postcolonial India. Through an analysis of the works of Anita Desai, O. V. Vijayan, and R. K. Narayan, the study argues that Indian narratives transform absurdity into a culturally mediated experience shaped by spiritual traditions, historical change, and psychological introspection. Rather than presenting absurdity as a purely nihilistic condition, these writers engage with existential questions through narrative forms that integrate philosophical inquiry with cultural memory.