POVERTY, EXPLOITATION AND GOVERNMENT MACHINERY IN POST- EMERGENCY INDIAN ENGLISH FICTION

Abstract

Post-Emergency Indian English fiction critically examines the socio-political condition of India during and after the Internal Emergency (1975–1977) imposed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Novels such as A Fine Balance, Midnight's Children and Unforeseen Desires portray the exploitation of the poor and powerless through various forms of government machinery including forced sterilization, slum clearance, police violence, and political manipulation. This article analyses how these novels represent the urban poor, lower caste communities, and helpless citizens as victims of both political authority and social hierarchy. By juxtaposing fictional narratives with contemporary socio-political contexts, the article argues that post-Emergency fiction reflects the anxiety, fear, and oppression experienced by common people during the period. The study further explores how state power and class dominance were exercised under the guise of poverty eradication, development, and discipline.