Narrating Childhood in Indian English
Children’s Literature: A Study of the Panchatantra and the
Jataka Tales
Santosh Shivayogi Hadimani
ABSTRACT
Indian English children's literature holds an
important place in the cultural and literary history of India. It
reflects evolving ideas about childhood, morality, identity, and
social responsibility. Some of the earliest and most influential
storytelling traditions that shaped Indian childhood are the
Panchatantra and the Jataka Tales. These texts blend entertainment
with moral lessons, imagination, and cultural values through
engaging stories that continue to impact generations of readers.
This article looks at the historical development of Indian
children's literature and explores how the Panchatantra and the
Jataka Tales helped form the concept of childhood in India. By
analyzing selected stories, the study examines how fantasy, moral
education, cultural identity, and social learning shape childhood
experiences. The article suggests that these classic narratives
remain relevant in today's India because they preserve cultural
memory while adjusting to changing social and literary environments.
Keywords: Childhood, Indian English children's literature,
Panchatantra, Jataka Tales.
