To chart this, Chaudhuri attempts to define a separate Indian modernity through the actions of its literate middle class over the years, particularly that of the Bengal Renaissance; to reevaluate Indian writing in the vernacular; and to look at the texts of those who pre-date the “boom” in Indian-English writing. Thus, there are essays that offer perspectives on writers such as Nirad C. Chaudhuri, R.K. Narayan, Michael Madhusudan Dutt, Jibanananda Das and, of course, arch Bengali humanist Rabindranath Tagore.
In expressing unease with the triumphalist narratives of India’s rise, and glib theories of what Indians ought to be writing about, Chaudhuri favours delicacy, nuance and the minutiae of the everyday — which, of course, are the qualities that distinguish his own novels and stories. These are reminders that the house of fiction, with its foundations in India or elsewhere, ought to contain many rooms, and not just one great hall for the majority.
However, many of the essays, though thought-provoking, are couched in concepts borrowed from poststructural and postcolonial studies that make them heavy going for the lay person. These are offset by a few others that offer autobiographical vignettes, such as his move to Bombay with his parents when he was a child, his life in Oxford and his return to Calcutta. Readers of Chaudhuri’s earlier works will find themselves on familiar ground. Also of note is a piece on the stasis of what’s called fusion music as well as some astute observations on the commonalities and differences between Bollywood and Hollywood.

Despite the insights on offer, one can’t help but feel a sense of datedness about the collection. The earliest of these essays was written 14 years ago, and when it comes to Indian writing in English, much has changed. Yes, Midnight’s Children did cast a gigantic — and well-deserved — shadow, but those who came after Rushdie have by now emerged in their own light, with Vikram Chandra and Amitav Ghosh being merely two examples.
However, the triumphalism referred to earlier is clearly on the ascendant, not just in the discourse of fiction but in every other sphere, be it economic performance or Olympic medals. It’s in this context that Clearing A Space is a necessary reminder of the worth of alternative ways of seeing and relating.