Existential Consciousness and Modern Disillusionment in Arun Joshi’s Novels

  • Unique Paper ID: 190017
  • PageNo: 4006-4010
  • Abstract:
  • Arun Joshi stands as a prominent voice in Indian English fiction, celebrated for his deeply introspective storytelling that explores the inner turmoil of modern individuals. His novels are characterized by profound existential concerns, capturing the sense of dislocation and psychological unrest experienced by people navigating the crossroads of tradition and modernity. Set against the backdrop of a society undergoing rapid cultural transformation and globalization, Joshi’s protagonists frequently emerge as alienated, emotionally estranged figures searching for meaning and identity in an increasingly impersonal world. This study carries out a critical analysis of existentialism and alienation as central themes in Joshi’s key novels The Foreigner, The Strange Case of Billy Biswas, The Apprentice, and The Last Labyrinth. The exploration of psychological intricacies of his characters, the study reveals how Joshi raises fundamental existential questions related to selfhood, freedom, and spiritual desolation. Further, the research highlights how Joshi integrates elements of Western existentialist philosophy with Indian metaphysical traditions, resulting in a unique narrative approach that enriches the landscape of Indian English literature.

Copyright & License

Copyright © 2026 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{190017,
        author = {Neha Singh and Dr. Krishna Murari Singh},
        title = {Existential Consciousness and Modern Disillusionment in Arun Joshi’s Novels},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {8},
        pages = {4006-4010},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=190017},
        abstract = {Arun Joshi stands as a prominent voice in Indian English fiction, celebrated for his deeply introspective storytelling that explores the inner turmoil of modern individuals. His novels are characterized by profound existential concerns, capturing the sense of dislocation and psychological unrest experienced by people navigating the crossroads of tradition and modernity. Set against the backdrop of a society undergoing rapid cultural transformation and globalization, Joshi’s protagonists frequently emerge as alienated, emotionally estranged figures searching for meaning and identity in an increasingly impersonal world. This study carries out a critical analysis of existentialism and alienation as central themes in Joshi’s key novels The Foreigner, The Strange Case of Billy Biswas, The Apprentice, and The Last Labyrinth. The exploration of psychological intricacies of his characters, the study reveals how Joshi raises fundamental existential questions related to selfhood, freedom, and spiritual desolation. Further, the research highlights how Joshi integrates elements of Western existentialist philosophy with Indian metaphysical traditions, resulting in a unique narrative approach that enriches the landscape of Indian English literature.},
        keywords = {Arun Joshi, Indian English Literature, Existentialism, Alienation, Psychological conflict, Identity crisis, Modernity and tradition, Spiritual emptiness, Inner disintegration.},
        month = {January},
        }

Cite This Article

Singh, N., & Singh, D. K. M. (2026). Existential Consciousness and Modern Disillusionment in Arun Joshi’s Novels. International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology (IJIRT), 12(8), 4006–4010.

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