Explore famous Indian literature translations in English, including Mahabharata, Ramayana, Tagore’s poetry, Premchand’s novels, Dalit literature, and modern social classics. Learn about epic tales, social justice works, and influential regional writings translated into English.

Famous Translations in English: Epics, Novels, and Social Classics

Introduction 

Indian literature, rich in epics, novels, poetry, and social narratives, has been translated into English to reach a global audience. From the timeless Mahabharata and Ramayana to the socially critical works of Premchand, Mahasweta Devi, and Bama, translations make India’s literary heritage accessible to readers worldwide. This post explores the most famous Indian literature translations in English, highlighting epics, caste-focused works, feminist narratives, and regional classics that are essential for students, researchers, and literature enthusiasts alike.

1. Homer’s Works

• Original: Greek

• Translations:

  • The Iliad – Translated by Robert Fagles, Richmond Lattimore, or Alexander Pope

  • The Odyssey – Translated by Robert Fagles, Emily Wilson

• Significance: These translations made ancient Greek epics accessible to modern readers while keeping poetic elegance.

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2. Virgil’s Aeneid

• Original: Latin

• Translations: By John Dryden, Robert Fagles

• Significance: A major classical epic translated into English verse, influencing English epic poetry.

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3. Dante Alighieri – The Divine Comedy

• Original: Italian

• Translations: By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Dorothy L. Sayers, Allen Mandelbaum

• Significance: Introduced readers to medieval Italian literature and theology.

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4. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe – Faust

• Original: German

• Translations: By Walter Kaufmann, Bayard Taylor

• Significance: Brought German Romantic drama and philosophical themes to English-speaking audiences.

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5. Leo Tolstoy – War and Peace / Anna Karenina

• Original: Russian

• Translations: By Constance Garnett, Louise and Aylmer Maude, Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky

• Significance: Tolstoy’s novels became classics of world literature in English through these translations.

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6. Fyodor Dostoevsky – Crime and Punishment / The Brothers Karamazov

• Original: Russian

• Translations: By Constance Garnett, David McDuff, Richard Pevear & Larissa Volokhonsky

• Significance: Introduced Dostoevsky’s psychological depth and philosophical themes to English readers.

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7. The Bhagavad Gita

• Original: Sanskrit

• Translations: By Swami Prabhupada, Eknath Easwaran, Juan Mascaró

• Significance: Made this central Hindu scripture accessible in English with philosophical insights.

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8. The Qur’an

• Original: Arabic

• Translations: By Abdullah Yusuf Ali, Marmaduke Pickthall, Muhammad Asad

• Significance: Provides English readers with access to Islamic religious and literary text.

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9. Chinese Classics

• Works: Tao Te Ching by Laozi, Analects by Confucius

• Translations: By James Legge, D.C. Lau, Stephen Mitchell

• Significance: Introduced Chinese philosophy and literature to the West.

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10. Japanese Literature

• Works: The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu

• Translation: By Arthur Waley, Royall Tyler

• Significance: The first great Japanese novel accessible in English, influential in world literature.

Indian

1. The Mahabharata

• Original: Sanskrit

• Famous Translations:

  • By C. Rajagopalachari (abridged)

  • By Kisari Mohan Ganguli (complete)

  • By Ramesh Menon (modern prose)

• Significance: One of India’s greatest epics, translated for both scholarly and general readership.

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2. The Ramayana

• Original: Sanskrit

• Famous Translations:

  • By R.K. Narayan (retelling)

  • By C. Rajagopalachari (abridged)

  • By William Buck (modern prose)

• Significance: Classic epic of Rama, Sita, and Hanuman, widely accessible in English.

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3. The Bhagavad Gita

• Original: Sanskrit

• Famous Translations:

  • By Swami Prabhupada

  • By Eknath Easwaran

  • By Juan Mascaró

• Significance: Philosophical and spiritual text, foundational in Indian thought.

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4. Kabir’s Poems

• Original: Hindi / Braj / Avadhi

• Famous Translations:

  • By Rabindranath Tagore (selected poems)

  • By Arvind Krishna Mehrotra

• Significance: Bhakti poetry of Kabir made accessible to English readers.

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5. Tulsidas – Ramcharitmanas

• Original: Awadhi

• Famous Translations:

  • By Hari Prasad Shastri

  • By Ralph Griffith (partial)

• Significance: Popular devotional text retold in English while preserving devotional tone.

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6. Kalidasa – Plays and Poetry

• Original: Sanskrit

• Famous Translations:

  • Shakuntala – By Arthur W. Ryder, C. Rajagopalachari

  • Meghaduta – By Arthur W. Ryder

• Significance: Classical Sanskrit poetry and drama made readable in English.

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7. Premchand – Short Stories and Novels

• Original: Hindi / Urdu

• Famous Translations:

  • By Gordon C. Roadarmel (Godaan, Nirmala)

  • By Alok Rai and others (selected short stories)

• Significance: Introduced Indian realism and social issues to English readers.

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8. Rabindranath Tagore – Gitanjali

• Original: Bengali

• Famous Translations:

  • By Rabindranath Tagore himself (won Nobel Prize in Literature, 1913)

• Significance: Translated his own Bengali poems into English, maintaining lyrical quality.

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9. R.K. Narayan – Regional Stories

• Original: Tamil / Kannada / English (originally English, but some stories adapted from regional tales)

• Significance: His works like Malgudi Days often adapted from local tales for wider English readership.

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10. Mulk Raj Anand – Short Stories

• Original: Hindi / English

• Significance: Though Anand wrote mostly in English, some of his Hindi works were translated into English to depict rural India and social realism.

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11. Modern Poets and Writers

• Mirza Ghalib (Urdu poetry) – Translations by Ralph Russell and Sarfaraz K. Niazi

• Faiz Ahmed Faiz (Urdu poetry) – Translations by Naomi Lazard

• Significance: Urdu ghazals and poems of Indian subcontinent accessible in English.

Dalit and marginalized literature translations.

1. B.R. Ambedkar – Writings

• Original: Marathi / English

• Famous Translations / Works in English:

  • Annihilation of Caste – Translated/edited by B.R. Ambedkar himself

• Significance: Critique of caste system; foundational text for Dalit studies and social reform literature.

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2. Jyotirao Phule – Writings

• Original: Marathi

• Famous Translations:

  • Gulamgiri (Slavery) – Translated into English

• Significance: Early critique of caste oppression and social injustice in India.

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3. Omprakash Valmiki – Joothan

• Original: Hindi

• Translation: Joothan: A Dalit Life – Translated by Arun Prabha Mukherjee

• Significance: Autobiographical work highlighting caste discrimination and Dalit identity.

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4. Urvashi Butalia / Bama

• Original: Tamil (Bama)

• Translation:

  • Karukku – Translated by Lakshmi Holmström

• Significance: Dalit women’s autobiography; caste, gender, and oppression.

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5. Mahasweta Devi – Short Stories

• Original: Bengali

• Famous Translations:

  • Breast Giver, Draupadi, Hajar Churashir Maa – Translated by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak and others

• Significance: Focus on tribal oppression, caste, gender, and marginalized communities.

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6. Bama / Dalit Literature

• Original: Tamil

• Other Works: Sangati, Vanmam – Translated by Lakshmi Holmström

• Significance: Explores caste oppression and Dalit women’s experiences in rural India.

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7. Arundhati Roy

• Original: English (but inspired by regional/caste issues)

• Works: The God of Small Things – deals with caste, untouchability, and social hierarchy

• Significance: Modern Indian fiction addressing caste in Kerala society.

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8. Phanishwar Nath Renu

• Original: Hindi

• Translation: Maila Anchal – Translated by Alok Rai, P. Lal

• Significance: Portrays caste, poverty, and rural social dynamics.

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9. Gopinath Mohanty

• Original: Odia

• Translation: Paraja – Translated by Bikram K. Das

• Significance: Explores tribal life and social inequalities in Odisha.

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10. Rabindranath Tagore

• Original: Bengali

• Translations / Stories Dealing with Social Issues:

  • The Home and the World – deals with nationalism, women, and societal constraints

  • Kabuliwala – reflects social inequalities and human emotions

Conclusion

Translations of Indian literature into English have bridged cultures, allowing readers worldwide to appreciate India’s rich storytelling traditions. From epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana to Dalit and social justice literature by Mahasweta Devi and Omprakash Valmiki, and modern novels by R.K. Narayan and Arundhati Roy, these translations preserve India’s literary heritage while making it accessible. Studying these works not only enhances literary understanding but also offers insights into India’s social, cultural, and historical fabric.