This volume of critical essays is derived from a panel presentation entitled ‘Indian English Fiction: New Themes and Trends, 2000-2010’, organised by Dr. Rituparna Roy and presented on April 1 at the Joint AAS/ICAS Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii (March 31-April 3, 2011). The organiser's intention had been to make the panel presentation the core of an edited volume. The enthusiastic response from the audience, marked by lively discussion after the presentations, consolidated this idea. It was decided that the volume would be co-edited by Dr. Rituparna Roy and Professor Krishna Sen, one of the participants in the panel. Apart from the original panelists, eminent scholars from across the globe were invited to contribute, and all of them readily agreed, since the proposed volume seeks to address issues that are both contemporary and relevant.

The editors are honoured that this book will be included in the ICAS series, as this enables them to contribute to a global discourse on the literature, culture, history and politics of Asia.

The editors would like to acknowledge and thank Dr. Paul van der Velde and Ms. Martina van den Haak of the International Institute for Asian Studies, Leiden, for their immense support and valuable guidance that greatly facilitated completion of this project.