Popular Versus Literary – A False Divide? Rethinking Genre through the Novels of Kate Atkinson

Sonal Priyadarshini

Abstract

Scholars, critics, and publishers have treated popular and literary fiction as two very different kinds of writing for years. This paper attempts to scrutinize that timeless divide by exploring the novels of British contemporary author Kate Atkinson. From her prize-winning debut novel ‘Behind the Scenes at the Museum’ to her widely loved Jackson Brodie detective series and bold and valiant experiments like ‘Life After Life’, Atkinson displays that powerful storytelling, rich style, and extensive appeal can go hand in hand. Drawing from genre theory and reception studies, this paper contends that Atkinson’s work disputes the conventional hierarchies of “high” and “low” literature. Her fiction challenges us to rethink how we define quality, purpose, and audience in contemporary writing. Ultimately, the study concludes that the distinction between popular and literary fiction is less about artistic merit or skill and more about the cultural assumptions shaped by institutions and the book market.

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Published: June 2025 [Vol. 08, No. 06]

Connecting East through Myanmar: An Assessment of India’s Kaladan Project

Dr. Arundhati Sharma, Himani Sharma 

Abstract 

The Kaladan Project, one of India’s costliest investments on foreign soil was conceived as a part of India’s Look East Policy rechristened as Act East Policy in 2014. It aimed to promote seamless integration between India’s North Eastern Region and the Chin and Rakhine states of Myanmar which have for the most part of their post-independence history experienced developmental deficits. The Kaladan Project was greenlighted in 2008 at an initial estimated cost of Rs. 535.91 crore. This amount subsequently saw an upward revision to Rs. 2904.04 crore by 2015. This paper seeks to make an economic assessment of India’s Kaladan Project within Myanmar. To achieve this a descriptive-analytical framework has been used based on the analysis of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources covered in the study include Indian government reports, primarily the Standing Committee reports, the Outcome Budgets of the Ministry of External Affairs and interviews with anonymous government officials. Secondary data has been collected through books, websites and articles. The study finds that the grants-in-aid nature of the Kaladan Project makes it extremely lucrative for Myanmar given that the country is in need of heavy infrastructure investment to stimulate its economic growth. It also places New Delhi as an effective alternative to Beijing’s dubious financial practices under the China Myanmar Economic Corridor. However, for India to emerge as a credible connectivity partner for its immediate and extended neighbourhoods, it needs to deliver large-scale projects within estimated timelines without undue cost escalations. This will be critical for the success of India’s connectivity pillar under the Act East Policy.

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Published: June 2025 [Vol. 08, No. 06]