Novels That Were Not Written for the Masses...

1. Many exceptional Indian language books are critically acclaimed but rarely read.
2. These works are not written for mass appeal, and often miss a wide readership despite literary depth.
3. Themes may be too philosophical, experimental, political, or esoteric for mainstream audiences.
4. Language complexity, lack of translations, and marketing gaps worsen visibility.
5. Are they hitting their intended niche audience, or are they lost in echo chambers?

Is there any specific reason why such brilliance meets obscurity, and why?

“Great Book, But Who’s Reading It?”

As someone who has spent years combing through manuscripts, editing forgotten masterpieces, and explaining to marketing teams that “no, this book will not trend on Instagram,” I’ve developed a special fondness for a unique breed of Indian novels:

The literary underdogs.

Books that are brilliant but intentionally not ‘readable’, at least by conventional standards.

These are not your easy Sunday reads.

They weren’t designed to fly off bookshelves at airport kiosks.

They were written for self-expression, intellectual challenge, resistance, or linguistic experimentation.

And often… they’ve never truly reached their audience.

The Invisible Geniuses: A Language-Wise Peek

Marathi: “Udya” by Nanda Khare

1. Theme: Near-future techno-sociopolitical dystopia
2. Why it’s brilliant: Philosophical depth meets speculative fiction.
3. Why it’s not massy: Demands mental participation; no spoon-feeding.
4. Reality check: Widely respected in literary circles, almost absent in bookstores outside Maharashtra

Tamil: “Zero Degree” by Charu Nivedita

1. Theme: Autobiographical fiction, postmodern madness
2. Why it’s brilliant: Bold form, raw content, literary rebellion
3. Why it’s not massy: Non-linear narrative, heavy sexuality, unclassifiable genre
4. Recognition: Cult following abroad; taboo at home

Malayalam: “Aarachar” (Hangwoman) by K.R. Meera

1. Theme: Feminism, legacy, morality, power
2. Why it’s brilliant: Dense storytelling, psychological depth
3. Why it’s overlooked: Size (700+ pages), intense emotional engagement
4. Irony: International acclaim, but rarely recommended in Kerala’s college reading circles

Hindi: “Kalpana” by Krishna Sobti

1. Theme: Feminist thought, internal monologue
2. Why it’s brilliant: Experimental prose, intimate realism
3. Why it’s ignored: Not “entertaining,” demands concentration
4. Situation: Revered by scholars, unread by most Hindi readers under 30

Odia: “Chhamana Atha Guntha” by Fakir Mohan Senapati

1. Theme: Land, class, satire
2. Why it’s a pioneer: Among India’s first realist novels
3. Why it’s not viral: Language density, lack of accessible editions
4. Reality: Studied in lit departments, forgotten outside them

Bangla: “Herbert” by Nabarun Bhattacharya

1. Theme: Death, atheism, society vs. self
2. Why it’s unique: Political literature that’s both absurd and real
3. Why it’s obscure: Anti-mainstream by design, ideologically dense
4. Cultural status: Revered in Kolkata intellectual circles, unknown in Barasat

Assamese:“Mereng” by Phanindra Dev Goswami

1. Theme: Post-colonial identity, loss, isolation
2. Why it matters: Stylistic innovation, regional relevance
3. Why it struggles: Lack of marketing, no translation
4. Where it stands: Lost jewel in Assamese literary treasure chest

So, Why Are These Books Written If They Won’t Sell?

Let’s get real. Writers of these books aren’t targeting airport bookstores.

Here’s why they write:

1. Artistic Integrity - They’re writing for the page, not the praise.
2. Linguistic Preservation - Some books exist to preserve a dialect, phrase, or syntax that’s otherwise vanishing.
3. Resistance Literature - Written as defiance against the system, structure, or language of power.
4. Experimentation & Evolution - Every literary ecosystem needs mad scientists.

These books test form, break rules, and expand the boundaries of what Indian literature can be.

But... Who’s Reading These Books?

That’s where things fall apart. Often, these books don’t even reach their intended audience.

Lack of translations - A brilliant Tamil novel can’t reach a Bangla reader unless translated. And let’s face it—most aren’t.

Lack of accessible language - When a book reads like a research paper, you’re losing 90% of potential readers.

Lack of marketing - Forget social media. Many of these books haven’t even received a basic press release or a mention on a website.

Incompatible retail models - Traditional bookshops prioritize high turnover titles. These works are too slow, too niche, too ‘serious’.

The Market That’s Missing

There is a target audience, BUT:

1. They are unaware that the book exists.
2. Or the price tag is too high for students, or no one referred to these books in the courses or as a part of research work.
3. Or they prefer digital, but the book is only in out-of-print hardcovers.
4. Or they read English, but no translation is available

So the book becomes a cultural rumour rather than a reading reality.

One of my conversations with one such reader, to whom I referred a book,

“I picked up this book at a literary fest. You told it’s a metaphor for modern silence.”

“How is it?”

“Well... I’ve been silently looking at page 17 for three weeks now.”

And then I was thinking...

Sometimes, the book is brilliant.

Sometimes, the blurb is the only thing most people ever read.