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Abstract
Nissim Ezekiel, the founder and father of modern Indian English poetry was born in a Jewish family on 16 Dec 1924. He is accepted as main poet in the history of Indian English Poetry. K.N. Daruwalla rightly says; “Nissim Ezekiel was the first Indian poet to express modern Indian sensibility in a modern idiom.” Indianness is an important element and a major theme in the poetry of Nissim Ezekiel. He uses English language skillfully as medium of expression in his poetry to create awareness about the Indian social problems. Nissim Ezekiel being the father of modern as well as post independence Indian English poetry has discussed Indianness in his poetry because he has declared his intentions to be rooted in India. The paper is an effort to known Indianness in the poetry and to know his deep rooted connections with Indian culture and its people. The Indian environment and culture provide the supernatural as well as the infrastructure for the post independence Indian English poetry. According to prof. V.K.Gokak Indianness is “A composite awareness in the matter of race, milieu, language and religion.” We can also say that it is one’s feeling of being Indian. Nissim Ezekiel is aware of Indian Social reality. His poems are marked with romantic mood and a reasonable description of Indian milieu. Ezekiel is called the poet of typical Indian environment.