New Standard for the Excellent Literature

Literature has always been an important part of human life. It is not only about reading stories, poems, or novels, but also about learning values, culture, history, and emotions. In the past, the standard of excellent literature was based mostly on how beautifully the language was written, how unique the style was, and how deep the meaning was. Classics like Shakespeare, Kalidasa, Homer, or Tagore became examples of excellent literature because they touched the heart and mind of readers through words and imagination. But today the world has changed. The modern age is very fast, connected with technology, social media, and global culture. People are busier than before, and reading habits are also changing. Because of this, the new standard for excellent literature is also changing. It is not only about beautiful language, but also about usefulness, inclusiveness, accessibility, and the power to inspire action. In this essay, we will discuss what excellent literature meant in the past, how it is changing in the modern age, and what should be the new standards for calling any piece of writing “excellent literature.”

Old Standard of Excellent Literature

Earlier, excellent literature was judged by a few qualities. Let us see what they were:

1.Beauty of Language – The older literature was expected to have flowery words, rhythmic sentences, and poetic beauty. Writers like Milton, Wordsworth, or Kalidasa wrote in such a style.

2.Depth of Meaning – The old classics were filled with deep philosophy, moral lessons, and rich imagination. A story or poem was expected to teach wisdom or represent human struggles.

3.Cultural Value – Literature used to reflect the culture, religion, and traditions of society. For example, epics like the Mahabharata or Iliad preserved cultural values for centuries.

4.Uniqueness of Style – Writers had to create a new style or method of writing that made their work different from others.

5.Longevity – Excellent literature was supposed to last for generations. That is why we still read Shakespeare, Valmiki, or Dickens today.

These standards worked well in the past, but in the modern world, new expectations have arisen.

Why New Standards are Needed

The modern age is not the same as the past. There are many reasons why the old standards alone are not enough to judge excellent literature today:

1.Technology and the Internet – Now people read not only books but also blogs, e-books, online articles, and even social media posts. So literature has taken new forms.

2.Globalization – Literature is no longer limited to one nation or language. Writers from all over the world share their stories, so excellence must be judged on a global level.

3.Diversity of Voices – Earlier, only kings, nobles, or elite men got the chance to write. But today, women, minorities, common people, and even children are contributing. Their voices must also be recognized as excellent literature.

4.Practical Needs – Modern readers want literature not only for entertainment but also for guidance, self-improvement, and problem-solving.

5.Speed of Life – People have less time to read long, complicated books. They need clear, simple, and engaging literature.

Because of these reasons, we need to think of new standards for excellent literature.

New Standards for Excellent Literature

Let us now discuss what should be the new benchmarks for calling any writing “excellent literature” in the modern age.

1. Clarity and Simplicity

Excellent literature should be easy to understand. Complicated words and heavy language may look beautiful, but they push away common readers. Today’s excellent writing should use simple words while still carrying deep meaning.

2. Emotional Connection

Literature must touch the heart of readers. Whether it is a poem, a novel, or even a short blog, it should connect with human emotions like love, fear, hope, or courage.

3. Inclusiveness

Excellent literature should represent all sections of society. It should give space to women, marginalized groups, different cultures, and new perspectives.

4. Practical Usefulness

The best literature today is not only to enjoy but also to learn something useful. For example, self-help books, motivational stories, and biographies inspire action and growth.

5. Global Appeal

Since the world is connected, excellent literature must have a universal message. Even if written in a local language, its theme should touch people worldwide.

6. Moral Responsibility

Literature should guide readers towards truth, justice, peace, and humanity. Writing that spreads hate, lies, or harmful behavior cannot be called excellent.

7. Creativity and Innovation

Even though clarity is important, creativity must remain. New styles of storytelling, mixing of art forms (like graphic novels or digital literature), and experimenting with fresh ideas should be appreciated.

8. Accessibility

Excellent literature should reach everyone. Books, audiobooks, e-books, and even free access on the internet make literature democratic. If a work only reaches a few rich people, it cannot be fully excellent.

9. Cultural Preservation with Modern Relevance

Good literature should balance tradition and modernity. It should preserve cultural identity but also be relevant to current issues like environment, technology, gender equality, and peace.

10. Ability to Inspire Change

The greatest literature today is not just to read and forget, but to motivate readers to change their lives or the world for the better.

Examples of Modern Excellent Literature

Let us see some examples where new standards can be observed:

Autobiographies and Memoirs like Wings of Fire by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam inspire youth with real stories.
Self-help books like those of Robin Sharma or Stephen Covey guide readers in personal growth.
Social novels by writers like Arundhati Roy or Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie raise awareness about justice, gender, and equality.
Children’s literature like J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series teaches courage, friendship, and imagination in a simple style.
Digital literature such as blogs, online poetry, and web novels show creativity and reach millions easily.

These examples show that excellent literature today is not limited to one form or style but spreads across different platforms.

Challenges in Setting New Standards

While creating new standards, some challenges also come:

1.Over-commercialization – Many books are written only to sell, not to inspire.

2.Short attention span – Because of social media, people may lose patience for deep reading.

3.Language barrier – Global literature still faces the problem of translation and cultural differences.

4.Information overload – With millions of writings available online, it is difficult to decide what is truly excellent.

Despite these challenges, if we follow the new standards wisely, we can still recognize excellent literature.

Literature is like a mirror of human life. In every age, the definition of excellent literature has changed. In the past, it was about beauty of words, deep philosophy, and cultural greatness. Today, it is more about clarity, inclusiveness, emotional connection, usefulness, and inspiration.

The new standard for excellent literature is not to be limited by old traditions or narrow definitions. It should be broad, flexible, and open to all voices. It should encourage creativity, preserve culture, promote humanity, and inspire change.

In short, excellent literature in the modern world is that which reaches everyone, touches hearts, guides lives, and builds a better future for society.