AUSTRALIAN LITERARY CONSCIOUSNESS (Pages 288-298) by Dr. Janaiah Saggurthi in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Contemporary Australian literature has redefined the Social and cultural identity of Australia. In the recent times, the prime ministers of Australia are urging their nation to redefine the Australian identity by recognizing the essence of Aboriginal culture as the center of Australian identity. Paul John Keating, Howard John Winston, Kevin Michael Rudd have rendered unconditional apologies to the Aboriginals of Australia for the centuries of injustice and exploitation. The consciousness towards recognizing Aboriginals as the Natives of Australia has begun with Patrick White. Patrick white with his infinite literary contribution has provided considerable space to represent Aboriginal characters only to prove and illustrate the enigmatic character of Australia. He has paved the way for many of the white Australian writers to represent the Aboriginal culture. The depiction of Australian life by writers is really a breakthrough from the conventional portrayal of Aborigines as primitive and imputative. While the English in the Australian colonies were engaged in the process of self definition, the Aborigines were caught in the existential problems. The Aborigines who experienced negative treatment began to experience positive portrayals. All the writers have developed their appreciation for Aboriginal culture, myth and legend. Key Words: Aborigines, Exploitation, Primitive, Imputative, Identity, Portrayals, existential and Redefine.