States » EastPosted at: Oct 28 2026 5:50PM


300 years on, Gulliver’s Travels continues to find a place in schoolbags and bookshelves

By Nayanika Samanta
Kolkata, Oct 28 (UNI) Three hundred years after Anglo Irish satirist and clergyman Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels first appeared in print, the book continues to capture the imagination of schoolchildren in Kolkata, even as its appeal to adult readers is largely linked to academic interest or a desire to introduce the next generation to a literary classic.
Published in 1726, the novel chronicles Lemuel Gulliver’s voyages to unfamiliar lands, where he encounters societies that challenge his understanding of the world. While younger readers are often drawn to its fictional adventures, the book's underlying critique of politics, power and human behaviour has kept it relevant to literary scholars.
Arijit Nandi, a PhD scholar in English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University in Canada, said the novel's continuing relevance is rooted in its ability to challenge assumptions about society and governance.
"When Swift wrote the novel in the early eighteenth century, he was calling into question the sanctity of political institutions and the epistemological foundations of English society with his satire. It was indeed rare for an author of that period to critique the most hallowed aspects of English culture, including reason, rationality and parliamentary governance. Looking back, while living in the legacy of the British Empire, we realise how trenchant that criticism was," Nandi observed sharing his perception with UNI.
He pointed to the contrast between the portrayal of Lilliputians, whose political rivalries overshadow ordinary social relationships, and the king of Brobdingnag, who is appalled by Gulliver's account of English warfare. Through Gulliver’s encounters with different civilisations, the author exposes the absurdities that people often fail to recognise in their own society.
Nandi believes these concerns remain relevant even today, particularly at a time when misinformation, political divisions and the influence of mass media shape public opinion.
The book's evolution into a children's classic came later. According to the 32-year-old scholar, "The book's transition into children's literature began in the late eighteenth century, when publishers started bringing out shorter, simpler versions for younger readers. Later, during the Victorian era, many editions left out passages which included sexual references and scatological humour considered unsuitable for young readers, along with parts of Swift’s political satire. Consequently, the novel became widely regarded as an adventure classic, with its satirical edge receiving less attention."
At Das Gupta & Company Private Limited, a Kolkata bookseller with a 140-year history, the novel continues to sell regularly, according to Arabindo Dasgupta. “We sell at least four to five copies a week. Students from English-medium schools, from Classes IV to VIII, read the book. We also recommend it highly."
Adult readership remains limited, Dasgupta said, adding that many grown-ups buy the book for children in their families. Readers familiar with the book often encourage younger generations to read it.
An employee at Kolkata's Kotha O Kahini bookshop said the book was popular among students in Classes VII to X. Since schools follow different syllabuses, students often look for the particular edition recommended by their institution. Adult purchases are less frequent and are generally driven by academic requirements, such as college reading lists.
"It's mostly difficult to assess the demand for Gulliver's Travels owing to the emergence of different e-commerce websites; despite this, it should be noted that people still come to us looking for this particular book even after ages have passed," the employee added.
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