Indian Literature: How Kalidas Reached Germany Kalidasa, the greatest poet of old India, became known in Europe in the last decade of the 18th century. At that time the English colonial rulers set up a centralised tax, law and administrative apparatus in the areas controlled by the East India Company which they had won since 1700 in their wars against the indian princes and against the French who had previously been in control. These areas covered more than half of all India, and all higher offices were occupied by Enghshmen.*2 Sir William Jones, a cultured man and representative of the enlightened bourgeoisie, took over the post of judge in the Supreme Court of Bengal in 1783. that old India had known the drama, the stage play. But in 1791, as the Jacobins-the revolutionary democrats-began to extend the revolution against the big landowners and the big bourgeoisie in France, Georg Forster, the Mainz Jacobin, produced his German prose translation of Jones’ English version of “Sakuntala”. “What more pleasant could man wish ? 2.
Ramayana The Ramayana (Sanskrit: रामायणम्।, Rāmāyaṇam, pronounced [rɑːˈmɑːjəɳəm]) is one of the great Hindu epics. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu literature (smṛti), considered to be itihāasa.[1] The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of Hinduism, the other being the Mahabharata.[2] It depicts the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like the ideal father, the ideal servant, the ideal brother, the ideal wife, and the ideal king. The name Ramayana is a tatpurusha compound of Rāma and ayana ("going, advancing"), translating to "Rama's Journey". The Ramayana consists of 24,000 verses in seven books (kāṇḍas) and 500 cantos (sargas),[3] and tells the story of Rama (an avatar of the Hindu supreme-god Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by Ravana, the king of Lanka (current day Sri Lanka). Thematically, the Ramayana explores human values and the concept of dharma.[4] Textual history and structure[edit] Period[edit] Characters[edit]
Shakuntala - Wikipedia Shakuntala writes to Dushyanta, painting by Raja Ravi Varma. Shakuntala despondent, painting by Raja Ravi Varma. In Hinduism Shakuntala (Sanskrit: Śakuntalā) is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharat. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by many writers, the most famous adaption being Kalidasa's play Abhijñānaśākuntala (The Sign of Shakuntala).[1] Etymology[edit] Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds (Sanskrit: शकुन्त, śakunta). In the Adi Parva of Mahabharata, Kanva says: She was surrounded in the solitude of the wilderness by śakuntas, therefore, hath she been named by me Shakuntala (Shakunta-protected). Legend[edit] King Dushyanta first encountered Shakuntala while travelling through the forest with his army. Shakuntala spent much time dreaming of her new husband and was often distracted by her daydreams. Variants[edit] Adaptations[edit] Theatre, literature and music[edit] Kalidasa[edit] Opera[edit] Ballet[edit] Other music[edit]
Rana Ayyub Indian journalist and writer We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi, reader in Canada, it seems you use Wikipedia a lot; that's great! Thank you! Rana Ayyub is an Indian journalist and writer.[1] She is the author of the investigative book Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up.[2][3] Background and family Rana Ayyub at TimesLit Fest 2016, New Delhi. Rana Ayyub was born in Mumbai, India. Career Rana's worked for Tehelka (lit. At Tehelka, Rana worked as an investigative journalist and her big assignment was to carry out the sting operation upon which her book Gujarat Files was based. The Gujarat sting operation As an investigative journalist working with Tehelka, Rana Ayyub took up a project to conduct a prolonged sting operation aimed at snaring politicians and government officials of Gujarat and get them to reveal any potential cover-ups regarding the Gujarat riots of 2002. The book Dispute with Tehelka Critical appreciation Ramachandra Guha has called Ayyub's Gujarat Files "a brave book
Shakuntala (play) - Wikipedia The protagonist is Shakuntala, daughter of the sage Vishwamitra and the apsara Menaka. Abandoned at birth by her parents, Shakuntala is reared in the secluded hermitage of the sage Kanva, and grows up a comely but innocent maiden. While Kanva and the other elders of the hermitage are away on a pilgrimage, Dushyanta, king of Hastinapura, comes hunting in the forest and chances upon the hermitage. He is captivated by Shakuntala, courts her in royal style, and marries her. He then has to leave to take care of affairs in the capital. She is given a ring by the king, to be presented to him when she appears in his court. The anger-prone sage Durvasa arrives when Shakuntala is lost in her fantasies, so that when she fails to attend to him, he curses her by bewitching Dushyanta into forgetting her existence. She later travels to meet him, and has to cross a river. Fortunately, the ring is discovered by a fisherman in the belly of a fish, and Dushyanta realises his mistake - too late.
Karan Thapar Early life and education[edit] He is an alumnus of The Doon School in Dehradun and the Stowe School. While at Doon, Thapar was the Editor-in-chief of the school magazine The Doon School Weekly.[3] He graduated with a degree in Economics and Political Philosophy from Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1977. In the same year, he was also President of the Cambridge Union. He subsequently obtained a doctorate in International Relations from St Antony's College, Oxford. Career[edit] He began his career in journalism with The Times in Lagos, Nigeria and later worked as their Lead Writer on the Indian subcontinent till 1981. Thapar is noted for his aggressive interviews with leading politicians and celebrities.[6] A few of his shows which have been much watched are Eyewitness, Tonight at 10, In Focus with Karan, Line of Fire, War of Words Devil's Advocate and The Last Word.[5] He also writes for The Indian Express, a leading Indian daily, as a columnist. Recently,[when?] Awards and accolades[edit]
Hermit - Wikipedia A hermit (adjectival form: eremitic or hermitic) is a person who lives in seclusion from society, usually for religious reasons.[1][2][3] Hermits are a part of several sects of Christianity, and the concept is found in other religions as well. Description[edit] In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament (i.e., the 40 years wandering in the desert that was meant to bring about a change of heart).[citation needed] Often, both in religious and secular literature, the term "hermit" is also used loosely for any Christian living a secluded prayer-focused life, and sometimes interchangeably with anchorite/anchoress, recluse and "solitary". In modern colloquial usage, "hermit" denotes anyone living apart from the rest of society, or simply participating in fewer social events, for any reason. Etymology[edit] History[edit] Tradition[edit] Anchorites[edit] Catholicism[edit]
Maya Kodnani In 2012, Kodnani was sentenced to twenty-eight years' imprisonment for her participation in the Naroda Patiya massacre during the 2002 Gujarat riots but acquitted in 2018 by the Gujarat High Court. Kodnani was one of the most high-profile individuals to be convicted in the case, as well being the only woman among the accused.[1][2] Early life[edit] Kodnani is the daughter of a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker who moved to India during the Indian Partition. She had her early education in a Gujarati-medium school. She also joined Rashtra Sevika Samiti, the parallel organisation of RSS for women.[3] Kodnani joined the Baroda Medical College from where she did her MBBS and Diploma in Gynaecology and Obstetrics. Political career[edit] Role in the 2002 Gujarat riots[edit] Kodnani ignored notices for deposition by the SIT, which declared her an absconder in February 2009. Personal life[edit] Maya Kodnani is married to Surendra Kodnani, who is a general physician.[19] References[edit]
Kālidāsa - Wikipedia Classical Sanskrit poet and playwright Kālidāsa was a Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language of India. His plays and poetry are primarily based on the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.[1] Much about his life is unknown, only what can be inferred from his poetry and plays.[2] His works cannot be dated with precision, but they were most likely authored within the 4th–5th century CE.[3][4] Early life[edit] Lakshmi Dhar Kalla (1891–1953), a Sanskrit scholar and a Kashmiri Pandit, wrote a book titled The birth-place of Kalidasa (1926), which tries to trace the birthplace of Kalidasa based on his writings. According to folklore, once a scholarly princess decided to find a suitable groom by testing men in her kingdom for their intelligence. Another legend is that he visited Kumaradasa, the king of Sri Lanka formerly known as Ceylon and, because of some treachery, Kalidasa was murdered there.[8] Period[edit]
Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi’s India Sinha told me he believes that some of the most aggressive social-media posts are instigated by an unofficial “I.T. cell,” staffed and funded by B.J.P. loyalists. He said that people affiliated with the B.J.P. maintain Web sites that push pro-Modi propaganda and attack his enemies. “They are organized and quick,” he said. “They got their act down a long time ago, in Gujarat.” As Modi consolidated his hold on the government, he used its power to silence mainstream outlets. That year, Karan Thapar, the journalist who had asked Modi whether he wanted to express remorse for the Gujarat riots, found that no one from the B.J.P. would appear on his nightly show any longer. Modi’s government has targeted enterprising editors as well. Both Ayyub and Dixit said that no mainstream publication would sponsor their work. Only a few small outfits regularly offer aggressive coverage. The lack of journalistic scrutiny has given Modi immense freedom to control the narrative.