July 2020
The place of Kathā-sarit-sāgara in literature
Earlier, I had discussed a little about the poetic qualities of Kathā-sarit-sāgara. Here, I will write a few words about its plot. The main story in Kathā-sarit-sāgara is that of Vatsarāja and his son Naravāhanadatta. However, like the adage, “the nose ring is heavier than the nose itself”, the sub-stories surpass the main story both qualitatively and quantitatively. It is impossible to enumerate the...
Revealing Character
What is necessary for a biography is a series of character-revealing incidents.
An Example: I had mentioned earlier about my meeting with Diwan T Ananda Rao with the intention of gathering biographical information about Diwan Rangacharlu. At that time, I was in my early twenties; I had just eaten dirt in my Matriculation[1] examination. As for Ananda Rao, he was in his sixties. He had earned name as a man who was precise in...
The current series of articles attempts to examine the merits and difficulties in bringing Caturvidhābhinaya in classical literature. The epic poems, i.e., the mahākāvyas of Kālidāsa have stood the test of time and are known for their rich content, magnificent plots, impactful modes of expression and profound spirit. The Kumārasambhava, though smaller among the two mahākāvyas of Kālidāsa, gives aesthetic delight in a concentrated form in a...
If milk needs to get fermented into curd, both the milk and the curd should be of the right quality and quantity. Neither should cause imbalance – there will be no curd either if the milk is boiled too much or if the fermenting curd is sour – it is the same with a family – for it to function well, both the parties should gel well with each other – one person’s loss of wisdom is sufficient for the equilibrium to be disturbed[1]. One party...
The People who are Worthy of a Biography
History is the external transactions of the people, while Biography comprises the inner landscape.
Those who stir the hearts of the people, instigate their minds, give shape to their hopes and aspirations, whip their emotions and passions, awaken in them new and diverse opinions, make them fight for a cause and inspire them to start an agitation, get them to change their character and conduct for the...
One must be familiar with the language of the song for which the choreography of abhinaya is done, at least to the extent that the different shades of meaning and the possible interpretations of the lyrics can be imagined. One must also be conscious of the meter (chandas) of the song and ensure that the metrical melody of the lyrics blends well with the rhythmic pattern of the tāla. For a creative elaboration of the sancāri-bhāvas (creative...
