Art & Culture Notes For IAS
Art & Culture Notes For IAS
CIVILIZATION
HERITAGE
The culture we inherit from our predecessors is called our cultural
heritage.
Humanity as a whole has inherited a culture which may be called human
heritage.
A nation also inherits a culture which may be termed as national cultural
heritage.
Culture is liable to change, but our heritage does not.
Architectural creations, material artifacts, the intellectual achievements,
philosophy, pleasure of knowledge, scientific inventions and discoveries are parts
of heritage.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTURE
INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
traced as far back as third millennium BC.
on the banks of the river Indus particularly at the bends that provided
water, easy means of transportation of produce and other goods and also
some protection by way of natural barriers of the river .
consisted of walled cities which provided security to the people.
rectangular grid pattern of layout with roads that cut each other at right
angles.
used standardised burnt mud-bricks as building material.
evidence of building of big dimensions which perhaps were public
buildings, administrative or business centres, pillared halls and courtyards.
no evidence of temples.
granaries which were used to store grains which give an idea of an
organised collection and distribution system.
Great Bath - public bathing place shows the importance of ritualistic
bathing and cleanliness in this culture. It is still functional and there is no
leakage or cracks in the construction.
most of the houses had private wells and bathrooms.
dominant citadal - treated as evidence of some kind of political authority
ruling over the cities.
evidence also of fortifications with gateways enclosing the walled cities
which shows that there may have been a fear of being attacked.
Dholavira , Rangpur, Rojdi, Lothal , Sarkotada , Kuntasi, Padri (Gujarat)
Kalibangan (Rajasthan),
Bhagwanpura, Banawali (Haryana), Diamabad
(Maharashtra), Alamgirpur (U.P.), and Mauda (Jammu).
THE MAURYAN PERIOD
Ashoka, first Mauryan to "think in stone".
most of the shapes and decorative forms employed were indigenous in
origin, some exotic forms show the influence of Greek, Persian and
Egyptian cultures.
beginning of the Buddhist School of architecture in India.
monolithic Ashokan pillars are marvels of architecture and sculpture.
These were lofty free standing monolithic columns erected on sacred sites.
Originally there were about thirty pillars but now only ten are in existence,
of which only two with lion capitals stand in situ in good condition at
Kolhua and Laurya Nandangarh respectively.
Sarnath pillar - finest pieces of sculpture of the Ashokan period.
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in
shape
with
low
base.
built in 2nd or 1st century BC was probably like the one at Sanchi
but in later centuries it was transformed from a Hinayana shrine to a
Mahayana shrine.
GANDHARA STUPA:
further development of stupas at Sanchi and Bharhut.
the base, dome and the hemisphere dome are sculpted.
stupas of Nagarjunakonda in Krishna valley were very large.
Khajuraho Temples were built within a short period of hundred years from
950-1050 A.D.
Kendriya Mahadev temple
The principal part, the temple itself, is called the Vimana (or Vimanam). It
is always square in plan and surmounted by a pyramidal roof of one or
more stories; it contains the cell where the image of the god is placed.
The porches or Mandapas, which always cover and precede the door
leading to the cell.
Gate-pyramids or Gopurams, which are the principal features in the
quadrangular enclosures that surround the more notable temples.
Pillared halls or Chaultrisproperly Chawadis -- used for various
purposes, and which are the invariable accompaniments of these temples.
VESARA STYLE - DECCAN
thirty cave temples at Ajanta are set into the rocky sides of a crescent
shaped gorge in the Inhyadri hills of the Sahyadri ranges.
caves depict a large number of incidents from the life of the Buddha
(Jataka Tales).
12 Buddhist caves(1-12)
17 Hindu Caves(13-29)
5 Jaina Caves(30-34)
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BHIMBETAKA CAVES
6th century Shiva temple in the Elephanta caves is one of the most
exquisitely carved temples in India.
central attraction here is a twenty-foot high bust of the deity in threeheaded form.
The Maheshamurti is built deep into a recess and looms up from the
darkness to fill the full height of the cave.
image symbolizes the fierce, feminine and meditative aspects of the
great ascetic and the three heads represent Lord Shiva
as Aghori, Ardhanarishvara and Mahayogi.
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MAHAKALI CAVES
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RAJPUT ARCHITECTURE
Rajput palaces - built as inner citadels surrounded by the city and enclosed
by a fortified wall as at Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer.
Some forts, such as those at Bharatpur and Deeg, were protected by wide
ditch filled with water surrounding the fort.
Man Mandir, the largest palace in Gwalior, was built by Raja Man Singh
Tomar (1486-1516). (@...MAN mandir=raj MAN singh)
Man Mandir has two storeys above, and two below ground level
overhanging a sandstone cliff. This gigantic cliff is punctuated by five
massive round towers, crowned by domed cupolas and linked by
delicately carved parapets.
palaces of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Kota represent
the maturity of the Rajput style.
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All of these palaces were built predominantly in the 17th and early 18th
centuries.
city of Bikaner is encircled by 5.63 km long stone wall in rich pink
sandstone. There are five gates and three sally ports.
Jodhpur Fort dominates the city, which is surrounded by a huge wall with
101 bastions, nearly 9.5 km long.
Meherangarh fort stands on a cliff with a sheer drop of over 36 metres.
Built by Jai Singh, Jaipur represents a fusion of Eastern and
Western ideas of town planning. The city is enclosed by a wall and has
bastions and towers at regular intervals. City Palace is at the center of the
walled city and is a spectacular synthesis of Rajput and Mughal
architectural styles.
Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds, (1799) has a five-storeyed symmetrical
facade composed of 953 small casements in a huge curve each with a
projecting balcony and crowning arch.
Jantar Mantar, the largest of five observatories built by Jai Singh II in the
early 18th century, others being Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi & New Delhi.
JAIN ARCHITECTURE
The only variation in these temples was in the form offrequent chamukhs
or four-faced temples.
four Tirthankars are be placed back to back to face four cardinal
points. Entry into this temple is also from four doors.
Chamukh temple of Adinath (1618 AD) is a characteristic example of the
four-door temple.
most spectacular of all Jain temples are found at Ranakpur and Mount Abu
in Rajasthan.
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Deogarh (Lalitpur, U.P.), Ellora, Badami and Aihole also have some of
the important specimens of Jain Art.
THE INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
concept of arch or dome was not invented by the Muslims but was, in fact,
borrowed and was further perfected by them from the architectural styles
of the post-Roman period.
used cementing agent in the form of mortar(mortar=mortar is used for
holding bricks /stones but mortar alone cant stand up like how the concrete
does,mortar must be replaced every 25-50 years, it isnt practical for structural
projects)for the first time.
use of scientific principles helped not only in obtaining greater strength
and stability of the construction materials but also provided greater
flexibility to the architects and builders.
Islamic elements of architecture had already passed through different
experimental phases in other countries like Egypt, Iran and Iraq before
these were introduced in India.
typical mortar-masonry works formed of dressed stones.
Mosques and Tombs - religious architecture
Palaces and Forts - secular Islamic architecture.
MOSQUES:
Towards the right of the mihrab stands the mimbar or pulpit from
where the Imam presides over the proceedings.
Large mosques where the faithful assemble for the Friday prayers
are called the Jama Masjids.
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by
finial
resembling
The square tombs are represented by such monuments as the Bara Khan
Ka Gumbad, Chota Khan Ka Gumbad, Bara Gumbad (1494 AD), Shish
Gumbad, Dadi Ka Gumbad and the Poli ka Gumbad.
The Tomb of Isa Khan (1547 AD), the Tomb of Adham Khan (1561 AD),
Moth ki Masjid (c.1505 AD), Jamala Masjid (1536 AD) and the Qila-iKuhna Masjid (c.1550 AD) belong to the final phase of the Delhi style of
architecture.
PROVINCIAL STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE
JAUNPUR:
Under the Sharqi dynasty Jaunpur became a great centre of art, culture and
architectural activity.
During the rule of Shamsuddin Ibrahim (1402-1436 AD) Atala Masjid was
built in 1378.
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GUJARAT :
Tomb of Ahmed Shah (1440), Rani-ka-Hujra (1440), the Jami Masjid (built
by the citys founder Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423), Qutubuddin's mosque
(1454), Rani Sipri Mosque (1505),
Sidi Bashir's Mosque (1510), which is famous for its shaking minarets, Rani
Rupmati Masjid at Mirzapur (built between 1430 and 1440) and the Kankaria
Lake, constructed in 1451 by Sultan Qutb-ud-Din.
DECCAN :
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HYDERABAD:
Qutub Shahi and Nizam Shahi dynasties contributed greatly towards the
development of the Deccan style of architecture.
BIJAPUR:
KASHMIR:
log construction using deodar trees for the construction of wooden bridges
called kadals or the wooden shrines called ziarats
mosque of Shah Hamdan in Srinagar and the Jami Masjid at Srinagar built
by Sikandar Butshikan (1400 AD) - examples of the wooden architecture
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Fort of Hari Parbat, the Pattar Masjid (1623) and the Akhun Mulla Shah's
mosque (1649) are illustrations of art of stone building in Kashmir.
BIHAR:
completion of the sixth city of Delhi called the Shergarh or Dilli Sher Shai
around the Purana Qila area in 1540s.
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Panch Mahal
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Greek writers
o Megasthenese
Greek ambassador (in CG Maurya court) Indika
Indika provide valuable inf on Maurya Admin, social
classes & eco activities
Limitations of Indika
Indika is not free from credulity and exaggerations
Megasthenese had little understanding of Indian
society and social system.
Discrepancies because he didnt know any Ind lang,
not part of society
o Heridotus - in his Histories gives us much information about
Indo-Persian relations
o Arrian - det acc of inv of Ind by Alexander on basis of inf frm
those who accompd camp
o Anonymous Periplus of Erythrean Sea gave valuable inf
about Indian coasts
o Ptolemy wrote geographical treatise on India in 2nd Cent AD
o Limitations
Most of Greek writings based on secondary sources
resulted in number of errors
Except for Megasthenese all others touched Ind hist in true
sense very marginally
They were ignorant of language & customs of country &
information is full of unbelievable facts
Works of Megasthanese & others are lost and available
only in fragments
Chinese travelers
o Fa-hien 5th Cent AD desc soc-religious & eco cond of India in
time of Guptas
o Hiuen-Tsang 7th Cent Age of Harshavardhana & some other
contemp kings of N India
o I-tsing 7th Cent
o Limitations
Hiuen-Tsang depicts Harsha as a follower of Buddhism but
in his epigraphic records Harsha mentions himself as a
devotee of Siva.
Counter - Indian rulers always have, like their subjects,
been multi-religious people, it is not difficult for a foreigner
to be confused
Arab Historian (Al-Beruni)
o Abu-Rihan Central Asia 973AD Contemporary of Mohd.
Ghazni
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BRITISH:
PAINTINGS OF INDIA
A) WALL PAINTINGS OF INDIA
Painting - expresses human thoughts and feelings through the media of
line and colour.
Method Of Paintings
True Fresco Method- the paintings are done when the surface wall is still
wet so that the pigments go deep inside the wall surface.
Cave dweller
painted rock shelters to satisfy his aesthetic sensitivity and creative
urge
primitive records of wild animals, war processions, birds & marine
creatures
human images, dancing images and hunting scenes.
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AJANTA CAVE PAINTING: exclusively Buddhist, excepting decorative patterns on the ceilings and the
pillars.
associated with the Jatakas, recording the previous births of the Lord
Buddha.
Principal characters in most of the designs are in heroic proportions.
B) MINIATURE PAINTING
MUGHAL SCHOOL (1560-1800 A.D.)
synthesis of the indigenous Indian style of painting and the Safavid school
of Persian painting.
marked by supple naturalism
based on close observation of nature and fine and delicate drawing.
high aesthetic merit.
primarily aristocratic and secular.
Tuti-nama - first work of the Mughal School.
Hamza-nama( illustrations on cloth)- more developed and refined than
Tuti-nama.
Under Jahangir, painting acquired greater charm, refinement and dignity.
Under Shah Jahan - painting maintained its fine quality.
Under Aurangzeb- Painting declined and lost much of its earlier quality.
DECCANI SCHOOLS (CIRCA 1560-1800 A.D.)
1. AHMEDNAGAR
female appearing in the painting belongs to the northern tradition of
Malwa.
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Choli (bodice) and long pigtails braided and ending in a tassel are the
northern costume.
colours used are rich and brilliant
Persian influence - high horizon, gold sky and the landscape.
2. BIJAPUR
ladies - tall and slender and are wearing the South Indian dress.
rich colour scheme, the palm trees, animals and men and women all
belongs to the Deccani tradition.
profuse use of gold colour
some flowering plants and arabesques on the top of the throne are derived
from the Persian tradition.
3. GOLCONDA
"Lady with the Myna bird", about 1605 A.D
colours are rich and brilliant
continued long after the extinction of the Deccan Sultanates of
Ahmednagar, Bijapur and Golconda.
4. HYDERABAD
belongs to the third quarter of the 18th century.
introduced by several Mughal painters who migrated to the Deccan during
the period of Aurangzeb and sought patronage there.
Distinctive features - treatment of the ethnic types, costumes, jewellery,
flora, fauna, landscape and colours.
style of the painting is decorative.
typical characteristics - rich colours, the Deccani facial types and
costumes
5. TANJORE
works on cloth stretched over wood.
style of painting - bold drawing, techniques of shading and the use of pure
and brilliant colours
flourished during the late 18th and 19th centuries.
style is decorative and is marked by the use of bright colours and
ornamental details.
conical crown - a typical feature of the Tanjore painting.
6. MYSORE
more subtle and done on paper, while the Tanjore works on cloth
stretched over wood.
deal mostly with sacred icons painted for devotional purposes.
theatrical framing of the iconic paintings should be particularly noted.
RAJASTHANI
CENTURIES)
&
CENTRAL
INDIAN
SCHOOLS
(17th-19th
deeply rooted in the Indian traditions, taking inspiration from Indian epics,
Puranas, love poems & Indian folk-lore.
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MALWA
use of contrasting colours, refinement of drawing due to the influence
of the Mughal painting
ornaments and costumes consisting of black tassels and striped skirts.
2.
MEWAR
drawing is bold and the colours are bright and contrasting.
text of the painting is written in black on the top against the yellow
ground.
3.
BUNDI
very close to the Mewar style
rich and glowing colours, the rising sun in golden colour, crimson-red
horizon, overlapping and semi-naturalistic trees
Mughal influence is visible in the refined drawing of the faces
4.
KOTAH
very much akin to the Bundi style
Themes of tiger and bear hunt were very popular at Kotah.
most of the space is occupied by the hilly jungle which has been rendered
with a unique charm.
5.
AMBER JAIPUR
this school of painting originated at Amber but later shifted to Jaipur, the
new capital.
There is a fairly large number of portraits of the Jaipur rulers
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6.
MARWAR
7.
BIKANER
Bikaner had close relations with the Mughals.
Some of the Mughal artists were given patronage by the Bikaner court
responsible for the introduction of a new style of painting having much
similarity with the Mughal and the Deccani styles.
8.
KISHENGARH
developed under the patronage of Raja Savant Singh (1748-1757 A.D.) ,
who wrote devotional poetry in praise of Krishna
master painter Nihal Chand who, in his works, has been able to create
visual images of his master's lyrical compositions
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2.GULER (Jammu)
consisting of portraits of Raja Balwant Singh of Jasrota (a small place near
Jammu) by Master Nainsukh.
He worked both at Jasrota and at Guler.
paintings are in a new naturalistic and delicate style marking a change
from the earlier traditions of the Basohli art.
colours used are soft and cool.
inspired by the naturalistic style of the Mughal painting.
3.KANGRA
third phase of the Pahari painting in the last quarter of the 18th century.
developed out of the Guler style.
the faces of women in profile have the nose almost in line with the
forehead, the eyes are long and narrow and the chin is sharp.
There is, however, no modelling of figures and hair is treated as a flat
mass.
4.KULU MANDl
a folk style of painting, mainly inspired by the local tradition.
style is marked by bold drawing and the use of dark and dull colours.
Though influence of the Kangra style is observed in certain cases yet the
style maintains its distinct folkish character.
INDEPENDENT PAINTINGS
1.KALIGHAT PAINTINGS- KOLKATA
Kalighat painting was a product of the changing urban society of the 19th
century Calcutta.
group of artists evolved a quick method of painting on mill-made paper.
Using brush and ink from the lampblack, these artists defined figures of
deities, gentry and ordinary people with deft and vigorously flowing lines.
romantic depictions of women.
satirical paintings lampooning the hypocrisies of the newly rich and the
changing roles of men and women after the introduction of education for
women.
2.MADHUBANI PAINTINGS- MITHILA,BIHAR
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After digging over ministry of culture website, I found some key words which
might be crucial for this year IAS exam. Due to paucity of time I am not being
able to spend time on 'google' every word.
Words :avudai akkai; ananda k Coomarswamy; Shastrotsava; Panchavadyam;
Kudiyattam; kalamenzuthu; amrita shergil; jamini roy; Asghar Ali; Thayambaka;
Bhand Pathar; Gurbani; puppetry; phulkari; jaipur-atroli gharana.
2)Dance related words : bohada, Dhol Cholom, Dhamal,Pulikali, Parichakkaliattam,Bagrumba,mand, bihu, naada samanwayamm, pandwani.
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4. RAASLEELA
based exclusively on Lord Krishna legends
believed that Nand Das wrote the initial plays based on the life
of Krishna.
dialogues in prose combined beautifully with songs and scenes
from Krishna's pranks.
5. BHAVAI - GUJARAT
Main centers of - Kutch and Kathiawar.
instruments used are: bhungal, tabla, flute, pakhaawaj, rabaab,
sarangi, manjeera, etc.
there is a rare synthesis of devotional and romantic sentiments.
6. JATRA - BENGAL
Fairs in honour of gods, or religious rituals and ceremonies have
within their framework musical plays are known as Jatra.
Krishna Jatra became popular due to Chaitanya prabhu's
influence.
earlier form of Jatra has been musical & dialogues were added at
later stage.
The actors themselves describe the change of scene, the place of
action, etc.
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9. TAMAASHA - MAHARASHTRA
evolved from the folk forms such as Gondhal, Jagran and Kirtan.
female actress is the chief exponent of dance movements in the play.
She is known as Murki.
Classical music, footwork at lightning-speed, and vivid gestures
make it possible to portray all the emotions through dance.
10. DASHAVATAR - KONKAN AND GOA
personify the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu-the god of
preservation and creativity. The ten incarnations are Matsya (fish),
Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narsimha (lion-man), Vaman
(dwarf), Parashuram, Rama, Krishna (or Balram), Buddha and Kalki.
Apart from stylized make-up, the Dashavatar performers wear masks
of wood and papier mache.
made-up.
13. THEYYAM - KERALA
'Theyyam' derived from the Sanskrit word 'Daivam' meaning God.
Hence it is called God's dance.
performed by various castes to appease and worship spirits.
distinguishing features - colourful costume and awe-inspiring headgears
(mudi) nearly 5 to 6 feet high made of arecanut splices, bamboos, leaf
sheaths of arecanut and wooden planks and dyed into different strong
colours using turmeric, wax and arac.
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STRING PUPPETS
Kathputli, Rajasthan
Carved from a single piece of wood
large dolls - colourfully dressed.
costumes and headgears are designed in the medieval Rajasthani
style of dress, which is prevalent even today.
accompanied by a highly dramatised version of the regional
music.
Oval faces, large eyes, arched eyebrows and large lips - distinct
facial features.
wear long trailing skirts and do not have legs.
Puppeteers manipulate them with two to five strings which are normally
tied to their fingers and not to a prop or a support.
Kundhei, Orissa
Made of light wood,
have no legs but wear long flowing skirts.
have more joints and are, therefore, more versatile, articulate and easy to
manipulate.
Use a triangle shape wooden prop, to which strings are attached for
manipulation.
costumes resemble those worn by actors of the Jatra traditional theatre.
music regional music & Odissi dances music.
Gombeyatta, Karnataka
Puppets - styled and designed like the characters of Yakshagana
highly stylized and have joints at the legs, shoulders, elbows, hips and
knees.
manipulated by five to seven strings tied to a prop.
complicated movements are manipulated by two to three puppeteers at a
time.
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ROD PUPPETS
an extension of glove-puppets, but often much larger and
supported and manipulated by rods from below.
found mostly in West Bengal and Orissa.
Putul Nautch, West Bengal
carved from wood
costumed like the actors of Jatra, a traditional theatre
puppets have mostly three joints.
heads, supported by the main rod, is joined at the neck and both
hands attached to rods are joined at the shoulders.
bamboo-made hub is tied firmly to the waist of the puppeteer on
which the rod holding the puppet is placed.
puppeteers each holding one puppet, stand behind a head-high
curtain and while manipulating the rods also move and dance
imparting corresponding movements to the puppets.
puppeteers themselves sing and deliver the stylized prose dialogues & a
group of musicians provide the accompanying music with a drum,
harmonium and cymbals.
music and verbal text have close similarity with the Jatra theatre.
Orissa Rod puppets
mostly three joints, but the hands are tied to strings instead of rods.
elements of rod and string puppets are combined in this form of puppetry.
Most of the dialogues are sung.
music blends folk tunes with classical Odissi tunes.
puppets of Orissa are smaller than those from Bengal or Andhra
Pradesh.
more operatic and prose dialogues are seldom used.
Yampuri, Bihar
made of wood.
puppets are in one piece and have no joints.
requires greater dexterity.
GLOVE PUPPETS
also known as sleeve, hand or palm puppets.
head is made of either papier mache, cloth or wood,
hands emerges from just below the neck.
rest of the figure consists of a long flowing skirt.
controlled by the human hand - first finger inserted in the head and middle
finger and thumb are the two arms of the puppet.
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In Orissa, the puppeteer plays on the dholak with one hand and
manipulates the puppet with the other.
delivery of the dialogues, the movement of the puppet and the beat of the
dholak are well synchronised and create a dramatic atmosphere.
Pavakoothu, Kerala
head and the arms are carved of wood and joined together with thick cloth,
cut and stitched into a small bag.
face of the puppets are decorated with paints, small and thin pieces of
gilded tin, the feathers of the peacock, etc.
manipulator puts his hand into the bag and moves the hands and head of
the puppet.
musical instruments - Chenda, Chengiloa, Ilathalam and Shankha the
conch.
theme - based on the episodes from either the Ramayana or the
Mahabharata.
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increase or decrease in the length of the vibrator wire is responsible for the
changes in pitches of notes-swaras.
Bowed instruments - the upright(Sarangi) and the inverted(Violin).
Wind instruments are roughly divided into two categories on the basis of
how sound is produced. They are:
Flutes
double flutes are mostly played by musicians of the tribal and rural areas
They resemble beak flutes which have a narrow aperture at one end.
One finds references to these types of instruments in the sculptures of the
first century in the Sanchi Stupa which shows a musician playing on a
double flute.
Reed instruments
Reed instruments like the Shehnai, Nadaswaram, etc., have one or two
reeds inserted in the hollow beak or tube of the instrument,
these vibrate when air is blown into them.
reeds are bound together with a gap between them before inserting into
the body of the instrument.
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The body of the tube is conical in shape narrow at the blowing end and
opening out gradually with a metallic bell at the farther end to enhance the
volume of the sound.
A set of spare reeds, an ivory or silver needle for adjusting and cleaning
the reeds are also hung from the mouth piece of the instrument.
(3) AVANADDHA VADYA - PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS
sound is produced by striking the animal skin which has been stretched
across an earthern or metal pot or a wooden barrel or frame.
The earliest references to such instruments have been found in the Vedas
where there is mention of Bhumi Dundhubhi; this was a hollow pit dug in
the ground and covered with the hide of a buffalo or ox which was
stretched across the pit.
The tail of the animal was used for striking the animal hide and thus sound
was produced.
Ankya
Ankya drums are held horizontally before the musician and usually
both sides are covered with animal hide.
Sound is produced by striking both sides with sticks or fingers.
Mridangam, Pakhawaj, Khol, etc. are prominent.
musician may sit on the floor and play the instrument or hang it from the
neck while dancing or standing.
Seals which have been excavated of the Indus Civilization show figures of
men playing the horizontal drums hung from the neck.
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Oordhwaka
Oordhwaka drums are placed vertically before the musician and sound is
produced by striking them with sticks or the fingers.
Prominent among these are the Tabla pair and Chenda.
Alingya
drums have the animal hide fixed to a wooden round frame and are
embraced or held close to the body with one hand while the other hand is
used for playing on the instrument.
Duff, Dufflies, etc. are very popular.
Damaru types
In the Sun temple of Konarak, Orissa, we see this large sculpture of a lady
playing the Jhanj.
ghatam is an earthenware pot; the artist uses the fingers, thumbs, palms,
and heels of the hands to strike its outer surface.
An airy low-pitch bass sound, called gumki, is created by hitting the
mouth of the pot with an open hand.
artist sometimes presses the mouth of the pot against their bare belly,
which deepens the tone of the bass stroke, and is another way to produce
the gumki sound.
Different tones can be produced by hitting different areas of the pot with
different parts of the hands.
The ghatam usually accompanies a mridangam.
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Dance in Raslila, however, was mainly an extension of the basic mime and
gestures of the Kathakars or story-tellers which blended easily with the
existing traditional dance.
In both Hindu and Muslim courts, Kathak became highly stylised
and came to be regarded as a sophisticated form of entertainment.
Under the Muslims there was a greater stress on nritya and bhava
giving the dance graceful, expressive and sensuous dimensions.
The weight of the body is equally distributed along the horizontal
and vertical axis.
full foot contact is of prime importance where only the toe or the ball of
the foot are used, their function is limited.
no deflections and no use of sharp bends or curves of the upper or lower
part of the body.
Torso movements emerge from the change of the shoulder line rather than
through the manipulations of the backbone or upper chest and lower waist
muscles.
Both the drummer (here the drum is either a pakhawaj, a type of
mridangam, or a pair of tabla) and the dancer weave endless combinations
on a repetitive melodic line.
A poetic line set to music is interpreted with gestures in other numbers,
such as the tumri, bhajan, dadra - all lyrical musical compositions.
Both in nritta (pure dance) and the abhinaya (mime) there is immense
scope for improvisation of presenting variations on a theme.
Being the only classical dance of India having links with Muslim culture,
it represents a unique synthesis of Hindu and Muslim genius in art.
Further, Kathak is the only form of classical dance wedded to Hindustani
or the North Indian music.
4.KATHAKALI- KERALA
comparatively recent origin.
Chakiarkoothu, Koodiyattam, Krishnattam and Ramanattam are few of
the ritual performing arts of Kerala which have had a direct influence on
Kathakali in its form and technique.
Kathakali is a blend of dance, music and acting and dramatizes stories,
which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics.
Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume and make-up are suited to
the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra.
The face of the artist is painted over to appear as though a mask is worn.
The lips, the eyelashes and the eyebrows are made to look prominent. A
mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face
which highlights the facial make-up.
The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into
satvika, rajasika and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble,
heroic, generous and refined.
A large oil-fed lamp is placed in front of the stage and two people hold a
curtain called Tirasseela on the stage, the main dancers stand behind it
before the performance.
The technical details cover every part of the body from facial muscles to
fingers, eyes, hands and wrists.
The facial muscles play an important part. The movement of the
eyebrows, the eye-balls and the lower eye-lids as described in the Natya
Shastra are not used to such an extent in any other dance style.
The weight of the body is on the outer edges of the feet which are slightly
bent and curved.
5.ODISSI- ODISHA
Archaeological evidence of this dance form dating back to the 2nd century
B.C. is found in the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri near
Bhubaneshwar.
With Hinduism taking roots in Orissa by about the 7th century A.D., many
imposing temples were erected. The Sun Temple at Konarak, built in the
13th century, with its Natya mandap or Hall of dance, marks the
culmination of the temple building activity in Orissa. These dance
movements, frozen in stone, continue to inspire Odissi dancers even today.
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6.SATTRIYA- ASSAM
introduced in the 15th century A.D by the great Vaishnava saint and
reformer of Assam, Mahapurusha Sankaradeva as a powerful medium for
propagation of the Vaishnava faith.
This neo-Vaishnava treasure of Assamese dance and drama has been, for
centuries, nurtured and preserved with great commitment by the Sattras (
Vaishnava maths/monasteries). Because of its religious character &
association with the Sattras, it has been aptly named Sattriya.
There were two dance forms prevalent in Assam before the neoVaishnava movement such as Ojapali and Devadasi with many
classical elements.
Two varieties of Ojapali dances are still prevalent in Assam i.e.
Sukananni or Maroi Goa Ojah and Vyah Goa Ojah. Sukananni Oja paali is
of Shakti cult and Vyah Goa Oja paali is of Vaishnava cult. Sankaradeva
included Vyah Goa Ojah into his daily rituals in Sattra. Till now Vyah
Goa Ojah is a part of rituals of the Sattras of Assam. The dancers in a Oja
44
paali chorus not only sing and dance but also explain the narration by
gestures and stylized movements.
As far as Devadasi dance is concerned, resemblance of a good number of
rhythmic syllables and dance postures along with footwork with Sattriya
dance is a clear indication of the influence of the former on the latter.
Other visible influences on Sattriya dance are those from Assamese folk
dances namely Bihu, Bodos etc.
Sattriya dance tradition is governed by strictly laid down principles in
respect of hastamudras, footworks, aharyas, music etc.
7.MANIPURI- MANIPUR
Because of its geographical location, the people of Manipur have been
protected from outside influences, and this region has been able to retain
its unique traditional culture.
Lai Haraoba(merrymaking of the gods) is one of the main festivals still
performed in Manipur which has its roots in the pre-Vaishnavite period.
The principal performers are the maibas and maibis (priests and
priestesses) who re-enact the theme of the creation of the world.
With the arrival of Vaishnavism in the 15th century A.D., new
compositions based on episodes from the life of Radha and Krishna
Besides the Ras and other leelas, each stage in one's life is celebrated
with Sankirtana performances - child birth, upanayanam, wedding
and shradha are all occasions for singing and dancing in Manipur. The
whole community participates as song and dance form part of daily life
expressions.
The swaying coconut trees in the gentle breeze is reminiscent of the soft
and languorous movements of Mohiniyattam - the feminine classical
dance form of Kerala. Literally meaning the Dance of the Enchantress, it
is deeply rooted in femininity, GRACE (Lasya) and BEAUTY (Sringara)
forming the quintessence of this dance form.
Of all the classical South Indian styles, Mohiniyattam can be singled out
with admirable distinction, for it's characteristic body movements, marked
by the graceful sway of the torso.
What is unique is the easy going rise and fall of the body, with emphasis
mainly on the torso. The movements are never abrupt, but dignified, easy,
natural, restrained and yet subtle. The glances, postures, gait employed
are so subtle and graceful that they convey the infinite suggestiveness of
radiant love.
The traditional costume worn in Mohiniyattam is white with a gold border,
and gold ornaments are worn.
The unique coiffure with hair gathered on the left side of the head reflect
it's aesthetic appeal, making it distinct from the other dance forms of
India.
The regional system of music that Mohiniyattam follows is the SOPANA
style which in it's lyricism is evocative of the spiritual element.
dance, the pace is different. Women dance in slow rhythmic movements, while
the men dance at a more vigorous pace. The Nagara is the main instrument used.
2. BIHU, ASSAM
Bihu is one of the most colourful folk dances of India. The dance is an
integral part of the Bihu Festival celebrated to mark the advent of Spring and the
Assamese New Year. Bihu ushers in the sowing time and also the season of
marriage. he dance has been noted for maintaining authenticity and at the same
time displaying the traditional Assamese handlooms and handicrafts in their glory
and beauty by the dancers.
3. JHIJHIA, BIHAR
Jhijhia is usually performed by a group of young women dancers and
portrays the offering of prayers to please the King of Gods-Lord Indra-for a good
monsoon and a rich harvest.
4. GAUR MADIA, CHHATTISGARH
Basically performed on the occasion of marriage by Gaur Madia of
Abhujmar plateau of Bastar in Chhattisgarh and is called Gaur after Bison. It may
appear to be a hunt-dance with only the imitation of the frisking, jerking
movements of the animals. However, a sense of ritual and deep sanctity underlies
the perfect synchronization of the dance.
5. KAKSAR, CHHATTISGARH
Kaksar is performed by the Abhuj Maria tribes of Bastar in Chhattisgarh
to seek the blessings of the village deity Kaksar for a good harvest. Performed by
a group of young boys and girls dressed in their best, this dance also provides a
platform to young people for choosing their life partners.
6. CHHOLIYA, UTTARAKHAND
Prevalent in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand, the Chholiya dance has
elements of martial craft and is associated with the Kirji Kumbh celebrations;
Kirji Kumbh is a poisonous flower which blossoms every 12 years. Villagers
march in a procession to destroy the flower before it sheds its poison into the
mountain streams.
7. SAMAI, GOA
The metal lamps are traditional handicrafts of Goa and the Samai dance is
performed with these traditional metallic lamps or deepaks. The men and women
balance the samai on their heads and perform various movements. During
religious gatherings the dance is performed to the accompaniment of slow
singing.
8. GARBA, GUJARAT
47
Garba is one of the most popular dance form of Gujarat, which is linked
with the worship of Shakti. The word Garbo has originated from Sanskrit
word Garbhdeep, an earthen pot with circular holes is popularly known as
Garbo. The pot is the symbol of the body and the lighted lamp inside the pot
signifies the divine soul. Garba is performed during Navratri and during
weddings. It is essentially performed by women, dancing in circular motion
clapping their hands to the beats of the Dhol.
the dancers whirl around in pairs. The accompanying songs are full of satire and
humour and refer to contemporary events.
13. KINNAURI NATTI, HIMACHAL PRADESH
This dance is in the veins of the Kinnauris. Their movements of the natural
world around them and their music echoes the sound of the breeze blowing
through forests. Important amongst the dances of the Kinauris is LOSAR SHONA
CHUKSAM. It takes its name from LOSAI meaning new year. The dancers
recreate movements of all the agricultural operations of sowing and reaping ogla
(barley) and phaphar (a local grain). Slow movements with soft knee dips with
accentuation of torso is the key step of this dance.
14. PAIKA, JHARKHAND
Paika is a typical dance of the Munda community of Jharkhand, and
thematically represents rituals connected with preparations for war. With chest
blades, multi-coloured headgear, anklets, bows, arrows, spears, swords and
shields the dancers enact battle scenes, symbolizing the great war of the Mundas
against the British. The fast beat of the madal, along with the use of other musical
instruments like dhol, nagara, shehnai, and ranbheri make Paika dance
performaces truly captivating. Though performed on various occasions, the Paika
dance is most readily associated with the Dussehra celebrations.
15. ROUFF, JAMMU & KASHMIR
Rauff is the most popular dance in the Kashmir Valley and is performed
by the women folk. The dance is performed during harvesting season but the most
essential occasion is the month of Ramzan when every street and corner in
Kashmir resounds with the Rouff songs and dance. The girls wear colourful
Phirans-Kashmir cloaks and Kasaba-the head gear. The girls form two rows
facing each other and putting their arms around the waist of the next dancer. They
start with rhythmic movements of the feet and weave a few patterns swaying and
swinging backward. Traditionally, no musical accompaniment is used with Rouff
songs as they are sung while doing the daily chores. The folk instruments like
noot, tumbaknari, rabab etc are used when it is performed on the stage or in some
gathering.
16. JABRO, JAMMU & KASHMIR
Jabro is a community dance of the nomadic people of Tibetan origin living
in Ladakh. Jabro is performed by both men and women during Losar- the Tibetan
new year celebrations- and also on other festive occasions. Because of the
extreme cold, the dancers wear heavy gowns made of sheep skin, lamb skin caps
and long leather shoes. Performers stand in two facing rows, holding each others
hands, and dance gracefully with slow, gentle movements as Jabro songs are sung
to the accompaniment of the Damien-a stringed guitar-like instrument and flute.
51
53
lavish festive celebration and dances full of fun and vigour. Tamang Selo is
performed by traditionally attired young men and women.
36. KAVADI, TAMIL NADU
This dance was supposed to be performed by a giant named Idumban with a pole slung across his shoulder. At the two ends of the pole he was
supposed to carry the favourite hills of Muruga, the popular deity of Tamil Nadu.
The carrying of Kavadi by pilgrims is symbolic of Idumban with the hillocks
poised on the pole. There are several kinds of Kavadis. Under the spell of the
hypnotic music provided by the drums, nadaswaram and thavil, the devotees
proceed to the shrine by singing the song "Kavadi Chindu" with quick and
vigorous movements. The Kavadi is never touched by the dancer while dancing.
37. KADAGAM, TAMIL NADU
A folk dance of Tamil Nadu, Kadagam originated as a ritual dedicated to
the worship of Mariamman, the Goddess of rain and health. The ritual is
performed during the month of August when the idol of Mariamman is carried in
procession. A ritual pot filled with water is adorned with beautiful decorations,
several feet high, and is carried by the priest. The colourfully attired performers
carry decorated vessels vertically on their heads and dance to the tune of
nagaswaram, thavil, muni, udukkai and pambai and also perform acrobatic feats
as they follow the procession. The Kadagam dance is very popular in Tamil Nadu,
Puducherry, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
38. HOZAGIRI, TRIPURA
Hozagiri dance is the most popular and spectacular dance of the Reang
community of Tripura. The occasions in which Reang women perform Hozagiri
are known as Mailuma and Maiktah, signifying the festival of new harvest and
worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. The Reangs believe
that when the goddess is pleased by entertaining with dance and songs, she
blesses them with bumper crops. Thus, the theme of this dance is mostly
connected with cultivation. Standing on the pitcher, they move the metal plates
while dancing on it while keeping the bottle on the head atop which is a oil lamp
alight or pick up a flower from the ground bowing their body back. All along the
dance they twist their waist with much finesse.
39. DBOBIA, UTTAR PRADESH
The Dhobia dance is performed on the occasion of birth, marriages and
festivals like Dusshehra and Holi, The dance is popular among the dhobi
(Washermen) community of eastern Uttar Pradesh in which only male dancers
participate. The dance is basically in the form of a dance-drama. It usually begins
with the recital of a couplet in praise of the Almighty. Amongst the dancers, one
person wearing a royal costume enters the arena riding a dummy horse followed
by other dancers. The group of musicians also stand behind the dancers playing
their instruments. The dance begins with the music provided by drums, cymbals
and ghunghroos which are tied on waist and ankles. A traditional wind
instrument, called ransingha, which is the centre of attraction plays a significant
54
role in boosting up the tempo of the dancers. Hori, Kajri, Chaiti, Kaharwa,
Lachari, Thumari, Dadra and Nirgun songs are adopted in Dhobia dance. The
dance is accompanied by Bhojpuri and Awadhi folk songs.
MUSIC
The two distinct styles, Hindustani and Carnatic came into vogue after the
advent of the Muslims, particularly during the reign of the Mughal Emperors of
Delhi. Both the systems of music received their nourishment from the same
original source. Whereas the Indian music of the Northern part of India
assimilated some features of the music of the Persian and Arabic musicians who
adorned the courts of the Mughal rulers of Delhi, the music of the South
continued to develop along its own original lines.
HINDUSTANI MUSIC
There are 10 main forms of styles of singing and compositions: Dhrupad,
Dhamar, Hori, Khayal, Tappa, Chaturang, Ragasagar, Tarana, Sargam and
Thumri. Nowadays Ghazals have become very popular as the 'light classical' form
of music.
DHRUPAD
Dhrupad is the oldest and perhaps the grandest form of Hindustani vocal
music. Dhrupad is essentially a poetic form incorporated into an extended
presentation style marked by precise and orderly elaboration of a raga. The
exposition preceding the composed verses is called alap, and is usually the
longest portion of the performance. Dhrupad is in decline since the 18th century.
KHAYAL
Khayal literally means a stray thought, a lyric and 'an imagination'.
There are six main gharanas in khayal: Delhi, Patiala, Agra, Gwalior,
Kirana and Atrauli-Jaipur. Gwalior Gharana is the oldest and is also considered
the mother of all other gharanas.
THUMRI
DADRA
Dadra bears a close resemblance to the Thumri. The texts are as amorous
as those of Thumris. The major difference is that dadras have more than
one antara and are in dadra tala. Singers usually sing a dadra after a thumri.
DHAMAR-HORI
These compositions are similar to Dhrupad but are chiefly associated with
the festival of Holi. Here the compositions are specifically in praise of Lord
Krishna. This music, sung in the dhamar tala, is chiefly used in festivals like
Janmashthami, Ramnavami and Holi. The compositions here describe the spring
season. These compositions are mainly based on the love pranks of RadhaKrishna.
TAPPA
The tappa is said to have developed in the late 18th Century AD from the
folk songs of camel drivers. Tappa literally means 'jump' in Persian. They are
essentially folklore of love and passion and are written in Punjabi.
RAGASAGAR
TARANA
CHATURANG
GHAZAL
The ghazal is mainly a poetic form than a musical form, but it is more
song-like than the thumri. The ghazal is described as the "pride of Urdu poetry".
The ghazal originated in Iran in the 10th Century AD. The ghazal never exceeds
12 shers (couplets) and on an average, ghazals usually have about
7 shers. The ghazal found an opportunity to grow and develop in India around
12th Century AD when the Mughal influences came to India, and Persian gave
way to Urdu as the language of poetry and literature. It developed and evolved in
the courts of Golconda and Bijapur under the patronage of Muslim rulers. The
18th and 19th centuries are regarded as the golden period of the ghazal with
Delhi and Lucknow being its main centres.
CARNATIC MUSIC
The Tamil classic of the 2nd century A.D. titled the Silappadhikaram
contains a vivid description of the music of that period. The Tolkappiyam,
Kalladam and the contributions of the Saivite and Vaishnavite saints of the 7th
and 8th centuries A.D. also serve as resource material for studying musical
history.
It is said, that South Indian Music, as known today, flourished in Deogiri
the capital city of the Yadavas in the middle ages, and that after the invasion and
plunder of the city by the Muslims, the entire cultural life of the city took shelter
in the Carnatic Empire of Vijayanagar under the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
Thereafter, the music of South India came to be known as Carnatic Music.
In the field of practical music, South India had a succession of brilliant
and prolific composers who enriched the art with thousands of compositions.
After Purandaradasa, Tallapakam Annamacharya Narayana Tirtha, Bhadrachalam Ramdasa and Kshetranja made contributions to the wealth of
compositions
The birth of the Musical Trinity - Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and
Syama Sastri - at Tiruvarur between the years 1750 to 1850 A.D. ushered in an
era of dynamic development in Carnatic music.
Outstanding feature of Carnatic music is its raga system & highly
developed and intricate tala system. Though clear cut demarcations in the style of
musical presentation, similar to the gharanas of Hindustani music are not seen in
Carnatic music, yet, we do come across different styles in rendering compositions.
The ancient musical forms like Prabandhas, etc. gradually gave away to
the different musicals forms that are in use in present day music, though the basic
elements of the ancient Prabandhas are still retained in the modern forms. The
following musical forms offer interesting study:
GITAM
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SULADI
Very much like the gitam in musical structure and arrangement, the
Suladis are of a higher standard than the gitam.
VARNAM
SVARAJATI
This is learnt after a course in gitams. More complicated than the gitas, the
Svarajati paves the way for the learning of the Varnams. The theme is either
devotional, heroic or amorous.
JATISVARAM
KIRTANAM
The Kirtanam had its birth about the latter half of the 14th century. It is
valued for the devotional content of the sahitya. Clothed in simple music, the
kirtanam abounds in Bhakti bhava. It is suited for congregational singing as well
as individual presentation.
KRITI
PADA
Padas are scholarly compositions in Telegu and Tamil. Though they are
composed mainly as dance forms, they are also sung in concerts, on account of
their musical excellence and aesthetic appeal. The music is slow-moving and
dignified.
JAVALI
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padas which portray divine love, javalis are songs which are sensuous in concept
and spirit.
TILLANA
PALLAVI
TANAM
LANGUAGES
EIGHTH SCHEDULE (ARTICLE 344(1) & 351)
Article 343-351
Assamese
Gujarati
Manipuri
Sindhi
Bengali
Hindi
Marathi
Tamil
Bodo(92 CA)
Kannada
Nepali
Telugu
Dogri(92 CA)
Kashmiri
Odia(113 CA)
Urdu
Maithali(92 CA)
Konkani
Punjabi
Santhali(92 CA)
Malayalam
Sanskrit
SAHITYA AKADEMI
India's National Academy Of Letters- Recognised 24 including English
Language
Assamese
Gujarati
Manipuri
Sindhi
Bengali
Hindi
Marathi
Tamil
Bodo(92)
Kannada
Nepali
Telugu
59
Dogri(92)
Kashmiri
Odia(113)
Urdu
Maithali(92)
Konkani
Punjabi
Rajasthani(extra)
Santhali(92)
Malayalam
Sanskrit
English(extra)
LITERATURE
ANCIENT INDIA
Most of literature is religious: vedas,Epics,Jain and buddhist literature etc.
Secular works: Most famous is Indica by Megasthenes (300 b.c.).Though
original text of this work is lost,extensive quotations from it are seen in
works of later authors.
Lack of works with historical authenticity due to mixing of myths with
history
Vedas and related literature
(Period:1500-1000 bc,language:sanskrit)
four:rig,yajur,sama and atharva
Rig veda : Oldest,1028 hymns.Indra is the chief god portrayed.
Brahmanas contain detailed explanation of Vedic literature and aranyakas
are an appendix to them
Upanishads:Philosophical.eg:Mundaka,brihadaranyaka,chandogya etc
satyameva jayate our national motto is from mundaka upanishad
The epics and post vedic literature:
The epics : Mahabharata and ramayana
The puranas : brahma,vishnu,agni,padma etc
Addition to these texts may have taken place even during gupta
age.eg:vayu purana,matsya purana etc refer to the gupta kings
Smritis:Most famous being Manu Smriti.
Other works in sanskrit
Kautilya's arthashastra,Vatsyayana's Kamasutra,Plays written by Bhasa.
Paninis ashtadhyayi & patanjalis mahabhashya both on sanskrit grammar
60
Literature during and after gupta age (approx 500C.E. to 1000 C.E.)
Due to patronage received from the elite, creative works
increased.Purpose of literature turned into entertainment also.More
science based works too.
Urban life and its features were often depicted in the plays.
Kalidasa and his works
(Period:not clear probably 5th century AD)
Dramas:Abhijnanasakuntalam,malavikagnimitram and vikramorvasiyam
Epic poems:Raghuvamsa and kumarasambhava
Other major works:Meghasandesam (lyric) Ritusamhara(earliest
work,poem)
Among the nine gems of court vikramaditya.
Considered indian equivalent of shakespeare.His literature has
simplicity,emotions and marks the pinnacle of ancient indian literature.
Other important works
Plays: Visakhadattas Mudrarakshasa,shudrakas Mrichcha-katika
(means toy cart) Harsha vardhanas Priyadarsika, Ratnavali, and the
Nagananda.
Poetry:Harisenas poetry about samudragupta, sisupalavadha by
magha,kiratarjuniya by bharavi
61
MEDIEVAL INDIA
Rise of Hindi,Urdu and regional languages.This was partly due to the
influence of bhakti tradition.The rapid growth of Bhakti movement lead
to creation of large volume of literature in languages other than sanskrit
and Gradual loss of importance of sanskrit
Better importance to recording of history than in the past through works
like Rajatarangini,Ain-e-Akbari and baburnama
Early works in sanskrit
Kalhanas Rajatarangini:One of the first works on history in india with
authenticity.History of kashmiri kings from ancient times.
Katha sarita sagara by somadeva(stories),Gita govinda by
jayadeva(Poem)
Siddhanta siromani by bhaskaracharya deals with
mathematics.Lilavati is part of this book.
Persian and Urdu
Arabic and Persian were introduced in India with the coming of the Turks
and the Mongols
Urdu emerged as an independent language towards the end of the 4th
century AD:born out of the interaction between Hindi and Persian.
62
Author
Remarks
Tabaqat-e-Nasiri
Minhaj Siraj
Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi
Zia-ud-din Barani
Kitab ur Rehla
Ibn battuta
Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi.
Babur
Humayun Nama
Gulbadan begum
Abul Fazl(1551-1602)
Regional languages
Telugu
Extended patronage by Vijayanagara rulers.
Amukta malyada by Krishnadevaraya and manucharitam by allasani
pedanna (known as Andrapitamaha) are examples
Tenali ramakrishna,known for his jokes produced a great poetical work
called pandu ranga mahatmyam.
Kannada
Language Developed fully after 10th century A.D.
Kavirajamarga written by rashtrakuta king Nrupatunga
Amoghavarsha I is the earliest available kannada literary work(850 C.E)
Pampa, Ponna and Ranna are called 3 gems of kannada literature.
Contributions were made by Basava and Akka mahadevi , both leaders
of veerashaiva bhakti movement ,through their vachanas,a type of poetry.
Under Hoysalas(approx 1200C.E) major names were:
Harishvara: wrote girija kalyana,Raghavanka:wrote Harischandra
kavya
Rudrabhatta:wrote jagannatha vijaya
63
Writer(Period)
Works
Remarks
Marathi
Jnaneshwar(1275-96)
Amruthanubav
Bhavarh deepika
Namdev (1270-1350)
Eknath(1533-1599)
Gujarati
commentaries on
Ramayana and
Bhagawat Purana
Tukaram (1598-1650)
Ramdas (1608-81)
Vaishnava poetry
to is his work
Tamil
Kambar(12th century)
Kambaramayanam
translation of valmiki
ramayanam.
Azhvars
Bhakti songs
Bhakti poets
Saiva saints
About 60 in number
Nayanmars
Malayalam Ezhuthachan
(evolved by
14th
Poonthanam
century.)
Oriya
Krishnagadha
Saraladasa(15th cent)
Others
Tarashankar Bandopadhyay who wrote dhatri devata, ganadevata and
panchagram depicted village life and its disintegration in his works
Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay whose work pather panchali and
aparajito became the basis of apu trilogy by satyajit ray
Kazi Nazrul Islam-national poet of Bangladesh wrote ghazals.
J.C.bose laid the foundations of science fiction in bengali.
Rabindranath Tagore(1861-1941)
son of Debendranath Tagore, a leader of Brahmo Samaj
The nobel prize winning work Gitanjali had introduction by W.B
Yeats.
Satyajit Ray's films Teen Kanya, Charulata,Ghare Baire are based
on tagore's works
Amar sonar bangla,national anthem of bangladesh was written in response
against partition of bengal in 1905
Work
Manasi (1890) [The Ideal One]
Sonar Tari (1894) [The Golden Boat],
Gitanjali (1910) [Song Offerings]
Gitimalya (1914) [Wreath of Songs]
Balaka (1916) [The Flight of Cranes]
Poems
Novels/short stories
66
Gora (1910)
Ghare-Baire (1916) [The Home and the
World]
Yogayog (1929) [Crosscurrents]
Plays
Jivansmriti(1912)
Chelebela(1940)
Memoirs/Autobiography
N.B:Since its impossible to include all works of tagore am listing only the ones
mentioned in nobelprize.org -the official website for nobel prize
On his works:(points taken from Amartya sens essay on Tagore)
Tagore was an immensely versatile poet;
he was also a great short story writer, novelist, playwright, essayist, and
composer of songs, as well as a talented painter
His essays, ranged over literature, politics, culture, social change,
religious beliefs, philosophical analysis, international relations etc
His outlook was persistently non-sectarian, and his writings show the
influence of different parts of the Indian cultural background as well as
of the rest of the world.
His works,even when influenced by spirituality and ancient texts is rooted
in humanity.
Gandhi :Tagore greatly admired Gandhi but he had many disagreements
with him on a variety of subjects, including nationalism, patriotism, the
importance of cultural exchange, the role of rationality and of science, and the
nature of economic and social development. These differences,I shall argue,have
a clear and consistent pattern, with Tagore pressing for more room for
reasoning,and for a less traditionalist view,a greater interest in the rest of the
world,and more respect for science and for objectivity generally
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The three giants of early indian english literature are Mulk raj anand,R.K.Narayan
and Raja Rao
Mulk Raj anand (1905-2004)
Famous for his work The untouchable(1935).It has an introduction
by E.M.Forster
The untouchable is story of Bakha-a manual scavenger.
other novels:Coolie(1936),Across the black waters (1939),The
Sword and the Sickle (1942)
R.K.Narayan (1906-2001)
Most of his works are based in a fictional town named
malgudi.
Major works :Swami and his friends,The english
teacher,The guide(won sahitya academy award),The
world of Nagaraj,The mahabharata,The ramayana etc.
Type
Book
Novel
Midnight's children(1981)
satanic verses(1988)
The enchantress of florence(2008)
childrens books
Kamala surayya
Poetry
Novel
Nirad.C.Chaudhuri
non fiction
Salman Rushdie
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indian (1951)
The continent circe (1965)(Duff cooper
memorial prize)
Scholar extraordinary(1974,on max
muller,sahitya academy award)
Vikram seth
Novel
Ruskin Bond
Novel
A Flight of Pigeons
The India I love
The Blue Umbrella
Khushwant singh
Novel
Autobiography
Amitav ghosh
Novel
Book
Year
Arundhati Roy
1997
Kiran Desai
2006
Aravind Adiga
2008
Other languages:
Its impossible to mention in details modern literature of all regional languages due
to the enormous volume of literature produced in the modern age due to the full
development of almost all major languages.I am choosing to mention some names
from some languages here.
Language
Writers
Assamese
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Gujarati
Dalpatram(1820-98)
Narmad
Govardhanram Thripati
K.M.Munshi
Raman Lal
Kannada
Malayalam
1)Kumaran Asan(1873-1924)
2)Ulloor
3)Vallathol(1-3 called modern triad in mal lit)
Chandu menon(first proper novel in Mal)
Thakazhi
Vaikom muhammad basheer
Marathi
Oriya
Gopinath mohanty
Radhanath ray(1848-1908)
Tamil
Subramanya bharathi
Bharathidasan
Kannadasan
Kalki
Telugu
Veeresalingam pantulu(1848-1919)
Gurajada appa rao (1861-1915)
Viswanatha satyanarayana(1895-1976)
Unnava lakshminarayana
Jnanpith awards
Jnanpith award along with sahitya akademi fellowship is the most prestigious of
indian literary awards.Awarded by a trust founded by Sahu jain family(Times of
india group)
G.Sankara kurup (malayalam) was the first winner
Ravuri Bharadhwaja(telugu) was the last to be awarded
Women winners of jnanpith
Name
Language
works
Ashapoorna Devi
Bengali
1976
Pratham Pratisruti*
Swarnlata
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Bukul Katha
Amrita Pritam
Punjabi
1981
Kagaj te Canvas*
Sunehe(won sahitya academy
award)
Pinjar(made into film)
Mahadevi varma
Hindi
1982
Yama*
Deepshika
Agnirekha
1 of the 4 chhayavadi
greats
Quratulain hyder
Urdu
1989
Mahashweta devi
Bengali
1996
Indira goswami
assamese
2000
Pratibha Ray
Oriya
*Won the award for this work
Books
Jawaharlal Nehru
Discovery of india
Glimpses of world history
An autobiography
Rajendra prasad
India divided
Maulana Azad
Dr. S. Radhakrishnan
Indian Philosophy
Hindu View of Life
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R Venkataraman
My Presidential Years
PV Narasimha Rao
The Insider
I.K.Gujral
L. K. Advani
My Country My Life
Hamid ansari
Sources:http://www.nios.ac.in/media/documents/SecICHCour/English/CH.01.pdf
http://ccrtindia.gov.in/
THE WONDER THAT WAS INDIA- A L BASHAM
http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/EIGHTH-SCHEDULE.pdf
http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/aboutus/about.jsp
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