The present edition of the Abhijnana-sakuntala of Kalidasa is an extension of the Lectures on the Abhijnana-sakuntala prepared for audio C.D. at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris during 2006-2009. It contains the whole text, a faithful English translation, informative notes entitled Susama and critical appreciation entitled Adhyapana preceded by an elaborate Introduction with all necessary information regarding Kalidasa and this play. Eulogies for Kalidasa and this play by ancient and modern critics, special features of Sanskrit drama, life and date of Kalidasa, chronological order of his works, plot of the play, sources and innovations -" made by the dramatist, analysis of Sandhi and time and place, significance of Durvasas curse and Hamsapadika's song, comparative superiority of a particular act, nature and society in the play, analysis of characters , appreciation of Kalidasa's works, appreciation of this play by some Bengalee poets, commentaries, editions and translations of this play and all other topics are discussed in the introductory portion. Analysis of metres used and index to Sloka-s and Subhasita-s are also added. For all practical conveniences of reference the text is divided into several sections. Thus 1.1 means Act I, Section 1. Similarly 5.1 means Act V, Section I. These are not references to number of verses.
Dr SATYANARAYAN CHAKRABORTY, Professor of Sanskrit, Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata and formerly Visiting Professor & I.C.C.R. Chair of Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris has to his credit twenty-five books authored / critically edited. A few of them deserving mention are : A Study of the Citramimamsa of Appaya Diksita; Problems of Transliteration , Ecology and Other Essays; Dharmasastre Atmahatya, Kalidas evam Anyanya Nibandha; Trayi ( on three works of Sanskrit poetics by Appaya Diksita); Meghaduta - 0 - Saudamani; Abhijnana-sakuntala (with Raghavabhatta's Arthadyotanika); Canakya-niti sastra-samiksa; Paniniya Sabdasastra; Astadhyayi Sutrapatha; Sei Ekai Akas Ekai Dhara (Bengali rendering of Tadeva Gaganam Saiva Dhara of Srinivas Rath); Sahitya-darpana; Hitopadesa; Dhvanyaloka; Lectures on Chandomanjari; Santisataka; Sisupalavadha; Rajavahana-carita and others. A Professor of repute Dr Chakraborty acted as Visiting Professor of Sorbonne Nouvelle University (Paris, France), CASS (Pune), Gauhati University, Tripura University, Jagannath Sanskrit University (Puri) and many others. Outside India he had travelled extensively for special lectures/ key-note addresses/ chairing academic sessions in countries like U.S.A., Canada, U.K., Scotland, Italy, Germany, Finland, Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, U.S.S.R., Hungary, South Africa, Bangladesh, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia, Bhutan and others: Research articles by him have been published in Asiatic Society Journal, V.V.R.I., Bulletin D'Eutudes Indiennes, Journals of Rabindra Bharati University, Bharatiya Vidya, Samvid, Dhaka University Research Journal and many commemoration/felicitation volumes. He is the Corresponding Editor of Banglapaedia (Encyclopaedia of Bangladesh, Dhaka) and Sectional Secretary of Visvakosa (Encyclopaedia, Kolkata).
It was December 2006 when my student-friend Sri Suren Bhandari at Sorbonne Nouvelle University, Paris, with kind permission from Professor Nalini Balbir, Head, UFR Orient et Monde arabe, proposed that my lectures on Abhijnana-Sakuntala should be recorded for the benefit of the students. I agreed to the proposal with great pleasure and gratitude for the rare opportunity offered to me. I express my sincere thanks to them. Also thank the Director and the administrative authorities of the university for allowing us to use the computer and other equipments of the Department for this purpose. Then the work of registering my voice and editing continued for several months and I learn that it would now be prepared in C.D. form in about 27 volumes. The whole process of recording and editing, a very laborious job, was undertaken by Sri Suren Bhandari, my student at Sorboune. His sincerity in any work is an example to others. I express my deep regards and love for him. I have been giving lessons on the Sakuntala since 1974 i.e., for over 36 years. I noticed that each time I prepared notes for my students new ideas were coming up. An edition of this play with Raghavabhatta's commentary, Bengali translation, notes entitled Susama" , and exposition entitled Adhyapana along with an elaborate Introduction by me came up in early eighties from Sanskrit Pustak Bhandar, Kolkata. That was actually a reproduction of what and how I used to give lectures at class rooms. Anyway, in nineties I had been a regular participant of the Kalidasa Samaroha at Ujjain and on my part the great attraction was the lectures by eminent Kalidasa-scholars like Professor Satya Vart Shastri, Director of the Akakemi Professor Srinivas Rath, Professor Kamalesh Datta Tripathi, Professor S.V. Sohini, Professor S.P. Narang, Professor S.A. Upadhyay, Kavi Shesendra Sharma and others. I was immensely benefited from their lectures and discussions on others' papers. It helped me know Kalidasa from various angles. I have no hesitation to say that I had been attending that Samaroha to learn rather contribute. Anyway, that was a great platform for Kalidasa research. Today I remember with great respect the love and affection I had from them. In fact the present C.D.s are reflections of those experiences. I know my limitations, but I sincerely tried to see that a brief analysis of this play is presented to the audience. On this occasion I thank my learned colleagues for the interest they have shown in this venture. I thank the authorities of Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, my students, my elder brother Sri Shibnarayan Chakraborty and my family members Ushree, Sushree and Shraddha for allowing me to stay here for a considerable time. Also thank Sri Pradip Rakshit for helping me in various ways in initial arrangements for my long stay in Paris.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist