Dialogics of Cultures in Ancient Indian Literatures

FREE Delivery
Express Shipping
$37.60
$47
(20% off)
Express Shipping: Guaranteed Dispatch in 24 hours
Quantity
Delivery Ships in 1-3 days
Item Code: NAK452
Publisher: Indian Institute Of Advanced Study, Shimla
Author: TRS Sharma
Language: English
Edition: 2014
ISBN: 9789382396130
Pages: 242
Cover: Hardcover
Other Details 8.5 inch 5.5 inch
Weight 420 gm
Fully insured
Fully insured
Shipped to 153 countries
Shipped to 153 countries
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
More than 1M+ customers worldwide
100% Made in India
100% Made in India
23 years in business
23 years in business
Book Description
About The Book

In face of the notions of ethnictity and cultural identities much valorized in recent times by societies that often plunge ethnically different communities into conflict situations, this project attempts to explore the encounters between three well-defined literate cultures in the early phases of Indian civilization. The cultures referred to here are Sanskrit from north India, and two southern cultures, Tamil and Kannada, which together constitute a piece of history that is worth remembering today. The interface between Sanskrit (whose texts of the first millenium BC are available) and Tamil BC) and that between Sanskrit and Kannada (whose first extant written texts is of the 7th century AD) provide, however, a contested cultural space wherein one envisages a constant, continuing recoding—a recoding that confers on each other mutual, albeit fluid identities. While examining the classical Tamil and Kannada texts, my emphasis will be n the intricate, subtle civilizational process involved in the encounter (of these early language cultures). The contemporary reader who is more used to seeing conflicts between different cultures would really be hard put to finding any evidence of them in these texts. What these texts record, register does not smack of any deep hostility or resistance to Sanskrit culture, as one is prone to expect when Tamil and Kannada confronted Sanskrit. The encounter very often resulted in quiet and prevalent forms of negotiation, exchange, readjustment, and an excursive poetics of culture as communities came together and lived close proximity.

It is within this broad theoretical framework that the present study engages itself in exploring the three language culture texts for themes, motifs, and metaphors which together constitute a truly philosophic poetry or poetic philosophy—reminding us of Wittgenstein’s wish that “philosophy ought really to be written only as a form of poetry.

 

About The Author

TRS Sharma (after his MA in English from the University of Mysore), as Smith-mundt/Fulbright Fellow, got his MA in American literature from the University of Colorado, and a PhD from the University of Alberta, Canad. He has taught English and American literatures as the Universities of Delhi, Alberta, Annaba (Algeria), and Kakatiya. He was also Senior Academic Fellow at the American Studies Research Centre (1987-89), Hyderabad, and Visiting Professor at the University of Delhi (1990-91). He has been a Fellow of the KK Birla Foundation, New Delhi, and at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla. His published works include Poetic Style in Robert Frost (Humantities Press, New Jersey and Macmillan India, 1981), Tale of the Glory-Bearer (Penguin Classics, India, 1994), a verse translation of a medieval Kannada classic Yasodhara Carite by Janna, and Toward an Alternative Critical Discourse (Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, 2000), outcome of the work he did on Indian Aesthetics under an IIAS Fellowship. He is Chief Editor of the Sahitya Akademi’s three-volume Ancient India Literature: An Anthology (2000). He has also edited a collection of essays on the Mahabharata for the Sahitya Akademi (2009). He has several articles published in literary periodicals on American, and Indian literatures.

 

Contents

 

  First Word vi
  Prolegomenon: Culture versus Civilization 1
  Tamil Literature: Sangam (cankam) Poetry and Eco-Poetics: Akam and Puram Modes - Of Love and War 19
  Muruga takes us to the Threshold of Bhakti 39
  Precursors of Bhakti: Ethical Writing Competing Ideologies: the Epic Narratives - Woman Power 47
  Bhakti and its Other Partakers: Saint Poets - Nayanars and Alvars 75
  Kannada Literature: Tamil and Kannada Land its People and their 'Idenitity' 105
  Kannada Mystics: Bhakti Movement Contra Poetics Allama Prabhu Muktayakka - Akka Mahadevi 157
  References 225

Sample Pages













Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q. What locations do you deliver to ?
    A. Exotic India delivers orders to all countries having diplomatic relations with India.
  • Q. Do you offer free shipping ?
    A. Exotic India offers free shipping on all orders of value of $30 USD or more.
  • Q. Can I return the book?
    A. All returns must be postmarked within seven (7) days of the delivery date. All returned items must be in new and unused condition, with all original tags and labels attached. To know more please view our return policy
  • Q. Do you offer express shipping ?
    A. Yes, we do have a chargeable express shipping facility available. You can select express shipping while checking out on the website.
  • Q. I accidentally entered wrong delivery address, can I change the address ?
    A. Delivery addresses can only be changed only incase the order has not been shipped yet. Incase of an address change, you can reach us at help@exoticindia.com
  • Q. How do I track my order ?
    A. You can track your orders simply entering your order number through here or through your past orders if you are signed in on the website.
  • Q. How can I cancel an order ?
    A. An order can only be cancelled if it has not been shipped. To cancel an order, kindly reach out to us through help@exoticindia.com.
Add a review
Have A Question

For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy