Ancient Indian Literature

• Indian literature includes works from the Indian subcontinent, starting with ancient oral traditions
• Works are written in languages like Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Kannada, and English
• It mirrors the diverse culture, history, and religious traditions of the region

Ancient Indian Literature

• The earliest forms were oral, encompassing religious and philosophical texts
• The Vedas, among the oldest Indo-Aryan texts, are collections of hymns, prayers, and rituals, foundational to Hinduism
• The four Vedas: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda
• The Upanishads are philosophical texts exploring reality and the self, considered concluding parts of the Vedas
• The Brahmanas are prose texts explaining Vedic rituals and sacrifices
• The Aranyakas, or "forest texts," interpret Vedic rituals and philosophical discussions
• The epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are central to Indian culture and Dharma
• Valmiki's Ramayana narrates Rama's story, exile, and battle against Ravana
• Vyasa's Mahabharata tells of the Kurukshetra War between the Pandavas and Kauravas, including the Bhagavad Gita

Classical Sanskrit Literature

• Includes drama, poetry, and prose
• Prominent playwrights: Kalidasa, Bhasa, and Sudraka
• Kalidasa's plays: "Abhijnanashakuntalam," "Vikramorvashiyam," and "Malavikagnimitram"
• Bhasa's plays: "Swapnavasavadattam" and "Urubhangam"
• Sudraka's "Mrichchhakatika" (The Little Clay Cart)
• Key poets: Kalidasa, Bharavi, and Magha
• Kalidasa's poems: "Meghaduta" and "Raghuvamsha"
• Bharavi wrote the epic poem "Kiratarjuniya"
• Magha wrote "Shishupala Vadha"
• Major prose writers: Dandin and Bana
• Dandin wrote "Dashakumaracharita" (Tales of the Ten Princes)
• Bana wrote "Kadambari" and "Harshacharita"

Prakrit Literature

• Developed alongside Sanskrit literature
• Prakrit languages were vernacular languages used in ancient India
• Includes religious texts of Jainism and secular literature
• The Jain Agamas are scriptures in Ardhamagadhi Prakrit
• "Gaha Sattasai" (or Gatha Saptasati) is an anthology of Prakrit poems attributed to Hala

Medieval Indian Literature

• Saw a rise of literature in various regional languages
• Bhakti poetry emerged, expressing devotion to various deities
• Prominent Bhakti poets: Kabir, Surdas, Tulsidas, Mirabai, and Guru Nanak
• Kabir's poems emphasized the unity of God
• Surdas wrote devotional poems dedicated to Krishna
• Tulsidas wrote "Ramcharitmanas," a retelling of the Ramayana in Awadhi
• Mirabai, a princess, composed devotional songs dedicated to Krishna
• Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, whose hymns are included in the Guru Granth Sahib
• Sufi poetry flourished, emphasizing love and mystical experiences
• Important Sufi poets: Amir Khusrau and Malik Muhammad Jayasi
• Amir Khusrau wrote in Persian and Hindavi
• Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote "Padmavat" in Awadhi
• Regional literature included epics, romances, and historical chronicles
• Examples: "Kamba Ramayanam" in Tamil by Kamban, "Pampa Bharata" in Kannada by Pampa, and "Sri Krishna Vijayam" in Malayalam by Cherusseri Namboothiri

Modern Indian Literature

• Reflects the impact of colonialism, nationalism, and social reform
• The novel emerged as a popular genre
• Key novelists: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, and R.K. Narayan
• Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote "Anandamath"
• Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay is known for "Devdas" and "Parineeta"
• R.K. Narayan is famous for "Malgudi Days" and "The Guide"
• Prominent poets: Rabindranath Tagore, Subramania Bharati, and Sarojini Naidu
• Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913
• Subramania Bharati was a Tamil poet and freedom fighter
• Sarojini Naidu is known as the "Nightingale of India"
• Playwrights like Mohan Rakesh, Vijay Tendulkar, and Girish Karnad made significant contributions
• Short stories gained popularity
• Premchand is considered a pioneer of the Hindi short story
• Other notable short story writers: Ismat Chughtai and Saadat Hasan Manto
• Indian literature in English gained prominence
• Notable Indian English writers: Mulk Raj Anand, Raja Rao, Salman Rushdie, and Arundhati Roy
• Mulk Raj Anand is known for "Untouchable" and "Coolie"
• Raja Rao wrote "Kanthapura"
• Salman Rushdie is famous for "Midnight's Children"
• Arundhati Roy won the Booker Prize for "The God of Small Things"

Contemporary Indian Literature

• Continues to evolve, addressing contemporary social, political, and cultural issues
• New voices and perspectives are emerging in various languages
• Postcolonial themes are explored
• Writers engage with globalization, identity, and social justice
• Diaspora literature forms a significant part
• Writers of Indian origin living abroad contribute to Indian literature
• Notable contemporary authors: Amitav Ghosh, Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Aravind Adiga
• Literary festivals and awards promote Indian literature
• Examples: the Jaipur Literature Festival and the Sahitya Akademi Awards