Nala Charitre: The Legend of Nala(A Short Epic)
₹295.00
This book presents the mythological narrative of Nala-Damayanti as an epic poem in English. Among the luminaries of sixteenth century Bhakti tradition, Kanakadasa’s literary and musical compositions (kirtanes) are imbued with philosophical meanings, which show immense formative influence on the cultural and literary scene of Karnataka. Also, Kanakadasa’s literary works such as Mohana Tarangini, Haribhaktisara, and the eminent allegorical masterpiece Ramadhanya Charitre incorporate metaphors taken from everyday life, which fascinate the commoners and offers them respite from mundane life-struggles. While such metaphorical expressions represent a remarkable trend in Bhakti poetry, in Kanakadasa?s depiction of Nala and Damayanti’s misfortunes, the toilsome life of common men and women stares forth. Hauled out of their palatial leisurely living, a curious turn of events compels them to survive amidst endless suffering. On one hand Nala Charitre is a poignant story of love, and on the other, it thematizes human existence, humandivine relationship and simplifies poetry to reach the audience beyond the limited circle of literates. As the Bhakti Literature assimilates the vernacular into devotional poetry, Kanakadasa?s epic poem interweaves mythological themes from Mahabharata with struggles of medieval Indian society, thus overcoming the binaries of human and divine.
Out of stock
Categories: | Indian Literature in Translation, Works in Fiction |
---|
Author | |
---|---|
Format |
Related products
-
Caught in the World of Binaries: Selected Poems of K S Nisar Ahmed
Author: K S Nisar Ahmed Editors: C N Ramachandran, M S Raghunath
Professor K S Nisar Ahmed (b 1936) is a geologist by profession and a major writer in Kannada. His first collection of poems, Manasu Gandhi Bazar (My Mind is like Gandhi Bazar) was published in 1960, and since then he has published poetry (15 collections), prose (five collections), and translations from Shakespeare and Neruda. He has been honoured with many awards, including ‘Padmashri’, Honorary D Litt (Kuvempu University), and Pampa Prashasti (Karnataka Government). Living between two languages and two cultures, Prof. Nisar has successfully achieved the balance necessary for the tight-rope walking as a poet. He believes that, “Only when you understand another religion (or culture or language), you really understand your own religion (or culture or language).” The present volume of 100 selected poems exhibits the multifaceted poetry of Nisar that reflects his creative pluralism. The 13 translators of the poems in this volume include A K Ramanujan, V K Gokak and Tejaswini Niranjana.
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
-
Swapnasaraswatha
Author: Gopalakrishna Pai Translator: Sumathi Shenoy, M R Rakshith, Savita Sastri
Swapna Saraswatha is the saga of migration of a community called Saraswaths in the west coast of India, extending from Goa to the south of Mangalore. It captures the dominance of a colonial power over the region that began with the entry of the Portuguese about four hundred years ago. The novel is a graphic description of the displacement of this strongly-rooted community which saw its resurrection in a new area. In the course of its narrative, the novel traces the gradual changes in the structure of the family that moved from a closely knit joint family of the bygone era to the nuclear family. It also deals with the factors that are responsible for the change in value systems of individuals in the wake of such paradigm shifts. With its vast canvas, it remarkably weaves fiction with myth and history, peppered with cultural details and linguistic nuances. The narration in Swapna Saraswatha progresses in the form of an epic detailing the story of nine generations spread over a period of two hundred and fifty years from 1510 to about 1760. It encompasses more than a hundred and fifty characters which include Hindus, Muslims, Christians, chieftains, traders, farmers, priests and black magicians, and covers a range of themes spread across folk tales, legends, armies, myths and a sprinkling of history.
-
Akka Mahadevi, the questioning poet-saint
Author: D A Shankar
This book presents the mystical ruminations and literary excellence of Akka Mahadevi, the earliest example of a gender-liberated woman writer, credited with the composition of over four hundred and forty remarkably self-explorative Vachanas. Akka Mahadevi represents a powerfully authentic female voice of the radical, egalitarian Sharana Movement, which questioned the socially established barrier between genders and ushered in a world of socio-cultural equality.
In this book, the author explores the questioning spirit intrinsic to Akka Mahadevi’s life and writings, as she questions the widely held conventional norms: the traditional husband-wife relationship, her parents, elders; she questions Basavanna and Allama for their habituated patriarchal manner of speaking, and she bravely questions her personal deity whom she loves and adores. Apart from discerning a credible ‘history’ and background to Akka’s works, this book makes available a rendition of her selectively profound and memorable Vachana in modern English, that crosses the ?the gulf of language and the gulf of time.
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
-
A Handful of Sesame
Author: Srinivas B Vaidya, Translator: Maithreyi Karnoor
With a captivating start, A Handful of Sesame plunges us into the heart of the dying years of the 1857 mutiny. But the mutiny is largely a backdrop to the novel. When Kamalanabh of Kashi is manipulated by an impoverished Brahmin of Navalgund into marrying his daughter, the novel becomes basically the story of an internal migration. This is rare, and it remains one of the strengths of the novel. We are so used to speaking of migration across the postcolonial bridge and accredited national borders that we forget that India is a country of endless internal migrations – in the past and the present.
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
-
Bamonn
Author: Na D’Souza Translator: S M Pejathaya
Konkani Roman Catholic Christians were converted from other groups by Goan Missionaries long back, keeping the caste system tradition to a large extent in layers such as the Bamonn, the Charodi, the Gawdi, the Nendar, the Shudra, etc. At the time of marriages and other social gatherings they continue to consider caste system norms and customs in the community. Caste system in Indian Christians is vividly described in the novel Bamonn. Christopher Pai of Kalyanpura hails from a Bamonn family and takes great pride in his ancestry. He believes in the stories about his Konkani Roman Catholic ancestors from his elders and about their being true Christians, holding on to their faith despite tremendous pressure to convert to Islam during Tipu Sultan’s regime. He also believes Bamonns are superior to other Christians in the community. After retiring from his job of a Headmaster, he refuels his obsession to retrace his roots and find out the truth about his ancestors. In his journey of self-assurance and faith, will he succeed in his mission to convince his family, his children and the community at large of his glorious ancestry and in still pride in the next generation? . . .
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
-
Sangita Lokadrishti
Author: Sumangala
ತಂದೆ-ಮಗಳ ಸುರಬಹಾರಿನ ಸಂಗೀತಬಂಧದ ಚಿತ್ರಣದಿಂದ ಆರಂಭಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಈ ಕಿರುಕೃತಿಯು ಸಾಗರ ವೀಣೆ ರೂಪುಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಇನ್ನೊಂದು ತಂದೆ-ಮಗಳ ಸಂಗೀತಬಂಧದ ಚಿತ್ರಣದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಮುಕ್ತಾಯವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಇಲ್ಲಿ ನಾಲ್ವರು ಸಂಗೀತಗಾರರ ಬದುಕಿನ ಕೆಲವು ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶಗಳು, ಸಂಗೀತಪಯಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಅವರು ಸಾಗಿದ ಹಾದಿ, ಕಠಿಣ ಸಂದರ್ಭಗಳು, ಅವರ ಸಾಂಗೀತಿಕ ಮನೋಧರ್ಮ, ರಾಗರೂಪದ ಕುರಿತ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಕೋನ, ಇತ್ಯಾದಿ ಅಂಶಗಳ ಸ್ಥೂಲ ಚಿತ್ರಣವಿದೆ.
ಸುರಬಹಾರಿನ ದಂತಕಥೆಯೆಂದೇ ಹೇಳಬಹುದಾದ ವಿದುಷಿ ಅನ್ನಪೂರ್ಣಾ ದೇವಿಯವರ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಬದುಕು, ಏಕಾಂತ ನಿಗೂಢವೆನ್ನಿಸುವ ಹಾಗೆಯೇ ಮೈಹರ್ ಘರಾನೆಯ ಸ್ವರಸಂಪತ್ತನ್ನು ಶಿಷ್ಯರಿಗೆ ಧಾರೆಯೆರೆದು ಕಲಿಸುತ್ತ, ಹಲವರನ್ನು ಮೇರು ಕಲಾವಿದರಾಗಿ ರೂಪುಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಬಗೆಯೂ ಅನನ್ಯ. ಕೃತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ರಿಸಿದ ಇನ್ನುಳಿದ ಮೂವರು ಸಂಗೀತಗಾರರು ನಮ್ಮ ನೆರೆಯ ಪಾಕಿಸ್ತಾನದ ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರೀಯ ಸಂಗೀತ ಪರಂಪರೆಯನ್ನು ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಸಮೃದ್ಧಗೊಳಿಸಿದವರು.
“ಏ ದಯ್ಯಾ… ಕಹಾಂ ಗಯೇ ವೇ ಲೋಗ್… ಬ್ರಿಜ ಕೆ ಬಸಯ್ಯಾ…”
ಮನುಷ್ಯರ ನಡುವೆ ಹತ್ತುಹಲವು ಬಗೆಯ ದ್ವೇಷದ ಗೋಡೆಗಳು ಎದ್ದು ನಿಂತಿರುವ ಇಂದಿನ ದಿನಮಾನದಲ್ಲಿ ಭಿನ್ನತೆಗಳಿದ್ದರೂ ಪರಸ್ಪರ ಸಂವಾದ ನಡೆಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಆ ಜನರನ್ನು, ಆ ಕಾಲಘಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಮತ್ತೆ ಕಂಡುಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ಬಹುಶಃ ಇಂತಹ ಸಂಗೀತಗಾರರ ಕೊರಳೊಳಗಿನ, ಬೆರಳೊಳಗಿನ ಸ್ವರಗಳೇ ನಮ್ಮ ಕೈಹಿಡಿದು ಮುನ್ನಡೆಸಬೇಕಿದೆ.
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
-
Vaidehi Dhvani
Author: Vaidehi
ಪ್ರಸ್ತುತ ಪುಸ್ತಕವು ಮುಂದಿನ ಕಾಲಕ್ಕೆ ವೈದೇಹಿಯವರ ಧ್ವನಿ ಮತ್ತು ನಿರೂಪಣೆಯನ್ನು ದಾಖಲಿಸುವ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಅವರ ಕಥೆಗಳ ನಿರೂಪಣೆಯು ಕುಂದಾಪುರದ ಆಡುಭಾಷೆಯ ಶ್ರೀಮಂತಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅದರಾಚೆಗೆ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಏಕತೆಯ ಭಾವನೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ಎತ್ತರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ. ಐದು ಕಥೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಏಳು ಕವಿತೆಗಳ ಈ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಅವರು ಓದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಈ ಆಯ್ದ ಕಥೆಗಳು ಈಗಾಗಲೇ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾದವುಗಳಾಗಿವೆ ಆದರೆ ಅದನ್ನು ವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿಸುವುದು ಅವುಗಳನ್ನು ಓದುವ ವಿಧಾನವಾಗಿದೆ. ಪ್ರತಿ ಪದ, ಪ್ರತಿ ವಿರಾಮಚಿಹ್ನೆ, ಪ್ರತಿ ವಿರಾಮ, ಅವರ ಧ್ವನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ತುಂಬಾ ವಿಭಿನ್ನವಾಗಿದೆ. “ವೈದೇಹಿ ಧ್ವನಿ” ಎಂಬ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಅವರ ಧ್ವನಿಯ ನಾದದ ಗುಣಮಟ್ಟವನ್ನು ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿಸಲು ನೀಡಲಾಗಿದೆ ಆದರೆ ಅದು ಕೇಳುಗ ಅಥವಾ ಓದುಗನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೊಸ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಹುಟ್ಟುಹಾಕುತ್ತದೆ. ಆಕೆಯ ಕಥೆಗಳನ್ನು ಅಧ್ಯಯನ ಮಾಡಲು ಬಯಸುವವರಿಗೆ ಅನುಕೂಲವಾಗುವಂತೆ ಆಡಿಯೋ ಸಿಡಿಯು ಪಠ್ಯ ರೂಪದಲ್ಲಿ ಪುಸ್ತಕವನ್ನು ಸಹ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ. ವಿವಿಧ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಅನೇಕ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳು ಅಧ್ಯಯನದ ವಿಷಯವಾಗಿ ತೆಗೆದುಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ.
Interested readers may write to us at mup@manipal.edu about purchasing the book.
Also available on
-
A Bond So Sacred
A Bond So Sacred tells the story of Raman, a satyagrahi, who adopts Kokila, an orphan. He leaves the five year old in the care of his mother while he plunges into the freedom struggle. His nationalist fervour, however, clashes with his love for Amina, his charming neighbour who wants parental approval to their marriage. Raman’s mother is as staunch a Brahmin as Amina’s father is a Muslim. Will Raman be able to get their consent? The joy of India becoming an independent nation is marred by Gandhiji’s death. Raman’s fellow satyagrahis have gone their ways and he finds himself with no role to play in a rapidly changing country. Meanwhile, Kokila, his protégée, has her own battles to fight. As the years bring them together again, Kokila discovers truths about Raman that she would never have imagined. She is forced to confront the ghosts of the past, his and hers.