Ten Indian classics

Book - 2025

"Romantic ghazals and devotional quatrains, medieval battles and separated lovers, Buddhist women on their journeys toward Nirvana and Ram's battle against a demon army to rescue Sita - all this and more can be found in the Murty Classical Library of India's Ten Indian Classics. Beginning in the sixth century B.C.E. and coming up to the eighteenth century, spanning the Indian subcontinent, the selections in this anthology include some of the oldest women's writing in the world, exquisite Sanskrit court poems, verses from the Sikh sacred tradition recited by millions around the world, the renowned chronicle of the Mughal emperor Akbar, and Tulsidas's retelling of the epic Ramayana that is cherished in North India to ...this day. Here, too, are the poems of Surdas, Mir Taqi Mir, and Bullhe Shah, which continue to inspire artists today and live on in contemporary music. The anthology showcases original translations by leading experts from a vast array of India's literary traditions: Hindi, Kannada, Pali, Panjabi, Persian, Sanskrit, Telugu, and Urdu. With a foreword by the award-winning poet and translator Ranjit Hoskote, Ten Indian Classics is an invitation to readers worldwide to immerse themselves in a literary tradition that continues to shape modern South Asian culture and aesthetics in all its stunning diversity. "--

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Subjects
Published
Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press 2025.
Language
English
Pali
Sanskrit
Kannada
Telugu
Panjabi
Hindi
Persian
Urdu
Other Authors
Ranjit Hoskote, 1969- (writer of foreword)
Physical Description
xxi, 245 pages 22 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN
9780674297142
  • Selections from the Therigatha by the First Buddhist Women / translated from Pali by Charles Hallisey
  • Selections from Arjuna and the Hunter by Bharavi / translated from Sanskrit by Indira Viswanathan Peterson
  • Selections from The Life of Harishchandra by Raghavanka / translated from Kannada by Vanamala Vishwanatha
  • Selections from The Story of Manu by Allasani Peddana / translated from Telugu by Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman
  • Selections from Poems from the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Nanak / translated from Panjabi by Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh
  • Selections from Sur's Ocean by Surdas / translated from Hindi by John Stratton Hawley
  • Selections from The Epic of Ram by Tulsidas / translated from Hindi by Philip Lutgendorf
  • Selections from The History of Akbar by Abu'l-Fazl / translated from Persian by Wheeler M. Thackston
  • Selections from Sufi Lyrics by Bullhe Shah / translated from Panjabi by Christopher Shackle
  • Selections from Selected Ghazals and Other Poems by Mir Taqi Mir / translated from Urdu by Shamsur Rahman Faruqi.
Review by Library Journal Review

This anthology offers a collection of stories and poems that span thousands of years and a variety of cultures across India. The compositions range from epic hymns and devotional quatrains to satirical poetry, rhapsodies, and biographical narratives. Each section presents various genres, from romantic ghazals and medieval battles to the stories of separated lovers, all of which create a vivid tapestry of human feelings and experiences. The vibrancy of emotion--whether devotion, love, or satire--shines through, making the anthology feel both timeless and deeply personal. To fully grasp the depth and significance of the stories and poems, some background knowledge is necessary. While the foreword does provide helpful context for readers new to the topic, it doesn't quite capture the full intricacy of the anthology's lessons and morals. VERDICT This anthology delivers a profound exploration of history, literature, and emotions, but it requires some understanding of India's many cultures to fully appreciate its depth. Still, it's a rewarding read for those willing to engage with its complexities and dive into the worlds it explores.--Jessica Calaway

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