PREVIOUSLY ASKED IN:
PSC Miscellaneous Prelims 2018
Answer
None of the above
Explanation
The famous ancient Indian play 'Abhijnanashakuntalam' (The Recognition of Shakuntala) was written by the legendary Sanskrit poet and dramatist Kalidasa, who lived during the Gupta period. The play narrates the love story of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala. Since Kalidasa's name is not listed among the options (Krittibas, Balmiki, Kautilya), the correct answer is 'None of the above'.
Key Points
- > Kalidasa is the author of 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'.
- > Kalidasa was one of the 'Navaratnas' (Nine Gems) in the court of Chandragupta II.
- > His other masterpieces include Meghadutam, Kumarasambhavam, and Malavikagnimitram.
- > Sir William Jones was the first to translate Shakuntalam into English in 1789.
- > Balmiki is the author of the epic Ramayana.
- > Krittibas Ojha translated the Ramayana into Bengali.
- > Kautilya (Chanakya) wrote the ancient treatise on statecraft, 'Arthashastra'.
Additional Information
Important Ancient Indian Books and Authors
| Book Title | Author | Subject / Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Abhijnanashakuntalam | Kalidasa | Love story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala |
| Arthashastra | Kautilya | Statecraft, economics, and military strategy |
| Mudrarakshasa | Vishakhadatta | Rise of Chandragupta Maurya to power |
| Rajatarangini | Kalhana | History of the kings of Kashmir |
| Kadambari | Banabhatta | A romantic novel in Sanskrit |
Memory Tips
- Elimination Trick: Kautilya is politics (Arthashastra), Balmiki is religion (Ramayana), Krittibas is Bengali translation. So Shakuntalam, a Sanskrit play, must be someone else (Kalidasa).