Satirical works of Kshemendra (study)
by Arpana Devi | 2017 | 60,954 words
This page relates ‘Preface’ part of the study on the Satirical works of Kshemendra: an 11th century poet from Kashmir, who composed three satirical works. Kshemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people.—He exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it.
Preface
In Sanskrit literature, satire as a literary genre is not common. Satire as we understand today is a comparatively later concept. This type of literature did not receive much attention from Sanskrit writers both theorist and creative. It was Kṣemendra, a poet of 11th century A.D. of Kashmir, who composed three satirical works namely the Kalāvilāsa, the Deśopadeśa and the Narmamālā. Satirical remarks in Sanskrit literature are observed here and there but pure satirical writings like those of Kṣemendra are actually rare in the history of Sanskrit literature. When I was selected for pursuing for Ph.D degree of Gauhati University, my honourable supervisor Prof. (Dr.) Dipak Kumar Sharma, Vice Chancellor, Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit & Ancient Studies University, Nalbari and former Professor of Sanskrit Department of G.U. had suggested me to study the satirical works of Kṣemendra. The objectives and therefore the nature of the satirical works of Kṣemendra are quite different as well as exceptional, which aroused interest in me for studying the said works of Kṣemendra.
Kṣemendra composed lots of works on different branches of Sanskrit literature, but his contribution to Sanskrit literature as a satirist is remarkable. The main objective of a satirist is to reform anything in a humourical way. Kṣemendra himself says that in composing the satirical works his only motive is to reform the mindset of the people. In all the satirical works, Kṣemendra exposes all the vices and follies prevailing in the society with the intention to reform it and he utilizes his caliber as a satirist for achieving that purpose. To study the satirical works of Kṣemendra more widely, it has been proposed to prepare a dissertation.
Title of the dissertation:
SATIRICAL WORKS OF KṢEMENDRA: A CRITICAL STUDY
Objectives:
The objectives of the study are:
1. To make a study on satire in Sanskrit, English as well as in Assamese.
2. To make an assessment of the texts of Kṣemendra from the perspective of the norms of a satire.
3. To establish Kṣemendra as a satirist in true sense.
Methodology:
The Methodology followed in this dissertation is descriptive cum analytical.
Hypothesis:
‘Satire’ as is understood, cannot be called an Indian concept. However, texts reflecting the features of a satire are not wanting in Sanskrit literature. Kṣemendra appears to be an important satirist in Sanskrit.
The proposed study is divided into six chapters. In the dissertation, the views on which it is now assessed are more or less western in spirit.
In preparing the dissertation, I have followed the Kṣemendralaghu-kāvyasaṃgraha edited and published by Osmania University, Hyderabad in 1961 for the reference of the texts.
I am fully aware of my limitations for undergoing studies on such a difficult and challenging topic of course for me, with scanty resources and unavailability of critical editions on the texts. However, I have tried my best to complete the work and with all humble submission, place this dissertation for assessment.