About The Book
Samskara, a classic of modern Indian literature, is an intense exploration of the essential paradoxes of human existence-tradition versus defiance, asceticism as against sensuality. Both a Religious Novel and a contemporary reworking of Ancient Hindu themes and myths, its central event is a death, which brings in its wake a plague, moral chaos, and most significantly, a rebirth.
Originally published in 1965, Samskara has been translated into several languages and was also made into an award-winning Film of the same name. This novel will appeal to general readers and also to students and Teachers of translation studies and modern Indian literature.
About the Author
U.R. Anantha Murthy (b. 1932), novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, and literary critic, is one of India's most celebrated modern writers. Recipient of the country's highest literary award, the Jnanpith, in 1995, his Writing is characterized by egalitarian themes. He is one of the most important representatives of the 'Navya' movement in Kannada literature. A distinguished scholar, he has taught and lectured at many universities in India and abroad, and is currently the chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India.
A.K. Ramanujan (1929-93), Padma Shri, was a renowned Indian poet and translator, best known for his English renderings of Classical Tamil verse. At the time of his death, he was Professor of Linguistics at the University of Chicago. Cover Illustration : Bhaskar Sen
Contents
Translator's Note
1. The Novel Samskara
Afterword