- Harshacharita
Harshacharita (
IAST :unicode|Harṣacarita,Sanskrit : हर्षचरित), "The Deeds of unicode|Harṣa", is thebiography of Indian EmperorHarsha byBanabhatta , also known as Bana, who was aSanskrit writer of7th century inIndia . He was the 'Asthana Kavi' meaning 'Court Poet' of King Harsha. 'Harsha Charita' was the first composition of Bana and can be treated as the beginning of writing of historical poetic works inSanskrit language . This is written in ornate poetic prose, in which Bana gives us a fragment of autobiography unparalleled in Sanskrit literature. Not only do his elaborate descriptions show accurate and close observation, but throughout his work, the personality of the author breaks through."Harsha Charita" ranks as the first historical biography in Sanskrit although it is written in a florid and fanciful style. Bana's detailed and vivid descriptions of rural India's natural environment as well as the extraordinary industry of the Indian people exudes the vitality of life at that time. However, since he received the patronage of the Emperor Harsha, his descriptions of his patron are not an unbiased appraisal and presents the Emperor's actions in an overly favorable light.cite book
last =Keay
first =John
title =India: A History
publisher =Grove Press
date =2000
location =New York
pages = pp 161-162
id = ISBN 0802137970 ]Notes
References
*The Harsa-Carita of Bana. Translated by E. B. Cowell and F. W. Thomas. London: Royal Asiatic Society, 1897, 4-34.
*Ashok Kaushik:Harsh Charit by Bann Bhatt (Hindi), Diamond Pocket Books, Delhi
* AL Basham: The wonder that was India
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