LITERARY LINKS
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The earliest Indian literature took the form of the canonical Hindu sacred writings, known as the Veda, which were written in Sanskrit. To the Veda were added prose commentaries such as the Brahmanas and the Upanishads. The production of Sanskrit literature extended from about 1400 BC to AD 1200 and reached its height of development in the 1st to 7th centuries AD. In addition to sacred and philosophical writings, such genres as erotic and devotional lyrics, court poetry, plays, and narrative folktales emerged. Because
Sanskrit was identified with the Brahminical religion of the Vedas, reform movements such
as Buddhism and Jainism adopted other literary languages, e.g., Pali and Ardhamagadhi,
respectively. Out of these and other derivative languages there evolved the modern
languages of northern India. Beginning in the 19th century, British and Western literary models in general had a great impact on Indian literature, the most striking result being the introduction of the use of vernacular prose on a major scale. Such previously unknown forms as the novel and short story began to be adopted by Indian writers, as did realism and a new interest in social questions and psychological description. |
