Mar. 16: A. K. Ramanujan, Indian poet and scholar

BORN MARCH 16:

A. K. Ramanujan (1929-1993) was an Indian poet, scholar, professor, philologist, folklorist, translator, and playwright. Though he wrote widely and across many genres, he is best remembered for his poetry. However, one of his academic essays stirred interest--and controversy. "Three Hundred Ramayanas" demonstrates the spread of one of India's two greatest epics and its cultural impact beyond India itself, having been adapted to various languages, societies, religions, and periods. Hardline Hindu groups believe Ramanujan's work offends Hindu beliefs, and its inclusion in curricula has been the subject of protest actions--pro and con--in India's universities. Despite the title, Ramanujan's essay actually focuses on five "tellings" (by Valmiki, Kamban, the Jains, the Thais, and South Indian folk tellings); the figure of 300 is suggested by the work of another scholar.

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Nov. 23: Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Bengali writer

BORN NOVEMBER 23:

Nirad C. Chaudhuri (1897-1999) Indian Bengali-English writer decorated by Queen Elizabeth II; works include The Autobiography of an Unknown Indian, an intimate view of his life: born under the British Raj and written when he was 50 years old, four years after independence; and The Continent of Circe has essays on Hindu society from Prehistory to modern times.

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Oct. 2: Mahatma Gandhi, Indian Social Activist

BORN OCTOBER 2nd:

Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) Indian lawyer, activist, and philosopher who used nonviolence in a successful campaign to end British colonial rule in India. He was inspired by the writings of Thoreau and Tolstoy, and in turn inspired Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Though named Mohandas, he was widely known as "Mahatma," meaning "Great Soul." His writings included an autobiography, The Story of My Experiments with Truth.

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