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This is a book about romantic moments, heart-throbbing moments, soul-stirring moments and enchanted moments that have inspired poets, enlivened courts and enriched havelis and have been celebrated by our artists, been patronized by the raja and indulged in by the praja. Sensual moments alive with passion and radiant with emotion are equally of amorous pleasure and heart-rending pathos. Such romantic moments are a very special part of the love between a man and a woman.
The author traces the development of romantic poetry in the Indian tradition starting with ancient poetry in Prakrit from the fourth century court of Hala, through the Tamil Aham poetry, to Kalidasa's creations in classical Sanskrit, the tenth canto of the Bhagvata Purana, Jayadeva's Geet Govind, the poetry of Bihari, Keshavdas and Bhanudatta of the ritikal period in the bhashas, Sufi romantic poetry and finally the poetry of the seasons and ragas.
The paintings featured here are from the author's personal collection and from various museums. They cover a period of 500 years of the romantic Indian tradition.
About the Author
Harsha V Dehejia has a double Doctorate in Medicine and in Ancient Indian Culture, both from the University of Bombay. His special interests are in Indian Aesthetics.
Praise
"The author has shown great effort in putting forth the quintessence of the Srinagara Rasa or the artistic expression of Romantic emotion present as a part and parcel of tradition and in works of art." —The New Sunday Express
