Indian Narrative Traditions: Text, Performance and Interpretation

This is a valuable and carefully curated volume of critical essays focusing on the history, diversity and richness of the many and varied literatures of India. The several narrative modes that have been seen in the country, which still exist in different forms, as well as trans- creations and retellings, have been examined and discussed. The value of this work also lies in its showcasing the rich diversity in this particular cultural field, and examining the continuing relevance of this amazing variety. The contributors are all acknowledged experts in their field, with a thorough knowledge of the particulars of their subject and the wider context in which it is placed. Fittingly, this volume has been dedicated to Professor Kailash C Baral, a towering personality in the field of literary studies in India. He has always been an academician who recognizes the diversity of our traditions, and the strength that that very diversity endows on both its numerous practitioners, and on society and the nation as a whole. His deep understanding of cultural practices and their continuing relevance in today’s world, combined with his impressive scholarship on the one hand and his empathy on the other, make this a very valuable addition to the oeuvre of critical studies.…