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Padma awards presented by President

  • President has presented Padma Awards of 2021 including seven Padma Vibhushan, ten Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri.
  • Former Prime Minister of Japan Shri Shinzo Abe was one of recipients of Padma Vibhushan for his work in Public Affairs
  • Late S.P. Balasubramaniam was awarded with Padma Vibhushan posthumously for his contribution in the field of art.

Datafication – All you need to know!

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Datafication as digital representative image

In today’s digital age, data has become the lifeblood of organizations across industries. The process of datafication, which involves the collection, analysis, and transformation of various aspects of the world into data, is revolutionizing the way businesses operate. By harnessing the power of data, companies can gain valuable insights, make data-driven decisions, and drive digital transformation. In this article, we will explore the concept of datafication, its significance, and the opportunities and challenges it presents.

Table of contents
1. Understanding Datafication
2. The Benefits of Datafication
3. Challenges and Considerations
4. Future Trends in Datafication
5. Conclusion

Understanding Datafication

Datafication is the process of converting diverse forms of information, behaviors, and activities into structured and quantifiable data. It involves capturing data from various sources such as social media, online transactions, sensors, and more, and transforming it into a digital format that can be analyzed and utilized.


The Benefits of Datafication

Insights and Decision Making: Datafication enables organizations to extract insights from vast amounts of data. By analyzing patterns, trends, and correlations, businesses can make informed decisions and drive innovation.

Personalization: Through datafication, companies can understand customer preferences, behavior, and needs, allowing them to deliver personalized experiences and tailored offerings.

Efficiency and Optimization: Data-driven processes and automation can optimize operations, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.

Innovation and New Opportunities: Datafication opens doors to new business models, products, and services by uncovering untapped market opportunities and identifying emerging trends.

Read more: ChatGPT threat and benefits

Challenges and Considerations

Privacy and Ethics: The extensive collection and use of personal data raise concerns about privacy and ethical considerations. Organizations must ensure proper data governance, transparency, and compliance with privacy regulations.

Data Quality and Security: Ensuring data accuracy, integrity, and security is crucial to maintain trust and reliability in data-driven decision-making processes.

Skills and Infrastructure: Effective datafication requires skilled professionals, robust infrastructure, and advanced analytics tools to handle the complexities of data collection, storage, analysis, and interpretation.

Future Trends in Datafication

Internet of Things (IoT): The proliferation of connected devices will generate massive amounts of data, further accelerating the datafication process.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML): AI and ML algorithms can unlock deeper insights and automate data analysis, driving more intelligent decision-making.

Data Collaboration and Sharing: Collaboration between organizations and sharing of non-sensitive data can lead to more comprehensive insights and mutually beneficial outcomes.

Datafication is reshaping the business landscape, offering organizations unprecedented opportunities to unlock valuable insights, drive digital transformation, and deliver enhanced customer experiences. However, it also demands responsible data governance, ethical considerations, and robust security measures. By embracing datafication and leveraging data strategically, businesses can stay competitive, innovate, and thrive in the data-driven era.

The Advancements and Threats of AI: Analyzing the Benefits and Risks of ChatGPT and GPT-4

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an ai powered robot trying to fix the world

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly popular in recent years, with new technologies such as ChatGPT and GPT-4 revolutionizing the field. These language models can interact with natural language input, providing a more human-like experience and creating new opportunities for businesses and consumers alike. However, with any new technology, there are both benefits and risks to consider. In this article, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of AI advancements, with a particular focus on ChatGPT and GPT-4.

Benefits of AI Advancements

  1. Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity One of the most significant benefits of AI is its ability to automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, freeing up employees to focus on more important work. ChatGPT and GPT-4 allow businesses to use natural language processing to communicate with customers and automate customer service interactions, saving time and resources while improving the customer experience.
  2. Improved Personalization One of the key advantages of AI is its ability to provide personalized experiences. ChatGPT and GPT-4 can use natural language processing to understand customer needs and preferences, allowing businesses to offer personalized recommendations and targeted marketing campaigns. This can improve customer engagement and drive sales.
  3. Better Decision Making AI can analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing businesses with insights and recommendations that humans may not have identified. With ChatGPT and GPT-4, businesses can use natural language processing to interpret customer feedback and identify trends, helping them make informed decisions.
  4. Improved Healthcare Outcomes AI advancements have the potential to revolutionize healthcare, from improved diagnoses to more personalized treatments. ChatGPT and GPT-4 can help healthcare providers understand patient symptoms and provide personalized treatment plans. This can lead to better health outcomes and more efficient use of resources.
  5. Increased Safety and Security AI can enhance safety and security in various industries, including transportation, defense, and finance. For example, self-driving cars and drones can use AI to analyze data and make decisions in real-time, reducing the risk of accidents. In addition, AI can detect and prevent fraud and cyber attacks, protecting sensitive information and assets.

Risks of AI Advancements

  1. Job Displacement One of the most significant risks of AI advancements is the potential for job displacement. As AI technology improves, it may replace jobs that were previously done by humans. This could lead to significant job loss in certain industries, particularly those that rely heavily on manual labor or repetitive tasks. However, some argue that AI will also create new jobs and opportunities, particularly in fields such as data analysis and programming.
  2. Bias and Discrimination AI algorithms can reflect the biases of their creators or the data they are trained on. This can lead to discrimination against certain groups of people, such as women and minorities. In addition, AI can perpetuate existing societal biases and reinforce stereotypes, potentially leading to unfair treatment. To mitigate this risk, it is essential to ensure that AI is trained on diverse and representative data and that algorithms are regularly audited for bias.
  3. Privacy Concerns AI advancements can collect vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of this information. With ChatGPT and GPT-4, businesses may collect and store customer conversations, potentially exposing sensitive information to data breaches or cyberattacks. To address this risk, it is essential to ensure that data collection and storage practices are transparent and that adequate security measures are in place.
  4. Lack of Accountability As AI becomes more autonomous, it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for its actions. This can raise ethical concerns and create legal challenges. In addition, AI can make decisions based on data and algorithms that may not be transparent or easily understood by humans, making it difficult to hold anyone accountable for potential mistakes or harmful outcomes. To address this risk, it is crucial to establish clear guidelines and regulations for the development and deployment of AI technology, as well as to prioritize transparency and accountability in AI decision-making.
  5. Security Risks While AI can enhance safety and security, it can also create new security risks. As AI technology becomes more advanced, it may be vulnerable to cyber attacks, and malicious actors may use AI to conduct attacks more efficiently and effectively. To address this risk, it is essential to prioritize security in the development and deployment of AI, including regular testing and updating of security protocols.

ChatGPT and GPT-4: Advancements in AI Language Models

ChatGPT and GPT-4 are two recent advancements in AI language models that have garnered significant attention. ChatGPT is a conversational AI model that uses natural language processing to generate human-like responses to user inputs. GPT-4, on the other hand, is a more general-purpose language model that can perform a wide range of tasks, such as language translation, question-answering, and summarization.

Benefits of ChatGPT and GPT-4

  1. Improved Customer Experience ChatGPT can help businesses provide a more personalized and engaging customer experience by responding to customer inquiries in a conversational and natural way. This can increase customer satisfaction and loyalty, leading to increased sales and revenue.
  2. Increased Efficiency Both ChatGPT and GPT-4 can automate repetitive tasks, such as responding to customer inquiries or summarizing documents. This can increase efficiency and productivity, allowing businesses to focus on more strategic activities.
  3. Improved Accuracy AI language models can analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, improving the quality of recommendations and insights. ChatGPT and GPT-4 can use natural language processing to understand customer feedback and identify trends, providing businesses with valuable insights that they may not have otherwise identified.

Risks of ChatGPT and GPT-4

  1. Potential for Misuse As with any AI technology, there is a risk that ChatGPT and GPT-4 could be misused for malicious purposes, such as generating fake news or spreading disinformation. This could have significant social and political implications, and it is essential to ensure that AI language models are used responsibly.
  2. Lack of Transparency AI language models can be difficult to understand and interpret, making it challenging to assess the accuracy and fairness of their outputs. This lack of transparency could lead to bias and discrimination, and it is essential to prioritize transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of AI language models.
  3. Privacy Concerns ChatGPT and GPT-4 can collect and store vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of this information. To address this risk, it is essential to ensure that data collection and storage practices are transparent and that adequate security measures are in place.

AI advancements such as ChatGPT and GPT-4 have the potential to revolutionize the way we work, live, and interact with each other. However, as with any new technology, there are both benefits and risks to consider. The benefits of AI include enhanced efficiency and productivity, improved personalization, better decision-making, improved healthcare outcomes, and increased safety and security. At the same time, the risks of AI include job displacement, bias and discrimination, privacy concerns, lack of accountability, and security risks. To ensure that AI technology is developed and deployed responsibly, it is essential to prioritize transparency, accountability, and security, as well as to regularly assess and mitigate potential risks. By doing so, we can unlock the full potential of AI while minimizing its potential harms.

As AI technology continues to advance, it is essential to address the risks and benefits associated with it. While AI can provide numerous benefits, such as increased efficiency and productivity, it can also pose risks such as job displacement, bias and discrimination, and privacy concerns. To ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly, it is necessary to prioritize transparency, accountability, and security in its use.

Moreover, it is also important to involve a wide range of stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and the general public, in discussions about the development and deployment of AI. By working together, we can ensure that AI technology is developed in a way that benefits society as a whole and minimizes potential harms.

The advancements in AI technology such as ChatGPT and GPT-4 have the potential to bring numerous benefits to society, including improved efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. However, as with any new technology, it is essential to address potential risks such as job displacement, bias, and discrimination, and privacy concerns. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and security in the development and deployment of AI, we can ensure that AI technology is used responsibly to benefit society.

In addition, it is important to address ethical concerns related to the use of AI. The development and deployment of AI systems should be guided by ethical principles such as fairness, accountability, and transparency. This requires careful consideration of the potential impact of AI systems on individuals and society as a whole, as well as the development of frameworks and standards for responsible AI development and deployment.

One of the biggest concerns with AI is the potential for bias and discrimination. AI systems are only as unbiased as the data that is used to train them. If the data used to train AI models is biased or unrepresentative, then the resulting AI system will also be biased. This can lead to discrimination against certain groups of people and perpetuate existing social inequalities.

To address this issue, it is important to ensure that AI systems are trained on diverse and representative data sets. In addition, AI systems should be regularly audited to ensure that they are not exhibiting bias or discrimination. Finally, it is important to establish clear standards for the use of AI in decision-making processes, to ensure that AI systems are not used to perpetuate discrimination or unfairly disadvantage certain groups of people.

Another concern with AI is the potential for job displacement. As AI technology becomes more advanced, there is a risk that many jobs may become automated, leading to significant job losses. While it is true that AI has the potential to make many tasks more efficient and cost-effective, it is important to consider the impact of these changes on the labor market.

To mitigate this risk, it is important to invest in training and education programs that can help workers develop the skills they need to succeed in a world where AI is increasingly prevalent. In addition, policymakers should consider implementing measures such as universal basic income or job guarantees to ensure that workers are not left behind by the rapid pace of technological change.

Finally, AI also raises concerns around privacy and security. As AI systems become more advanced and are used to process more and more personal data, it is important to ensure that this data is protected from unauthorized access and use.

To address this issue, it is important to establish clear standards and regulations around the collection, use, and storage of personal data. In addition, AI systems should be designed with security and privacy in mind, with appropriate safeguards and encryption measures in place to protect sensitive data.

While AI has the potential to bring many benefits to society, it is important to address potential risks and concerns associated with its development and deployment. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and security, and by involving a wide range of stakeholders in discussions about AI, we can ensure that AI technology is developed and deployed responsibly, to benefit society as a whole.

It is also important to consider the potential long-term impacts of AI on society. As AI technology becomes more advanced, there is a risk that it may become too powerful or too complex for humans to fully understand or control. This could lead to a range of potential risks, from unintentional harm caused by AI systems to the possibility of AI systems taking over decision-making processes from humans.

To address these concerns, it is important to prioritize research into AI safety and ethics. This includes exploring ways to ensure that AI systems remain aligned with human values and goals, and developing mechanisms to prevent AI systems from causing unintended harm. Additionally, it is important to establish clear ethical principles and standards for the development and deployment of AI systems, to ensure that they are developed in a way that is consistent with human values and goals.

Finally, it is worth noting that AI technology is still in its early stages of development, and it is difficult to predict exactly how it will impact society in the long term. As such, it is important to remain vigilant and to continue to monitor the development of AI technology, in order to address potential risks and maximize its potential benefits.

In conclusion, the development of AI technology such as ChatGPT and GPT-4 has the potential to bring numerous benefits to society, from improved efficiency and productivity to better decision-making. However, it is important to address potential risks and concerns associated with the use of AI, including the potential for bias and discrimination, job displacement, privacy and security concerns, and long-term risks related to the power and complexity of AI systems. By prioritizing transparency, accountability, and security, and involving a wide range of stakeholders in discussions about AI, we can ensure that AI technology is developed and deployed responsibly, to benefit society as a whole.

Hockey’s Jadoogar – Dhyan Chand

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major dhyan chand
Major Dhyan Chand

Dhyan Chand popularly known as hockey’s jadoogar. Dhyan Chand was born on 29th August, 1905 at Allahabad. His father was in the British Indian army.

Memorable incident

He started playing Hockey with his friends who used to themselves make Hockey sticks from tree branches and balls from ragged clothes. At the age of 14 years he visited a Hockey match with his father, where one team was down by 2 goals. He insisted his father to play from the losing side, and when an Army Officer let him do so, Dhyan scored 4 goals for the team. Impressed by his skills, the Officer offered him to join the army.

Turning point

Dhyanchand joined the army at the age of 16 in the year 1922 and took serious to hockey, this proved a turning point of his carrier. Subedar-Major Bhole Tiwari of Brahmin Regiment became Dhyan’s mentor inside the Army and taught him the basics of the game. Pankaj Gupta was the first Coach of Dhyan Singh who predicted that one day he would shine like the Moon, called Chand in Hindi. Hence, Dhyan Singh came to be known as Dhyan Chand. After that Dhyanchand rose in the hockey field like a meteor. This became an important milestone of his carrier. In the year 1926, he was selected for the Indian hockey team slated to tour New Zealand.

As soon as Dhyan Chand joined the army, his tryst with hockey began. After that there was no looking back for this magician of Indian hockey, popularly known as hockey’s jadoogar. His exciting stick-work encouraged the army to allow him to concentrate on the game. Dhyan Chand took part in the inter-provincial hockey championship and made an immediate impact on the national hockey scene. From the very outset Dhyan Chand showed a lot of promise and the day was not far away when he joined the ranks of the Indian hockey.

Monumental role

In the year 1934, Dhyan Chand was appointed the captain of the Indian hockey and subsequently captained the gold winning team at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. At the age of 43, he led the hockey team to the tour of East Africa in 1947. In this tour Dhyan Chand scored 61 goals in 21 matches that India played. After an illustrious carrier of 30 years, Dhyan Chand bid adieu to international hockey in 1949. He retired as Major and was also the Chief Hockey Coach at the National Institute of Sports. For his extraordinary achievements, the Indian government awarded him the Padma Bhusan in 1956. Throughout his carrier, He scored over 1000 goals in his career, from 1926 to 1948 .

Achievements

Players like Dhyanchand become a synonym of the game; he is not a hero; he has become the parameter of hockey by which other player’s caliber is measured. Dhyan Chand helped India in winning gold medals in hockey in 3 successive Olympics games- Amsterdam Olympics (1928), Los Angles Olympics (1932) and Berlin Olympics (1936). He was the captain of the gold medal winner Indian Hockey team in the historic 1936 Berlin Olympics. Dhyan Chand scored 101 goals at the Olympic Games and 300 goals in other international matches. Dhyan Chand’s birthday (Aug 29) is observed as the national sports day. The Indian Postal Service issued a postage stamp in his memory, and the Dhyan Chand National Stadium at New Delhi has been named after him.

However, the last days of Dhyan Chand were not very happy, as he was short of money and was badly ignored by the nation. Once he went to a tournament in Ahmedabad and they turned him away not knowing who he was. He developed liver cancer, and was sent to a general ward at the AIIMS, New Delhi. He died on the 3rd of December 1979.

Dhyan Chand
Major Dhyan Chand

Art and Literature of Middle Ages

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Art and Literature of Middle Ages

Art during the Middle Ages was different based on the location in Europe as well as the period of time. However, in general, Middle Age art can be divided up into three main periods and styles: Byzantine Art, Romanesque Art, and Gothic Art. Much of the art in Europe during the Middle Ages was religious art with Catholic subjects and themes. The different types of art included painting, sculpture, metal work, engraving, stained glass windows, and manuscripts.

The end of the Middle Ages is often signaled by a great change in art with the start of the Renaissance Period.

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Byzantine Art

The start of the Middle Ages is often called the Dark Ages. This is the period of time from 500 to 1000 AD. The main form of art during that time was Byzantine art produced by artists from the Eastern Roman Empire, also called Byzantium.

Byzantine art was characterized by its lack of realism. The artists did not try to make their paintings realistic but focused on the symbolism of their art. Paintings were flat with no shadows and the subjects were generally very serious and somber. The subjects of the paintings were almost entirely religious with many paintings being of Christ and the Virgin Mary.

Romanesque Art

The period of Romanesque Art started around 1000 AD and lasted to around 1300 with the beginning of the Gothic Art period. Art prior to that is called pre-Romanesque. Romanesque art was influenced by both the Romans and Byzantine Art. Its focus was on religion and Christianity. It included architectural details like stained glass art, large murals on walls and domed ceilings, and carvings on buildings and columns. It also included illuminated manuscript art and sculpture.

Also Read: Byzantine, Ottoman, Incas and Aztecs, North American Indians

Gothic Art

Gothic art grew out of Romanesque art. Gothic artists began to use brighter colors, dimensions and perspective and moved toward more realism. They also began to use more shadows and light in their art and tried out new subject matters beyond just religion including animals in mythic scenes.

Artists of the Middle Ages

Many of the artists from the early Middle Ages are unknown to us. Some of the most famous lived during the latter part of the Middle Ages and are often considered to be part of the beginning of the Renaissance. Here are a few artists that made a name for themselves at the end of the Middle Ages:

  • Donatello – An Italian sculpture known for his statues of David, Mary Magdalene, and the Madonna.
  • Giotto – Italian artist from the 13th century famous for his frescos in the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, Italy.
  • Benvenuto di Giuseppe – Also called Cimabue, this Italian artist from Florence was known for his paintings and mosaics.
  • Ambrogio Lorenzetti – An Italian painter of the Gothic movement, he is famous for his frescoes, the Allegory of Good Government and the Allegory of Bad Government.

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Literature

The majority of the literature produced during the Middle Ages was written by religious clerics and monks. Few other people knew how to read and write. Much of what they wrote was hymns, or songs, about God. Some also wrote philosophical documents about religion. One of the most popular books of the Middle Ages was the Golden Legend, by an archbishop of Genoa Jacobus de Voragine. It told stories about the lives of the Saints during Medieval times. Some secular, meaning non-religious, books were written as well.

Here a few of the more famous literary works from the Middle Ages:

  • Beowulf – Unknown author. This Epic poem was written in England but tells the story of the hero Beowulf in Scandinavia.
  • The Canterbury Tales – by Geoffrey Chaucer. A series of tales that portray Chaucer’s view of English society at the time.
  • Caedmon’s Hymn – This hymn, recorded by a monk, is the oldest surviving Old English poem.
  • The Divine Comedy – by Dante Alighieri. Often considered one of the greatest works in world literature, this story describes Dante’s view of the afterlife.
  • The Book of Margery Kempe – by Margery Kempe. This book is considered to be the first autobiography written in English.
  • The Ecclesiastical History of the English People – by Venerable Bede. This history of the English church earned Bede the title “Father of English History”.
  • The Decameron – by Giovanni Boccaccio. This book has a number of stories and describes life in 14th century Italy.
  • The Travels of Marco Polo – by Marco Polo. This book tells the story of how Marco Polo traveled to the far east and China.
  • Le Morte d’Arthur – by Sir Thomas Malory. This book tells the story of legendary King Arthur.
  • Piers Plowman – by William Langland. This allegorical poem tells of a man in search of the true Christian life.

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India and South-East Asia in the Ancient World

Literature of Ancient India: Sanskrit Drama

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The origin of Sanskrit drama is in obscurity; there appears a wide gap between its early beginnings in the Rig Veda’s hymns and the actual plays (second to fourth century AD).

However, in the Mahabhashya of Patanjali (second century BC) the earliest reference to drama can be found. Mahabhashya speaks of representations of the Kansabadha (death of Kansa) and the Bali-bandha (capture of Bali). The earliest and the most authoritative treatise on Sanskrit dramaturgy is the Natyasatra of Bharata. Its date, however uncertain, could be anywhere between the second century BC and the third century AD.

Asvaghosa, the famous Buddhist poet and a contemporary of Kanishka (second century AD), is credited with the authorship of three Buddhist dramas of which one, Sariputra Prakarna, was undoubtedly written by him. The subject matter of Sariputra Prakarna refers to the conversion of the Maudgayana and Sariputra by the Buddha. This drama had followed all the rules that had been laid down in the Natyasastra for the composition of a Prakarna (prolog).

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Bhasa, the author of the Svapnavasavadatta and many other dramas, is considered to be later than Avaghosha. The dramas, most of them are one-act plays, are based on the epics. Two of the dramas derive their theme from the Ramayana and some including the famous Pratijna- Yaugandharayana and Svapnavasavadatta and the non-existent Charudatta – are based on the current literature. The first two are complementary. The latter picks up the story of king Udayana of Ujjayani. It is, as written in Bhasa’s style, simple and direct though the construction of plot is rough because it incorporates magic that gives it an air of unreality.

Another interesting drama Mrichchakatika (clay-cart) was probably, its date is uncertain, written by Sudraka. The drama deals with the love of a rich courtesan Vasantasena and a Brahman merchant Charudatta; the drama concludes with their coming together. The quick dramatic appeal and the variety of incidents make the play fairly interesting.

Great Dramatists

Between AD 400 and 800 nearly a dozen Sanskrit dramas were written by great dramatists like Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti, and others. Some of these dramatists most probably dedicated their works to their patrons like Sudraka and Harsha.

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Famous as an epic and lyric poet Kalidasa was the most eminent dramatist as well. Of his three famous dramas, Sakuntala, Vikramorvasi, and Malavikagnimitra, the first two narrate the amorous adventures of two famous legendary kings while the third is related with a historic personality of the Sunga period (second century BC).

Being a Palace drama of love and intrigue Shakuntala tells the story of the romance of the king Dushyanta and the daughter of a celestial nymph (apsara). The second play Vikramorvasi (Urvasi won by valor) deals with the Rig Vedic story of the Pururvas and the nymph Urvasi, in which Pururvas rescue Urvasi from demons and leave her due to Indra’s summons but finally reunites with her by the grace of all gods. The third drama Malavikagnimitra revolves round the court room scene of king Agnimitra of Vidisa.

Harsha of Kanauj and Thaneshwar (seventh century) is the author of two plays: Ratnavali (Pearl Necklace) reflects the court life of the age: and the Naganada – a sensational story in a Buddhist setting.

Bhavabhuti, the eminent dramatist of the eighth century, was a Brahman native of Ujjain who enjoyed the patronage of yaso-verman of Kannauj. He wrote three dramas which are unique in character, as they differ from the earlier dramas in many ways. His dramas as, Vidusakas (jesters) are absent, entirely lack the comic element. The most popular of his plays is Malti-Madhava, that tells the love story of Madhava, a young student and Malti, daughter of a minister at the Ujjain court. The other two dramas are Mahaviracharita (the adventures of a great hero) and Uttara-rama-charita (Later Adventures of Rama). Mahaviraracharita is based on the Ramayana with slight differences, and Uttara-rama-charita is more of a dramatic poem than a play.

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Visakhadatta, another famous dramatist, has authored two dramas: the Mudrarakshiasa (the signet ring of Rakshas) and Devi-Chandraguptani. Mudrarakshasa is a play of political conspiracy, full of action and sustained interests. The plot of the drama revolves round the personality of Chanakya, the Brahman diplomat, and his attempt to win over the former minister Rakshasa, of the Nandas. Two other plays of Visakhadatta are Devichandragupta and Abhisurikavanchitaka.

A few important dramas which survived between AD 800-1100 include the Venisamhara (Binding of the Hair in a Braid) by Bhatta Narayan. The plot of this drama is based on an ancient from the Mahabharata. The main theme of the drama is formed around the dragging of Draupadi by Dshusasana by her hair and her vow never to braid her hair until again until the insult is avenged.

In the ninth century, Rajasekhar, probably the last of the great Hindu dramatists, was noted for his grace and fluency of diction; he wrote several dramas. The Karapuramanjari (‘the camphor cluster’), most probably rajsekhar’s first play written entirely in Prakrit, was composed and staged at the instance of his wife Avanti Sundari.

The three other important dramas of the period are the Viddhasalabhanjika (‘Pierced Statue’), the Balaramyana (‘Little Ramayana’), and the Balabharata (‘Little Bharata’). These dramas are based on earlier works and have obvious traces of Kalidasa, Bhavabhuti and harsha.

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The Viddhasalabhanjika resembles, on several points, with the Ratnavali of Harsha. The Balaramayana, most probably the longest Indian drama, elaborates the story of Rama from his befrothal to Sita down to their return to Ayodhya. The Balabharata describes the events narrated in Mahabharata from the wedding of Draupadi down to the exit of the Pandavas for the forest. A drama, named Chandakausika (Angry Kausika) was authored by the poet Vishnusvara, probably in the 10th century Ad under king Mahipala of Kannauj.

Among the few other dramas of the eleventh and twelfth centuries include the Hanumana – Sataka (‘play of Hanumana’). Hanumana Sataka, composed by Damodara Mishra who lived at the court of Bhoja – king of Malwa in the early part of the eleventh century, is a disconnected piece that deals with the adventures of Rama and his companion Hanumanat. Another well known drama of this time is Prabodha – Chandrodaya (‘Rise of the Moon of Knowledge’). It is an allegorical play of theological – philosophical purport written by Krishna Mishra. The drama’s object is to glorify the Vedanta philosophy and to inculcate the worship of Vishnu.

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