Now, Aristotle's Poetics in Sanskrit

Report by Dipti Ranjan Kanungo; Bhubaneswar: Aristotle's Poetics, the earliest-surviving work of dramatic theory and the first extant philosophical treatise to focus on literary theory, can now be read in Sanskrit, thanks to Sanskrit scholar and Reader in Sanskrit, BJB College, Dr Bharat Chandra Nath, who has brought out a Sanskrit translation and critical study of the seminal work on Western aesthetics and literary theory.

The book, ‘Aristotle’s Poetics: Sanskrit Translation and Critical Study’ was released in a function held on Saturday evening at the conference hall of the Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Research & Training Institute (SCSTRTI), Bhubaneswar. The 245-page book in Sanskrit and English, published by Punthi Pustak, Kolkata, was released by great Sanskrit scholar and eminent philosopher of art, religion and language, Prof Ananta Charan Sukla.

The book is divided into two parts. The first part contains the Sanskrit translation of Aristotle’s Poetics, and the second one covers a critical study of the work in seven chapters—Date of Composition and the Incompleteness of the Poetics; Art and Imitation; Historical Facts, Poetic Truth and Propriety; Definition, Plot and Characters of Tragedy; Dramatic Unities; Tragic Hero and Hamartia; and Poetry and Pleasure.

Speaking on the occasion, Director, Academy of Yoga and Oriental Studies, Bhubaneswar, Dr Indu Lata Das explained the purpose of the book. She extolled Prof Sukla’s erudition in the subject saying that anything said about Prof Sukla will be like showing light to the sun. She expressed her pleasure over growing popularity of Sanskrit language these days which is being possible due to dedicated scholars like Dr Nath.

Attending as the chief guest of the function, Swami Paramananda spoke on the importance of the work and thanked Prof Sukla for guiding the author in writing the book. In his speech, the author expressed his deep gratitude to his teacher Prof Sukla who guided him while writing the book. Dedicating the book to Prof Sukla, he narrated how his beloved teacher played a great role in shaping his life and career.

While releasing the book, Prof Sukla explained how Aristotle offers an account of what he calls ‘poetry’ literally meaning ‘making’ in Greek. Then he took a walk down memory lane and talked about his illustrious teachers in Kolkata who used to tell him that a mere MA in English or Sanskrit is just useless, and inspired him to study English literature, philosophy and Sanskrit simultaneously. He mocked himself saying how once upon a time Kalindi Charan Panigrahi was his idol, and boasted how great scholar teachers like Jagannath Chakravorty, Sobodh Chandra Sengupta and Sisir Chatterjee of the University of Calcutta became his direct teachers. He also recalled how his teachers despised him initially due to poor knowledge and background and how he could ultimately win their confidence through endurance and perseverance.

Narrating more anecdotes from his life, he recalled how one of his friends once advised him to meet Dr Harekrushna Mahtab to get a Sahitya Akademi award for his literary achievements and he blatantly shunned the idea justifying awards can never acknowledge scholarship. At the end, Prof Sukla answered the scholarly queries of the audience which comprised of scholars, educationists and the city intelligentsia.