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Indian Literature Oral Literary Tradition in India

Indian literature has a long oral tradition, as most Indians have been accustomed to literature as spoken word. Of India's over 2000 languages, only about 24 have significant written cultures. Ancient Indian literature was primarily oral, recited by scholars. Indian literature is composed in many languages and dialects, with immense regional variety. It focuses on ordinary human experiences. The major phases include Vedic literature up to 1200 BC, Classical literature from 1200 BC to 7th century CE including epics and Sangam works, Prākṛt literature from 1st to 11th century, Apabhraṁsa literature from 7th to 18th century showing Islamic and Bhakti influences, and modern literature from the 18th century onward

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198 views1 page

Indian Literature Oral Literary Tradition in India

Indian literature has a long oral tradition, as most Indians have been accustomed to literature as spoken word. Of India's over 2000 languages, only about 24 have significant written cultures. Ancient Indian literature was primarily oral, recited by scholars. Indian literature is composed in many languages and dialects, with immense regional variety. It focuses on ordinary human experiences. The major phases include Vedic literature up to 1200 BC, Classical literature from 1200 BC to 7th century CE including epics and Sangam works, Prākṛt literature from 1st to 11th century, Apabhraṁsa literature from 7th to 18th century showing Islamic and Bhakti influences, and modern literature from the 18th century onward

Uploaded by

Anurag Upadhyay
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Indian literature

Oral literary tradition in India


Orality is an alternative culture it may get written down or may co-exist with written
analogue. But even when an oral culture gets written down, it continues to be oral. For eg.
Texts such as Mahbhrata that remain recitative.
For centuries, most of the Indians have been accustomed to literature primarily as an
oral manifestation of language. Even today, the literature of our rural communities
means 'spoken word'.
Of the 1952 distinct languages spoken in our country, not more than 24 can be
associated with the written culture.
Most of our ancient literature was oral, which was recited and interpreted by scholars
to listeners.

Features of Indian literature


It is composed in many languages including dialects and the speech of small
communities;
While having a distinct Indian character, it has immense regional variety of forms
and themes;
It is worldly and concerns the travails of ordinary human life.

Phases of Indian literature


Vedic Literature phase, up to 1200 BC:
Classical Literature phase, from 1200 BC to 7th CE: Sanskrit epics (Ramayana,
mahabharata), Kalidasa's Shakuntalam and meghaduta, Sangam literature, Tamil
epics(Cilappatikram and Manimekhal), Pli Buddhist canon and the Prkt Jaina
literature.
Prkrt Literature, from 1st century CE to 11th century: compositions in various
Prkrts including Mahrr, the most important literary Prkt. Eg. King Hlas
Sattasa or Gth Saptaat.
Apabhrasa Literature, from 7th century CE to 18th century (regional Indian
languages literatures); Islamic influence (Rise of Persian and birth of Urdu); Bhakti
and sufi poetries (Eg. Marathi Jnevar and Guru Granth Shib).
Indian-language literatures in Modern period, from 18th century: Western influence
Use of English; Free verse style and novels;

Poetry by Women Bhakti saints


Women bhaktas wrote of the obstacles of home, family tensions, meaningless
household chores, and restrictions of married life, including their status as a married
women.
Often they rejected traditional womens roles and societal norms.
They formed communities with other poet-saints.
Their new focus was utter devotion and worship of their divine husbands.

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