I exactly do not know who said this for the first time 'kALidasa is the
Shakespear of India'. I guess that must be obviously an English. Of course,
I don't know whether he got truly excited and said it in a spontaneous way,
or as a slip of the tongue or just truly did not care for the
'chronological' distinction. However, the irony of it is that English
grammar does provide a specific rule to describe two events of the past. I
was quite excited with this, even when I learnt this first as a school boy,
which fecilitates the chronological distiction. The rule says 'while
describing two events of the past, simple past tense should be used for the
relatively most recent one, whereas past perfect for the relatively earlier
event'. So, coming to the point, if an English man said this, probably, he
would have been better of saying that 'kALidasa had been the Shakespear of
India', which would have satisfied both the chronology as well as the
Indian sentiments and more importantly doing justice to kALidasa. However,
as I said, people either did not care for it in a casual way to make the
appropriate usage of the grammar, which they themselves framed or should we
say that it might be deliberate as you mentioned the English wanted to show
the Indians their literary superiority hiding the chronological
distinctions.
However, as I mentioned in my earlier post, the writer is in general
allowed a considerable liberty regarding the tackling of the chronology.
However, I do not think one should not deliberately distort the facts to
prove or claim the superiority, let the person be of any origin.
Especially, this is becoming much more a crucial issue of late because,
people started claiming greatness saying that they are the first or the
pioneers etc. in many walks of life.
Anyhow, Just TIE. That means 'Take it easy', even I too.
Hi Aravinda:
I received your message last week about meeting during X-mas. I replied to
your e.mail but it bounced back. Sure we can meet. Only thing is I live in
Queens, but work in Manhattan , shouldn't hinder a meeting though.
With regards,
Prabhakar Vissavajjhala, Ph.D.
Fishberg Research Center for Neurobiology
Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
New York, NY 10029