Description

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Western Tradition and Naturalistic Hindi Theatre is a critical study of the dramatic work of naturalistic Hindi playwright Upendranath Ashk (1910-1996). The book explores modern Hindi drama from its beginnings in the second half of the nineteenth century until the 1960s. During this period, proscenium Hindi theatre, which originated under Western influence, matured and thrived. In the years after Independence, there was a strong resentment of Western ideas and cultural influence. Because of political controversies with the British, Western influence also came to be understood as non-Indian in the sphere of literature. This resulted in a negative stance toward the naturalistic play of Hindi and those dramatists who adhered to it. Thus, this book is a contribution to the present-day cultural dialogue between East and West.

About the Author

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The Author: Diana Dimitrova received her Ph.D. in modern and classical Indology and English philology from the University of Heidelberg in Germany in 2000. She has taught courses in South Asian religions at the University of Frankfurt in Germany and at McGill University in Canada. At present, she is teaching Hindi literature and South Asian studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Her current research deals with gender and religion in Hindi drama.