Appointment with Kalidasa

Author(s): G K Bhatt
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 4

FOREWORD
The L. D. Institute of Indology has great pleasure in publishing the book Appointment with Kalidasa by Dr. G. K. Bhat, Ex-Director, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona. The book will, no doubt, prove a good introduction to Kalidāsa. Therein Dr. Bhat treats of Kālidasa's life, date and works, his world of thought, his personality and art, his outlook on life and the values he cherished in art and life. His appraisal of Kālidāsa's Supreme theme : Sủngāra or love is particularly very interesting and illuminating. He evaluates the problem in the context of social atmosphere prevailing in the days of Kālidāsa. He does not favour the "sublimation' thesis or "spiritual' interpretation and argues out his case very convincingly. His treatment is throughout lucid and authentic.
We hope that the book will be of great interest to scholars of Sanskrit Literature in general and of Kalidāsa's works in particular.
L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad-380009. 26th January, 1982.
Nagin J. Shah
Director