SEMINAR REPORT -

SHORT STORIES OF
PAṆḌITĀ
KṢAMĀ RĀV

Submitted By: Arya A Varma

Register Number: 19KA03SG01
Class: Fourth Semester M.A Degree
Department: Sanskrit General
Course: Vista of contemporary writings in
Sanskrit (PSGS10122)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am glad to present a seminar on the topic ‘Short stories of Paṇḍitā Kṣamā Rāv’ as a
part of the internal evaluation. I would like to express our gratitude and thanks from the
bottom of my heart to Smt. Lt. Lisha C R, without whose guidance, this task would not
have been accomplished. I also extend our sincere gratitude to all other faculty members
of the Department of Sanskrit General and my friends and other people who have helped
me in this endeavor.
INTRODUCTION

Ever since the beginning of Sanskrit Literature, we come across various female
authors - be it the Vedic women Gārggī, Maitreyī etc. who propound about the
supreme soul or the poetesses like Gaṅgādevī, Tirumalāmbā, Madhuravāṇī etc.
Paṇḍita Kṣamā Rāv is one such personality of the twentieth century, whose name
is worth mentioning when it comes to modern writings in Sanskrit. Pandita Kṣamā
Rav has composed several works, including short stories. They include
Kathāmuktāvalī, Kathāpancakam and Grāmajyotiḥ.

KATHĀMUKTĀVALĪ

Published in 1954, Kathāmuktāvalī is a collection of fifteen short stories on

modern themes in simple and elegant prose, reflecting the life of present day
India. The titles of the stories are - Premarasodrekaḥ, Tāpasasya pāritoṣikam,
Parityaktā, Mithyāgrahaṇam, Vṛttaśaṃsicchatram, Haimasamādhiḥ, Māyājālam,
Svāpnikavyāmohaḥ, Najamadilelaḥ, Vidhavodvāhasaṃkaṭam,
Kṣaṇikavibhramaḥ, Niśīthavaliḥ, Matsyajīvaiva kevalam, Ātmanirvāsanam and
Śāraddalam.

It is a distinct and unique contribution to Sanskrit Literature. The short story genre
is perhaps introduced by Paṇḍita Kṣamā Rāv, deals with living problems, seeks to
throw light on a heightened emotion or a drāmatic situation and tries to reflect the
conditions of the society. The stories deal with the life of simple ordinary folk in
different parts of India like Bombay, Kashmir, Mahabaleswar, Mt. Abu etc. The
place descriptions are highly enchanting, especially the areas of Kashmir, Abu etc,
which are in melodious, poetical prose, sensitive and simple with an elegance of
diction. The dialogues are natural and the characterization effective. The deep
sense of patriotism runs throughout.
Most of the stories have a tragic end. For instance, in the story Haimasamādhi, the
union of lovers is achieved by their joint death. Matsyajivaiva Kevalam tells the
story of a mother identifying her son who got separated and turned to an ascetic.
The story Māyājālam tells the lives of four women who were abandoned by their
husbands/lovers. Premarasodreka speaks of a father yearning to see his son.

KATHĀPAÑCAKAM

It is a collection of five short stories in metrical form (Anuṣṭup metre), published in

1963. The stories within this collection mainly reflect upon the prevailing social
evils surrounding women and the miserable lives of helpless and abandoned
women. The titles of the stories are - 'Bālikodvahasaṅkaṭam', 'Girijāyāḥ Pratijnā',
'Harisiṁhaḥ', 'Dantakeyūram' and 'Asūyinī'.

GRĀMAJYOTIḤ

This is a collection of three stories of Gujarat villages during the civil disobedience
days in verse - form.

CONCLUSION

Paṇḍita Kṣamā Rāv is the greatest of the poetesses in Sanskrit. Her contributions to
literature as well as the society are worth appreciating. The major themes of her
works include societal problems, independence struggle and atrocities against
women during her times. We come to know all these through the powerful writings
of Paṇḍita Kṣamā, the importance of nationalism, patriotism and women
empowerment. Most of her works, especially short stories have a tragic ending and
melancholy being reflected throughout. Her force of diction and style of
composing poems too deserve a great place in Sanskrit literature. In short, her short
stories fit into the set of works that are regarded as "modern writings".
REFERENCES

1. https://sanskritdocuments.org/articles/Sanskrit_Literature_by_V_Raghavan_
1959_From_Contemporary_Indian_Literature.pdf
2. https://www.loksatta.com/anwat-aksharvata-news/sanskrit-writer-
panditakshama-rao-1471744/
3. https://sa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B7%
E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE_%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5
4. https://sanskritbhasi.blogspot.com/2019/06/2019.html
5. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.312571/page/n1/mode/2up
6. https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.427966/mode/2up