The Colours of Meghaduta

The work entitled "The Colours of Meghaduta" is based on the Meghaduta i.e. the 'cloud messenger' of Mahakavi Kslidasa. The Meghaduta is a Khandakavya dealing with the activities of an imaginary Yaksa, who was exiled from Alaka by his master Kuvera due to his gross negligence of duties. Being separated from his wife, the Yakṣa tried to pacify himself by sending a message to his wife through a patch of moving cloud. The poem is composed in the stately metre Mandakranta, the rasa is Vipralambha Srngara and the alamkaras are mostly Upamä, Arthantaranyāsa, Parinama, Samasokti etc. This book is consisting of six chapters. In the introduction or the first chapter, along with a general introduction, there have been incorporated discussions on the date, life and works of Kalidasa. In the second chapter, an attempt has been made to establish the Meghaduta as a standard lyrical poem. The third one deals with the literary assessment of the Meghaduta, especially upon the chandas, alamkāra and rasa. Geographical references and reference to the nature in the Meghaduta has been dealt with in the fourth chapter. The fifth chapter records the pithy proverbial sayings in the Meghadūta. The last one i.e. the sixth chapter is the resume and conclusion. The Meghaduta, with its diction, rhythm, description of nature, geographical information, mytho logical references, proverbial sayings and last but not least, the philosophical conclusions definitely charms its readers' mind and will do so for the centuries to come. So it has been rightly said-meghe maghe gatarh vayah i.e. "life has been spent by studying the Meghadüta of Kalidasa and the Sisupalavadha of Magha pandita."

Dr. Dhrubajit Sarma, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., presently serving as Assistant Professor in the department of Sanskrit, Darrang College, Tezpur, Assam, India had secured first class first position in his bachelor degree from Cotton College, Guwahati. He had received the prestigious "Krishna Kanta Handiqui Sanskrit Talent Award" for securing the highest position amongst the students placed in the first class in Sanskrit Major TDC in all the Universities of Assam. He had also secured first class first position in his master degree from Gauhati University. Accordingly, Dr. Sarma obtained the certificates entitled, "Certificate of Outstanding Performance" both for his B.A. and M.A. examination performance. He has numerous published research articles to his credit as well as presented his findings among National and International academia.