Shonaleeka Kaul
In ,Imagining the Urban,, Shonaleeka Kaul turns to Sanskrit literature to discover the characteristicsâ€”both physical and socialâ€”of ancient Indian cities. Kaul examines nearly a thousand years of Sanskrit ,kÄvyas ,to see what Indiaâ€™s early historic cities were like as living, lived-in, entitiesâ€”and discovers that the cities were vibrant and teeming with variety and life.,As much about Sanskrit literature as about urban spacesâ€”insofar as that literature reveals significant aspects of the Indian urban pastâ€”, Imagining the Urban, shows that Sanskrit literature is a rich source for historical understanding. Advocating theÂ  kÄvyas as an important historical source, Kaul provides a fresh view of the early city, showing distinctive ways of thought and behavior that relate to tradition, morality, and authority.,With its provocative new questions about early Indian cities and ancient Indian texts, this book will be an essential read for scholars of urban history, Sanskrit writings, and South Asian antiquity.
History
Imagining the Urban: Sanskrit and the City in Early India