The Buffalo Century : Vāñcheśvara Dīkṣita’s Mahiṣaśatakam: A Political Satire for All Centuries

__The Buffalo Century__ is a keen exploration of satire and its role in society and politics. Written in praise of a buffalo, Vāñcheśvara Dīkṣita’s __Mahiṣaśatakam__ is timeless in its treatment of power, and its subversion. In resurrecting eighteenth-century Tanjore for the modern reader, Kesavan Veluthat lifts the poem beyond its immediate literary context and situates it in a contemporary global political setting. Presenting a modern English translation along with the Sanskrit text, this work provides a fare that is as rich in double entendreas it is in its onomatopoeic metaphors. A literary triumph and the voice of an age, this book will be a key text for students and scholars of history, political science, sociology, literature, especially Sanskrit and comparative, and cultural studies. The Buffalo Century is a keen exploration of satire and its role in society and politics. Written in praise of a buffalo, Vāñcheśvara Dīkṣita’s Mahiṣaśatakam is timeless in its treatment of power, and its subversion. In resurrecting eighteenth-century Tanjore for the modern reader, Kesavan Veluthat lifts the poem beyond its immediate literary context and situates it in a contemporary global political setting. Presenting a modern English translation along with the Sanskrit text, this work provides a fare that is as rich in double entendre as it is in its onomatopoeic metaphors. A literary triumph and the voice of an age, this book will be a key text for students and scholars of history, political science, sociology, literature, especially Sanskrit and comparative, and cultural studies. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 CONTENTS 8 Preface 10 Introduction: laughter in the time of misery 14 Mahiṣaśatakam: text and translation 31 Appendix 1 80 Appendix 2 Śleṣārthacandrikā, a commentary 84 Index to verses 136 Index 139 "The Buffalo Century is a keen exploration into satire and its role in society and politics. Written in praise of a buffalo, Vāñcheśvara Dīkṣita's Mahiṣaśatakam is timeless in its treatment of power, and its subversion. In resurrecting the 18th century Tanjore for the modern reader, Veluthat lifts the poem beyond its immediate literary context and situates it in a contemporary global political setting. Presenting a modern English translation along with Sanskrit text, this work provides a fare that is as rich in double entendre as it is in its onomatopoeic metaphors. A literary triumph and the voice of an age, this book will be a key text for students and scholars of history, political science, sociology, literature, especially Sanskrit and comparative, and cultural studies"-- Provided by publisher This book presents a critical analysis and English translation of the Sanskrit epic, the Mahisasataka, "A Hundred Verses in Praise of a Buffalo". It was one of the first text on political satire, which heavily criticises the king, the bureaucracy, the nobility and society.