In Praise of Annada Volume 2

In 1752 The Bengali poet Bharatchandra Ray completed a long narrative poem dedicated to the glory of Annada the consort of Shiva and the divinity who as her name proclaims “bestows the bounty of rice. ” a poet well-versed in Sanskrit Persian and hindi—all of which enrich his work Bharatchandra took up the literary performance genre M A? Galkavya and thoroughly transformed it addressing the aesthetic tastes of the court rather than those of the traditional village audience. He added depth and sensitivity to well-known legends along with allusions to his own experiences of poverty and more than a dash of mischievous wit. The second volume recounts the clandestine love affair of princess Vidya and prince Sunday and how bhavananda ancestor of the poet’s patron stopped a rebellion and became a king. This translation the first in English features the original text in the Bangle script. Lively and entertaining in praise of Annada was regarded as a major achievement in its own time and is now counted one of the treasures of Bengali literature.