V. Raghavan

V. Raghavan Biography

V. Raghavan was a Sanskrit scholar and musicologist. He has published more than 120 books and 1200 articles, based on music and aesthetics in Sanskrit literature. He has received many awards including Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit, Sahitya Akademi Fellowship and Padma Bhushan. He was the head of the Department of Sanskrit of the University of Madras between 1955 and 1968. He was born in the year 1908 and centenary celebrations were conducted in a grand way at Chennai. Compilation of tributes to Dr. V. Raghavan titled, ‘Smriti Kusumanjali’ was presented in this ceremony. Tributes to him on his 60th birthday from personalities including then-president Dr. S. Radhakrishnan and Vice-president V. V. Giri were also included in the book. Many great scholars were also honoured in this wonderful occasion. Raghavan was one among those scholars who laid foundation to Indian cultural tradition. He is also called, “20th century Apara Kalidasa”.

Venkataraman Raghavan, shortly known as V. Raghavan was born in 1908. He is widely regarded as one of the great Sanskrit scholars of 20^th century. In 1963, he edited and translated Bhoja’s Sringara prakasa. It included 36 chapters dealing with both poetics and dramaturgy, and is largest known work in Sanskrit poetics at present. He received Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit in 1966 for this translation and commentary work. He translated Rabindranath Tagore’s first drama, Valmiki Pratibha to Sanskrit. It dealt with the life history of saint Valmiki.  

He found an old Sanskrit play, Udatta Raghavam written by Mayuraja and edited it as well. He founded an organisation, Samskrita Ranga in 1958 which played Sanskrit dramas on stage. He was the secretary of the Music Academy, Madras from 1944 until his death. He was a well known Carnatic singer as well. A few of his published works include - Bhoja's Contribution To Technical Literature, An Anthology On Aspects Of Indian Culture, Anarkali, Collected Writings On Indian Music, Journey Through A Tradition, Sri Muthuswami Dikshita Charitam Mahakavya, The Concept Of The Beautiful In Sanskrit Literature, The Comic Element in Sanskrit Literature, The Ramayana In Classical Sanskrit And Prakrit Mahakavya Literature and The Indian Heritage.

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Updated: January 08, 2014