Overview

Krishna Kumari: The Tragedy of India introduces readers to the first English language play in modern India. Written in 1826 by English Subba Rao, one of the first Indians to be schooled in English, Krishna Kumari depicts the true story of a princess of Udaipur who is forced to commit suicide in order to end a war started by her suitors, the rulers of the neighboring kingdoms of Jaipur and Jodhpur. Tragically, her death proves to be in vain because the mercenaries recruited by the contending rulers nevertheless proceed to plunder the region. All three kingdoms are then compelled to seek the protection of the East India Company, bringing their independence to an end. Sharp and witty, Krishna Kumari was intended to warn Indian principalities against the follies that led to the downfall of the Rajputs. Unfortunately, the play scarcely saw the light of day. Angered by Subba Rao’s opposition to their power, the British forced him to withdraw from public life. This is why audiences have never heard of Krishna Kumari—until now. Building on extensive archival research, this volume brings Subba Rao’s pioneering drama back to life. The introductory essay by Rahul Sagar, a leading scholar of nineteenth century India, familiarizes readers with the remarkable characters in the play and the violent era in which they lived. By shedding light on Subba Rao’s extraordinary life and career, it also reveals how important principalities like Tanjore and Travancore were in battling colonialism and shaping modern India.

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9781350453845

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A remarkable and valuable piece of historical research. Rahul Sagar has rescued both Krishna Kumari and English Subba Rao from oblivion. * Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister of India * A fascinating and wholly original study of the beginnings of political thought in modern India. Rahul Sagar explores the way in which a piece of theatre from the early 19th century served to turn India's recent history into a new kind of instruction for her princes, urging them to grapple with colonial rule by thinking outside their traditions. * Faisal Devji, University of Oxford, UK * Rahul Sagar’s richly documented interdisciplinary edition of Subba Rao’s Krishna Kumari radically changes our understanding of the history of Indian-English literature. * Vinay Dharwadker, University of Wisconsin–Madison, US * An insightful reading of the first Indian drama written in English that taught South Indian princes to see beyond colonial subjugation. * Aya Ikegame, Kyoto University, Japan *

A remarkable and valuable piece of historical research. Rahul Sagar has rescued both Krishna Kumari and English Subba Rao from oblivion. * Bibek Debroy, Chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister * A fascinating and wholly original study of the beginnings of political thought in modern India. Rahul Sagar explores the way in which a piece of theatre from the early 19th century served to turn India's recent history into a new kind of instruction for her princes, urging them to grapple with colonial rule by thinking outside their traditions. * Faisal Devji, Professor of History, University of Oxford *

Author Information

English Subba Rao (1775-1848) was tutor and Prime Minister to the Maharajas of Tanjore and Travancore. A celebrated literary scholar, his oeuvre included translations, letters, musical compositions, and plays. Rahul Sagar is Global Network Associate Professor of Political Science at New York University, Abu Dhabi. His most recent books are The Progressive Maharaja: Sir Madhava Rao’s Hints on the Art and Science of Government and To Raise A Fallen People: How Nineteenth Century Indians Saw Their World and Shaped Ours.

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