Kalidasa
- Writer
Possibly the most influential Sanskrit dramatist who lived between 425
and 500 AD in India. He is best known through his drama Sakuntala
(translated into English by Sir William Jones in 1789), titled after
the name of its heroine which recounts a story contained in the Indian
Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata. His other famous dramas include
Malavikagnimitra (Malavi and Agnimitra) and Vikramorvasi (Urvasi Won by
Valor). He also penned the epic poems Raghuvansa (Dynasty of Raghu) and
Kumarasambhava (Birth of the War God) and the short lyrical poem
Meghaduta (The Cloud Messenger). Much of his life is quite an
enigma.
