Question

Who is the author of the text 'Nālandādahanam'?

• A. Subrahmaṇya
• B. Subbānaḍu
• C. Śāntideva
• D. Nāgasena

Hint:

When dealing with titles ending in '-dahanam' or focusing on modern historical tragedies in Sanskrit, look for authors from the late 19th or 20th century. Ancient authors like Śāntideva or Nāgasena wrote primarily on philosophy, logic, and monastic discipline, rather than historical accounts of institutional destruction.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept: Sanskrit literature encompasses a vast timeline, ranging from ancient Vedic texts to modern contemporary works. While ancient authors like Kalidasa or Bhasa are widely known, there is a significant body of modern Sanskrit literature (20th and 21st centuries) that addresses historical and tragic events. The text 'Nālandādahanam' (The Burning of Nalanda) is a modern composition that focuses on the destruction of the ancient Nalanda University, a premier center of learning in ancient India.

Step 1: Understanding the title 'Nālandādahanam'.
The word 'Nālandādahanam' is a compound (Samasa) in Sanskrit. 'Nālandā' refers to the world-renowned ancient university located in present-day Bihar, India. 'Dahanam' means 'burning' or 'conflagration'. The title signifies a literary work—often written in the form of a drama or a descriptive poem—that chronicles the historical tragedy of the university's destruction by invaders (specifically Bakhtiyar Khalji's forces in the late 12th century).

Step 2: Identifying the author through literary history.
Modern Sanskrit scholars have written extensively to revive interest in historical themes using classical language. The work 'Nālandādahanam' was authored by P. C. Subrahmaṇya Śāstrī (often referred to simply as Subrahmaṇya in competitive exams). He was a noted scholar and writer who contributed significantly to 20th-century Sanskrit literature, using the language to portray nationalist and historical themes.

Step 3: Eliminating other options based on historical context.
To ensure accuracy, we can examine the other names provided in the options:
• (3) Śāntideva: He was an 8th-century Buddhist monk and scholar at Nalanda. He is famous for the 'Bodhicharyavatara' (A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life). He lived long before the burning of Nalanda took place and did not write a book with this title.
• (4) Nāgasena: He was a Buddhist sage known for his dialogues with the Indo-Greek King Menander I (Milinda), recorded in the famous Pali text 'Milinda Panha' (Questions of Milinda) around the 2nd century BCE. This predates the establishment and the eventual destruction of Nalanda.
• (2) Subbānaḍu: This name does not correspond to a major recognized author of a Sanskrit work titled 'Nālandādahanam' in the standard literary canon.

Step 4: Final Verification.
Given the modern nature of the title and the historical focus on the university's end, the authorship is attributed to the modern Sanskrit scholar Subrahmaṇya. His work is noted for its emotional depth and historical narrative, mourning the loss of the great library and the seat of global knowledge.