Write a short note on secular literature of Ancient India.|NIOS HISTORY SOLVED

 question: 1. Write a short not on secular literature of Ancient India?

This category of literature does not have religion as its theme. To this class belongs to Dharmashastra or law books which prescribe the duties for different social groups.

The earliest law book was Manusmriti, this book was written during Pushyamitra Sunga of Sunga dynasty. It was the first book translated by the British to codify the Hindu law.

Ashtadhyayi of Panini was the first grammar book prepared around 700 BC. This is also helpful in historical reconstuction.

Indica of Megasthenese and Arthashastra of Chanakya give a detailed accounts of politics of the Indian subcontinent. Mudrarakshak of Vishakhadatt also describes about the Mauryan empire.

The works of Kalidas who worked in the Gupta period composed poems and dramas- Abhijanashakuntalam, Ritusamhara and Meghadutam. These provide us with the glimpses of social and cultural life of the Guptas.

For the history of kashmir, we have an important book called Rajatarangini writtten by Kalhan in 12th century. 

Biographies and Charitias are very important non-religious texts for writing history. These biographies were written by the court poets or scribes, they wrote in praise of patron kings. As there is a tendendency among them to exaggerate the achievements. so they have to be studied with caution. One such text is Harshacharita, written by Banabhatta is praise of Harshvardhan.

The earlier South India literature is called Sangam literature. It was written in Tamil and is a secular in nature. It was produced by poets who joined together in assemblies (300 BC - 300 AD).