Sanskrit Dramas in Ancient India (1981) :: rare & precious original thesis

For collectors of rare books on Indian theatre and dramatics, we are pleased to offer a truly rare and unique doctoral thesis by the late actress and theatre veteran Dr Tarla Mehta. As one of three sisters (Shanta Gandhi, Dina Pathak & Tarla Mehta) who were all deeply involved in the Indian theatre movement and the performing arts, Tarla Mehta's insightful study of the ancient dramatic traditions of India is unparalleled. Her research culminated in an encyclopaedic doctoral thesis of superlative substance in the year 1981. This rare original thesis delves into the components of traditional Natya production as described in the Natyasastra & other ancient Indian dramaturgical texts and the relevance of these ancient techniques in present-day traditional forms. The plays of Bhasa to Bhavabhuti are used as the main terms of reference. It also contains exhaustive visualisations of scenes & sequences of several major Sanskrit plays with elaborate production notes, and the author's original hand-painted illustrations of costume designs, property sketches and theatre design, as well as several original photographs of stage performances from the author's collection.

Several images of this invaluable original thesis (including the complete table of contents) are attached herewith for the perusal of those interested.

THE PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES OF SANSKRIT DRAMAS IN ANCIENT INDIA

Author: Tarla Mehta
Year: 1981
Format: Original unabridged doctoral thesis typewritten on Kores Tip-Top watermarked paper. Professionally hardbound with genuine black leather spine & leather corners. The title has been embossed in golden lettering on the front cover and on the spine.
Size: 29 cm long x 23 cm wide x 4.7 cm thick — This is a comprehensive encyclopaedic compendium.
Pages: x + 676 pages, including several hand-painted illustrations & drawings + 19 original photographs + several large fold-out inserts featuring tabular frameworks & charts.
Rarity: Extremely rare and precious original thesis. This is the only original specimen available for purchase.
Condition: Pre-owned. Excellent. All pages intact. Binding tight and firm.

Remarks on Rarity & Condition: This is the original author's unabridged doctoral thesis typewritten on Kores Tip-Top watermarked paper. The only other copy of this thesis may be found in the library of the University of Mumbai. Hence, this original specimen is the only one that would ever be available for purchase. Some of the pages of this thesis contain the author's handwritten annotations, these are largely limited to the handwritten Sanskrit text and the odd typographical correction. A select few pages at the beginning and at the end display some creasing and edge-wear, these have been carefully restored for future protection. In conclusion, each and every page of this thesis is completely intact. There is a small amount of natural yellowing or spotting on some of the pages owing to age and use. All things considered, being a thesis that was extensively used by the author and considering its sheer rarity & archival uniqueness, it is in truly excellent condition overall.

Please email us on kumarclassicbookpoint@gmail.com for cost and availability, or for any further queries in order to serve you better. Delivery in Mumbai is free.