Indian Literature Abroad
By Prabhat Kumar Mukherji
Summary
This piece surveys translations of Indian literary works into European languages and their reception abroad. It notes that Sanskrit classics like the Mahabharata and Shakuntala attracted early European interest, while modern works by Tagore gained acclaim in the twentieth century. The author discusses the role of Orientalists and missionaries in transmitting Indian literature and highlights translations into Russian, German and French. He emphasises that cross‑cultural literary exchange enriches both Indian and global literature and encourages more translations to showcase India’s diverse heritage.
Conclusion
The study reveals that Indian literature survived and evolved beyond its homeland through sustained Sino-Indian exchanges, where translation, patronage, and pilgrimage transformed it into a foundational component of East Asian intellectual and religious culture.