Wellfleet Public Library

Emperor Akbar wanted prominent Indian literary works translated into Persian, his court language. One of these was the Ramayana, an epic that narrates the story ancient King Rama who was exiled and fought a war to rescue his abducted wife, Sita. The Emperor commissioned its translation and had it illustrated in a Persianate style of painting. Similarly, the ruler of a small kingdom in western India commissioned his own illustrated manuscript in the painting style of his court. Paula Richman will examine how the two artworks differ.

Paula Richman is Danforth Professor of South Asian Religions, Emerita, and has taught the history of religions in India at Oberlin College for 35 years and has published extensively on the Ramayana traditions in various regions of India.