Chitra-Pothi Illustrated Palm-leaf Manuscripts From Orissa

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An important but little-known art form of Orissa is illustration on palm-leaf that flourished along with the Orissan tradition of copying kavya texts on palm-leaf manuscripts and illuminating them. This art form touched its zenith during the golden age of Oriya kavya literature in the 18th century when a large number of chitra-pothis (illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts) were done. Chitra-pothi: Illustrated palm-leaf manuscripts from Orissa traces the palm-leaf tradition of Orissa and the development of Oriya literature that provides the basis of palm-leaf art. It throws light on the making of the chitra-pothis and the nature of the texts that were illustrated weaving into the larger canvas the patron, the scribe and the artist, as it goes on to analyse palm-leaf art: as illumination of the text and as an art form.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR J.P. Das

Dr Jagannath Prasad Das is a well-known poet, playwright and fiction writer whose Puri Paintings continues to be a masterly volume on Orissan art. He has also co-authored with Professor Joanna Williams of University of California, Berkeley Palm-leaf Miniatures: The Art of Raghunath Prusti of Orissa. His other publications in English include First Person, Timescapes and Lovelines”collections of poems; Before Sunset, The Underdog and Sundardas”plays; The Magic Deer, The Forbidden Street and Dear Jester ” collections of stories. His plays have been translated into several Indian languages and staged in different parts of India. Before Sunset is considered a classic among modern Indian plays. Born in Orissa in 1936, Dr J P Das lives and works in Delhi.