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Topic 326 · History, Art & Culture

Natyashastra versus Aristotle: Greek influence on Indian theatre

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Revise the 12 points first Book 1 RATNA

Core Trigger: Devdutt Pattanaik's essay 'Did Greeks Influence Indian Theatre?' appeared in The Indian Express on 18 July 2026.
Theme: It argues Greek theatre sought catharsis through conflict and tragedy, while Indian theatre pursued rasa through aesthetic experience.
Key Authors: Bharatamuni is credited with the Natyashastra; Aristotle wrote the Poetics.
Symbol: The Sanskrit stage curtain, yavanika, derives from 'Yavana', the ancient Indian word for Greeks.
Rasa Data: Bharata lists eight rasas in Chapter VI; Abhinavagupta established Shanta as the ninth.
Stakeholders: Sanskrit drama has the Sutradhara narrator and the comic Vidushaka but no chorus, unlike Greek plays.
India Link: Natyashastra and Gita manuscripts joined UNESCO's Memory of the World Register in April 2025.
Setting: Gandharan art fused Greek and Indian styles under the Indo-Greek kingdoms.
Founded: The Natyashastra is believed codified around the 2nd century BCE; UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme began in 1992.
Landmark: Aristotle's Poetics defines tragedy as stirring pity and fear to bring about katharsis (Poetics 6).
Unities: The three unities were codified by 16th-century critics Scaliger and Castelvetro, not Aristotle.
Definition: Rasa means 'flavour'; it arises when vibhava, anubhava and vyabhicharibhava combine around a sthayibhava.

Question 1 of 10

On what date did Devdutt Pattanaik's essay on Greek influence on Indian theatre appear in The Indian Express?

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Answer: (D) 18 July 2026

Core Trigger: Devdutt Pattanaik's essay 'Did Greeks Influence Indian Theatre?' appeared in The Indian Express on 18 July 2026.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 1

Question 2 of 10

Which aesthetic goal does Indian theatre pursue, as against Greek catharsis?

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Answer: (C) Rasa

Theme: It argues Greek theatre sought catharsis through conflict and tragedy, while Indian theatre pursued rasa through aesthetic experience.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 2

Question 3 of 10

Who is credited with the Natyashastra?

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Answer: (A) Bharatamuni

Key Authors: Bharatamuni is credited with the Natyashastra; Aristotle wrote the Poetics.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 3

Question 4 of 10

The Sanskrit stage curtain yavanika derives from the word for which people?

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Answer: (B) Greeks

Symbol: The Sanskrit stage curtain, yavanika, derives from 'Yavana', the ancient Indian word for Greeks.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 4

Question 5 of 10

Who established Shanta as the ninth rasa?

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Answer: (A) Abhinavagupta

Rasa Data: Bharata lists eight rasas in Chapter VI; Abhinavagupta established Shanta as the ninth.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 5

Question 6 of 10

Which feature of Greek plays is absent in Sanskrit drama?

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Answer: (D) The chorus

Stakeholders: Sanskrit drama has the Sutradhara narrator and the comic Vidushaka but no chorus, unlike Greek plays.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 6

Question 7 of 10

Gandharan art fused Greek and Indian styles under which kingdoms?

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Answer: (C) Indo-Greek kingdoms

Setting: Gandharan art fused Greek and Indian styles under the Indo-Greek kingdoms.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 8

Question 8 of 10

The Natyashastra is believed to have been codified around which century?

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Answer: (B) 2nd century BCE

Founded: The Natyashastra is believed codified around the 2nd century BCE; UNESCO's Memory of the World Programme began in 1992.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 9

Question 9 of 10

According to Poetics, tragedy stirs which emotions to bring about katharsis?

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Answer: (C) Pity and fear

Landmark: Aristotle's Poetics defines tragedy as stirring pity and fear to bring about katharsis (Poetics 6).From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 10

Question 10 of 10

1. The three unities were codified by Aristotle. 2. Rasa means 'flavour'. Which is/are correct?

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Answer: (B) Only 2

Definition: Rasa means 'flavour'; it arises when vibhava, anubhava and vyabhicharibhava combine around a sthayibhava.From Book 1 RATNA, topic 326, point 12

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