(a) Schools of Comparative Literature
Comparative Literature studies literary texts across cultures, languages, and time periods. There are several schools of thought in this field. The French school focuses on influence studies and historical relationships between literatures. The American school emphasizes themes, genres, and universal human experiences. The Indian school encourages comparing regional Indian literatures and linking them with global traditions. Each school has its own methods but shares the aim of understanding literature beyond borders, highlighting both similarities and differences between literary traditions.
(b) Translation of Ramayana
The Ramayana, originally written in Sanskrit by Valmiki, has been translated into almost every Indian language and many foreign ones. Each translation reflects regional culture and values. For example, Tulsidas’s “Ramcharitmanas” in Awadhi is a devotional retelling, while Kamban’s Tamil version offers a poetic interpretation. Modern English translations aim to bring the epic to global audiences. Translating the Ramayana involves not just linguistic change, but also interpreting its philosophical and moral depth for new readers.