Tales from the Hindu Dramatists

"Tales from the Hindu Dramatists" by R. N. Dutta, is a group of stories inspired by old Hindu plays, probably from the early 1900s. The book shares exciting stories from famous epics and writings like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, but makes them easier for kids to understand and enjoy so they can learn about India’s amazing culture and theater history. These stories are full of strong emotions—including love, bravery, and tough moral choices—modified with the goal to teach important lessons. The first story, "Sakuntala or The Lost Ring," introduces King Dushyanta meeting the lovely Sakuntala in the woods while hunting. They fall madly in love right away and get married with a special ceremony, exchanging a ring as a symbol of their love. Things get difficult because Sakuntala is cursed by an old wise man and then forgets her husband. As the story continues, it considers ideas about love, sadness, and what is meant to be, which brings the king on a journey to come back together with Sakuntala and accept their connection after being apart for a long time, making it a culturally relevant and emotionally charged story.