Thread by @bhAratenduH

Shakespeare (~1560-1616)

His Indian contemporaries (not exhaustive):

- Surdas (~1483–1584)
- Narottam Das (1493-15?)
- Tulasidas (1532–1623)
- Raskhan (1533–1618)
- Gang (1538-1625)
- Keshav (1555–1617)
- Bihari Lal (1595–1664)
- Rahim (1556–1627)

1/n

https://twitter.com/Chikisarkar/status/1025934635178569728

Indian Contemporaries of Shakespeare
2/n

- Vrind (1643 - 1723)
- Dadu Dayal (1544-1603)
- Banarasi Das(1586–1643)
- Nabhadas (~1580s - 1650s)
- Jayasi (1540-16?)
- Malookdas Khatri (1574-1682)
- Kumbhan Das (1468-1583)
- Narahari Mahapatra (1505-1610)
- Adho Duraso (1538-16?)

Indian Contemporaries of Shakespeare
3/n

- Appaya Dikshita (1525-1598)
- Jagannatha Pandit (~1600-1674)
- Eknath (1533-1599)
- Tukaram (1568-1659)
- Kanaka Dasa (1509 – 1609)
- Lakshmisha (mid 1500s - mid 1600s)
- Virupaksha Pandita (early to late 1600s)

Indian Contemporaries of Shakespeare
4/n

- Govinda Dasa Kaviraj (1535–1613)
- Dvija Madhav Acharya (mid 1500s)
- Faizi (1547-1595)
- Abul Fazl (1551-1602)
- Sarala Dasa (1500s)
- Some of the Telugu Astadiggajulu, like Peddana and Pingali Suranna, would still be around

Indian Contemporaries of Shakespeare
5/5

- Poonthanam Nambuthiri (1547–1640)
- Melpathur Narayana Bhattatiri (1560–1646)

Thanks to all the feedback based on which here are some additions:

- Thunchathu Ezhuthacchan (1495-1575)
- Manaveda Raja (1585–1658)
- Jagannath Das (1491-1550)
- Samarth Ramdas (1608-1681)
- Rupa Goswami (1489–1564)
- Jiva Goswami (1513 – 1598)
- Purandara Das (1484–1564)

6/n

Kavi Vrind happened just after Shakespeare would have passed - apologies for the oversight.

Many have suggested Arunagirinathar, Narasi Mehta, Sanatan Goswami, Veera Kerala Varma. All very important poets but as far as I can see they were not contemporaries of Shakespeare.

7/n

Thanks very much to @Mamdhata @saataarkar @BVedantist @vikas_akalwadi and @Chandrapida1 for correcting oversights 🙏🏽

8/8