Kaumudi-Mahotsava - Its Historical Interpretation
Summary
Kailash Chandra Ojha reassesses the historical drama Kaumudi-Mahotsava. He critiques K. P. Jayaswal's claim that its characters correspond to historical figures of the Gupta period and notes that scholars have largely rejected these identifications. The drama, published in 1927, claims to dramatise events involving the king of Magadha, and it mentions states like Magadha and Licchavi. Ojha examines arguments linking characters to Western Ksatrapa and Maukhari kings but concludes that such identifications are speculative and unsupported. He suggests that while the play may reflect the political geography of early 4th‑century northern India, it lacks specific historical references. The paper emphasises that literary works should be used cautiously as historical sources and that Kaumudi-Mahotsava conveys themes of statecraft and morality rather than factual history.
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Conclusion
The article concludes that Kaumudi-Mahotsava cannot be reliably used as evidence for Gupta‑period history. Its characters and plot are too stylised to match particular rulers, and attempts to identify them with historical figures are speculative. The drama remains valuable for its literary qualities and moral themes but should not be over‑interpreted as historical fact.