Shakuntala's Impending Calamity

Saturday, 23rd February 1901 finds a note in the Diary of C. Raja Raja Varma which says "Towards evening we went out of our hut (at Ghatkopar) to finish the open scenery in the picture of ‘Sakuntala’s Impending Calamity." This painting by Raja Ravi Varma was immediately thereafter exhibited at the Bombay Art Society Exhibition which was held in March, 1901. The painting went on to win the prize given the 'His Highness the Late Martanda Varma, First Prince of Travancore Prize' for the best landscape in oils, with figures, by a native from India in a sum of Rs. 70. This painting then finds reference in the Report on the Administration of the Government Museum and Connemara Public Library for the year 1901-1902 where it was gifted to the Museum at which time it is called "Sakuntala under the Shadow of an Impending Calamity." It represents the scene when Shakuntala is lost in contemplation of Dushyanta when Vashishta visits the ashram. Shakuntala, being oblivious to his presence, is cursed by Vashishta that her lover would lose all memory of her. He is thereafter implored to withdraw his curse. Vashishta relents and says the curse would be absolved when Dushyanta sees the signet ring given to Shakuntala. However, curiously, this painting forms the exemplar for a chromolithograph titled 'Sita-Vanavas' where it depicts the scene of Seeta being abandoned in the forest and sheltered by Valmiki in his ashram. Making the narrative even more interesting is that when printed as a postcard, the very same image says it depicts Sita in the Ashoka-Van when she is captured by Ravan.