[Solved] Tutinama: The Persian Translation of Suka Saptati

Who among the following had translated Chintamani Bhatt's Sanskrit text 'Suka Saptati' in Persian and gave it the title 'Tutinama'?

[U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Medieval India saw a massive translation movement (Maktab Khana style) where Sanskrit fables were adapted into Persian to moralize and entertain the elite.

Authentic Source Evidence

Khwaja Ziyauddin Nakhshabi, a 14th-century Sufi scholar, translated the Suka Saptati (Seventy Tales of a Parrot) into the Persian Tutinama.

Analytical Breakdown

Option C is Correct: Nakhshabi's version streamlined the original stories and became a favorite subject for Mughal illustrated manuscripts.

Context: The stories use a parrot as a narrator to prevent a woman from adultery by enthralling her with witty tales every night for 52 nights.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What is the structural device used in the Tutinama?"

A 'frame story' where a parrot tells sub-stories to keep the protagonist engaged, similar to the One Thousand and One Nights.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Tutinama illustrates how animal fables were utilized across cultures as tools for moral education and strategic diversion."

Topic Clusters (click to see related topic questions)

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