Vada in Theory and Practice: Studies in Debates, Dialogues and Discussions in Indian Intellectual Discourses c5.s2.6

c5.s2.6

The Lokāyatikas, Ājīvakas, the Sikh *gurus*, Kabīr (1398–1448), Vasava and B.R. Ambedkar raised the voices of protest against the system. They fought against hierarchies, feudalism and tyranny also. It is in the literary traditions — poetry, drama and fiction — that we find *vāda* reverberating with notes of dissent and protests. Chap. 6 of this work is devoted to documenting some of the literary pieces voicing such notes. Poets like Bhartṛhari, Bhavabhūti and Bilhaṇa have raised their voices of protest against the kings, as well as social and political institutions. *Mahiṣaśatakam* of Vāñchānātha (also known as Vāñcheśvara, and a descendant of Govinda Dīkṣita) is a powerful text against a ruler, the oppressive system and exploitation.²²