Dr. Christopher L. Diamond

About Christopher

Christopher’s current project concerns the literary legacy of a medieval multi-lingual poet from the North Indian region of Mithila, Vidyapati (c. 1370-1450). His, at the time, new vernacular language of song and poetry became a standardized classical style across Nepal, the Eastern Gangetic Plains, Bengal, and further afield. Christopher is currently working on a new edition and translation of some of the oldest manuscript that contain this poet’s songs and a critical analysis of the ways kings and brahmins in Nepal and Bihar employed them to project their own power and prestige. Christopher works with texts, traditions, and culture in Hindi (including Braj Bhasa and Avadhi), Urdu, Bengali, Maithili, Sanskrit, Persian, and Apabhramsa.

Research Interests

• Courtly Poetics & Literature

• Hindi, Maithili, Bengali, & Apabhramsa languages & literatures

• Manuscript Studies

• Digital Humanities

• Music & Performance

• Bhakti Studies