A famous Sanskrit poet. There is no clear proof of when he lived and estimates range from 8th century BC to the 11th century AD, though most believe it to be between 1st century BC and 5th century AD.

As per the expert Hippolyte Fanche, Kalidasa lived in the 8th century BC since he describes the son of Agnivarna, one of the last Raghuvanshi kings.

Another expert Dr. Kunjanraja believes Kalidasa to have lived in 2nd century BC because Kalidasa was a contemporary of Agnimitra, a king belonging to the Sugarajavansh and who appears in Malavikasgnimitra.

It is believed by many that Kalidasa was part of Vikramaditya’s court around 56 BC.

Dr Kaith believes that Kalidasa lived around the 5th century AD. In 395 AD, a king named Chandragupta 2 defeated the Shakas and conquered Ujjain. He was also known as Vikramaditya and it is suggested that Kalidasa was a member of his court. Kalidasa has mentioned his benefactor Vikramaditya in a play named Vikramorvashiya. To celebrate the birth of this king’s son Kumaragupta, he wrote a play named Kumarasambhava.

The scholars Ferguson, MacMuller and Cairn suggest that kalidasa lived in the 6th century AD, though he was still attached to Ujjain.

Raghuvansha and Kumarasambhava are the most famous of Kalidasa’s poems. The plays Abhijnanashakunthalam, Vikramorvashiya, Malavikagnimitra and a work named Rithusamhara are also credited to him. He has also written the famous poem Meghasandesha.