With reference to the history of ancient India, Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla and Kshemeshvara were famous

Answer: B. Bhavabhuti, Hastimalla, and Kshemeshvara were famous PLAYWRIGHTS (Sanskrit dramatists). BHAVABHUTI (8th century CE) — one of the GREATEST SANSKRIT PLAYWRIGHTS after Kalidasa. Patronised by King Yashovarman of Kannauj. His three famous plays are: - MALATIMADHAVA — a prakarana on love and romance. - MAHAVIRACHARITA — on Rama's early life up to the coronation. - UTTARARAMACHARITA — the later life of Rama after the Lanka war, considered his masterpiece. Bhavabhuti is celebrated for his elevated Sanskrit, deep emotional content (especially karuna rasa), and dramatic craftsmanship. HASTIMALLA — a 13th century JAIN SANSKRIT DRAMATIST who wrote plays on Jain themes. His works include 'Vikrantakaurava', 'Maithilikalyana', 'Subhadraharanam', and 'Anjana Pavananjaya'. He served in the Hoysala-Yadava court. KSHEMESHVARA — an 11th century Kashmiri Sanskrit playwright. Author of 'CHANDAKAUSHIKA' (a Sanskrit drama on the Harishchandra legend) and 'NAISHADHANANDA' (on the Nala story). His plays explore the suffering and moral testing of legendary kings. These figures all belong to the rich tradition of SANSKRIT DRAMATURGY that includes Bhasa, Sudraka, Kalidasa, Harsha, Bhatta Narayana, Visakhadatta etc. Distractors: (A) Jain monks — no, only Hastimalla wrote on Jain themes but all three are playwrights. (C) Temple architects — wrong; architects of the era are figures like Bhojadeva, Sutradhara Mandana. (D) Philosophers — wrong; that would describe Shankara, Ramanuja, Madhva, Vidyaranya etc. Source: NCERT Class 11 Themes in Indian History / A.B. Keith, 'The Sanskrit Drama'.