The correct option is (c) 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Kalidasa is widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language. He is historically associated with the "Golden Age" of Indian culture under the Gupta Empire, specifically believed to be one of the "Navaratnas" (Nine Gems) in the court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya).- Statement 1 is Correct: Kalidasa wrote his plays and poetry in Classical Sanskrit. His works are celebrated for their linguistic purity and use of similes (Upama).
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Kalidasa lived during the Gupta period, which corresponds to the 4th to 5th century CE. This places his existence approximately 1600 years ago. The timeline of 2500 years ago corresponds to the era of the Buddha and the Mahajanapadas (approx. 500 BCE).
- Statement 3 is Correct: He is the author of the celebrated play Abhijnana Shakuntalam (The Recognition of Shakuntala), which is considered a masterpiece of world literature. His other major works include Meghaduta, Raghuvamsha, and Kumarasambhava.
Key Takeaway: Kalidasa was a Classical Sanskrit author of the Gupta period (approx. 1600 years ago), not the Mauryan or Vedic period, and is best known for Abhijnana Shakuntalam.