Hindi Literature
हिन्दी साहित्य — Major Writers and Literary Streams
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Overview
Hindi Literature forms a crucial component of Language I in GTET, testing candidates on their knowledge of major writers, literary periods, and characteristic features of different literary movements. Questions typically focus on identifying authors with their works, matching literary periods with their characteristics, and understanding the contributions of iconic poets and prose writers.
The syllabus emphasises four towering figures — Tulsidas and Surdas from the Bhakti period, Premchand from modern prose, and Mahadevi Verma from Chhayavad poetry. Beyond individual writers, candidates must understand the four major streams (Dhara) of Hindi literature: Adikal, Bhaktikal, Ritikal, and Adhunikal. This systematic knowledge helps answer both direct factual questions and inferential questions about literary characteristics.
Mastering this topic requires memorising key works, understanding the social context of each period, and recognising the distinctive style of major authors. Expect 3-5 questions from this area in the exam.
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Key Concepts
- **Kaal Vibhajan (Periodisation)**: Hindi literature is divided into four ages — Adikal (up to 1400 CE), Bhaktikal (1400-1700), Ritikal (1700-1900), and Adhunikal (1900 onwards). Acharya Ramchandra Shukla established this classification.
- **Bhakti Movement's Dual Streams**: Bhaktikal split into Nirgun (formless God — Kabir, Guru Nanak) and Sagun (God with form — further divided into Ram-bhakti by Tulsidas and Krishna-bhakti by Surdas).
- **Chhayavad**: The romantic-nationalist poetry movement (1918-1936) featuring four pillars — Prasad, Pant, Nirala, and Mahadevi Verma. Characterised by subjective expression, nature imagery, and mysticism.
- **Premchand's Realism**: Called "Upanyas Samrat" (Emperor of Novels), Premchand brought social realism to Hindi fiction, depicting rural poverty, caste discrimination, and women's struggles.
- **Awadhi vs Brajbhasha**: Tulsidas wrote primarily in Awadhi (Ramcharitmanas), while Surdas composed in Brajbhasha. Both are literary dialects distinct from modern Khari Boli Hindi.
- **Progressivism in Literature**: Post-Chhayavad, Pragativad (Progressive movement) emerged with Marxist leanings, followed by Prayogvad (Experimentalism) and Nai Kavita (New Poetry).
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Key Facts — Must Remember
| Writer | Period | Major Works | Key Contribution | |--------|--------|-------------|------------------| | **Tulsidas** (1532-1623) | Bhaktikal | Ramcharitmanas, Vinay Patrika, Kavitavali, Hanuman Chalisa | Ram-bhakti; synthesised Gyan, Bhakti, Karma | | **Surdas** (1478-1583) | Bhaktikal | Sursagar, Surasaravali, Sahitya Lahari | Krishna's childhood (Vatsalya), Radha-Krishna love | | **Premchand** (1880-1936) | Adhunikal | Godan, Gaban, Nirmala, Kafan, Idgah, Panch Parmeshwar | Realism; village life; social reform themes | | **Mahadevi Verma** (1907-1987) | Chhayavad | Nihar, Rashmi, Neerja, Sandhyageet, Yama (prose) | Called "Modern Meera"; Vedana (pathos) in poetry |
**Literary Periods — Key Features:**
- **Adikal (Veer-Gatha Kal)**: Heroic poetry; Prithviraj Raso by Chand Bardai; court poetry praising kings
- **Bhaktikal (Swarna Yug)**: Golden age of Hindi; devotional poetry; social reform; Kabir's dohas, Jayasi's Padmavat
- **Ritikal**: Ornate poetry; focus on Shringar Ras (love); Nayika-bhed; Bihari's Satsai, Keshavdas, Ghananand
- **Adhunikal**: Prose development; Bharatendu Harishchandra — "Father of Modern Hindi"; nationalism and social reform
**Important Associations:**
- Ashtachap poets — Eight poets of Krishna-bhakti including Surdas
- Goswami Tulsidas is associated with Varanasi and Chitrakoot
- Premchand edited magazines "Hans" and "Jagaran"
- Mahadevi Verma received Jnanpith Award (1982) for Yama
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Worked Examples
**Example 1:** *Which literary period is considered the "Golden Age" (Swarna Yug) of Hindi literature?*
**Solution:**
- Step 1: Recall the four periods — Adikal, Bhaktikal, Ritikal, Adhunikal
- Step 2: Identify which period produced the most celebrated works
- Step 3: Bhaktikal (1400-1700) is called Swarna Yug because it produced Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, Meera, and Jayasi
- **Answer: Bhaktikal**
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**Example 2:** *Match the following:* | Column A | Column B | |----------|----------| | 1. Godan | a. Tulsidas | | 2. Sursagar | b. Premchand | | 3. Vinay Patrika | c. Mahadevi Verma | | 4. Nihar | d. Surdas |
**Solution:**
- Godan — Premchand's masterpiece novel about farmer Hori (1-b)
- Sursagar — Surdas's magnum opus on Krishna (2-d)
- Vinay Patrika — Tulsidas's devotional prayers to Ram (3-a)
- Nihar — Mahadevi Verma's first poetry collection (4-c)
- **Answer: 1-b, 2-d, 3-a, 4-c**
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**Example 3:** *"Modern Meera" is a title given to which Hindi writer?*
**Solution:**
- Step 1: Meera was a medieval Krishna devotee known for her devotional intensity
- Step 2: The title suggests a modern woman poet with similar devotional/emotional depth
- Step 3: Mahadevi Verma's poetry expresses intense Vedana (pathos) and spiritual longing similar to Meera
- **Answer: Mahadevi Verma**
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Common Mistakes
- **Confusing Awadhi and Brajbhasha authors** → Tulsidas wrote in Awadhi (eastern dialect), Surdas in Brajbhasha (western dialect). Remember: **T**ulsidas = eas**T**ern Awadhi.
- **Mixing up Chhayavad's four pillars** → Students confuse Premchand with Prasad. Remember: Premchand wrote **prose** (novels/stories), Prasad wrote **poetry** and drama. The four Chhayavadi poets are Prasad, Pant, Nirala, Mahadevi — all poets.
- **Attributing Hanuman Chalisa to wrong author** → Hanuman Chalisa was written by Tulsidas, not a separate author. It is part of his devotional corpus.
- **Confusing Nirgun and Sagun streams** → Kabir and Nanak are Nirgun (formless God), while Tulsidas and Surdas are Sagun (God with form). Remember: **S**urdas and **S**agun both start with S.
- **Wrong period for Bharatendu** → Bharatendu Harishchandra belongs to Adhunikal (modern period), not Ritikal. He marks the transition to modern Hindi prose and is called the "Father of Modern Hindi Literature."
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Quick Reference
- **Four Kaals**: Adikal → Bhaktikal (Swarna Yug) → Ritikal → Adhunikal
- **Tulsidas**: Ramcharitmanas, Awadhi, Ram-bhakti, Varanasi
- **Surdas**: Sursagar, Brajbhasha, Krishna's Vatsalya, Ashtachap poet
- **Premchand**: Godan, Gaban, Kafan; "Upanyas Samrat"; realism and rural India
- **Mahadevi Verma**: Chhayavad; "Modern Meera"; Nihar, Neerja; Jnanpith 1982
- **Chhayavad Chaar Stambh**: Prasad, Pant, Nirala, Mahadevi (all poets, not Premchand)