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🌟 Miscellaneous Chapter 2: Intellectual Heritage and Cultural Traditions of Bihar (बिहार की बौद्धिक विरासत एवं सांस्कृतिक परंपराएँ)

Module 2: Regional Languages and Literature of Bihar — Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri

📖 Chapter 2 of 3 🧩 Module 2 of 7 ⏱️ ~3 min read 💡 9 MCQs
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 2.1: Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri letters

  • The main languages of Bihar are Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi. Awadhi belongs to central Uttar Pradesh, not to Bihar.
  • Bhojpuri is spoken across western Bihar, including Shahabad, Bhojpur, Rohtas, Saran and Champaran, and in parts of Palamu. It is not the language of Darbhanga, which is a Maithili district.
  • In the early fourteenth century Jyotirishwar Thakur wrote the encyclopedic Maithili prose work Varnaratnakara. Vidyapati of Mithila composed Kirtilata and Kirtipataka. Other Maithili writers include Chanda Jha, Bhanu Kavi, Mahesh Thakur, Govind Das and Rudradhara.
  • Maithili entered the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution in 2003 through the Ninety-Second Constitutional Amendment Act.
  • Ishan is regarded as the first poet of Magahi. Later Magahi writers include Lakshmi Narayan Pathak, Suresh Dubey and Yogeshwar Singh Yogesh, who wrote the epic Gautam.
  • Bhikhari Thakur is honoured as the Janakavi and the Shakespeare of Bhojpuri. His play Bidesiya speaks of migration and social inequality. Other Bhojpuri writers include Mahendra Misir, Raghuveer Nath, Awadh Bihari Suman, Ganesh Dutt Tiwari, Umakant Verma and Rameshwar Singh.
Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri letters
Figure: Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri letters
⭐ Key Points
  • Awadhi is spoken mainly in central Uttar Pradesh. Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi are the major languages of Bihar.
  • Ishan is revered as the first poet of Magahi.
  • Bhojpuri is spoken in Shahabad, Champaran and Palamu. Darbhanga is a Maithili-speaking district.
  • Maithili was placed in the Eighth Schedule in 2003 by the Ninety-Second Constitutional Amendment.
  • Lakshmi Narayan Pathak, Suresh Dubey and Yogeshwar Singh Yogesh all wrote in Magahi. Yogesh composed the epic Gautam.
  • Varnaratnakara is a fourteenth-century classic in Maithili.
  • Vidyapati belonged to Mithila and is the greatest literary figure of Maithili.
  • Bhikhari Thakur created the Bhojpuri play and musical drama Bidesiya.
  • Bhikhari Thakur is honoured as the Janakavi of Bhojpuri.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: Which of the following is not included among the major languages of Bihar? Answer: Awadhi.
  • Question: Who is considered the first poet of the Magahi language? Answer: Ishan.
  • Question: In which of the following districts of Bihar is Bhojpuri not spoken? Answer: Darbhanga.
  • Question: In which year was the Maithili language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution? (BPSC 66th re-exam, 2021) Answer: 2003 CE.
  • Question: Which litterateurs are associated with the Magahi language? Answer: All of the above.
  • Question: Varnaratnakara, composed by Jyotirishwar Thakur, is a famous work in which language? Answer: Maithili.
  • Question: Vidyapati, the composer of Kirtilata and Kirtipataka, was associated with which region of Bihar? Answer: Mithila.
  • Question: Who is the creator of the famous Bhojpuri work Bidesiya? Answer: Bhikhari Thakur.
  • Question: Who is called the Janakavi of Bhojpuri? Answer: Bhikhari Thakur.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 3: Which of the following is not included among the major languages of Bihar?

Awadhi is spoken mainly in central Uttar Pradesh. Maithili, Bhojpuri and Magahi are the major languages of Bihar.

Question 4: Who is considered the first poet of the Magahi language?

Ishan is revered as the first poet of Magahi.

Question 6: In which of the following districts of Bihar is Bhojpuri not spoken?

Bhojpuri is spoken in Shahabad, Champaran and Palamu. Darbhanga is a Maithili-speaking district.

Question 7: In which year was the Maithili language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution? (BPSC 66th re-exam, 2021)

Maithili was placed in the Eighth Schedule in 2003 by the Ninety-Second Constitutional Amendment.

Question 9: Which litterateurs are associated with the Magahi language?

Lakshmi Narayan Pathak, Suresh Dubey and Yogeshwar Singh Yogesh all wrote in Magahi. Yogesh composed the epic Gautam.

Question 11: Varnaratnakara, composed by Jyotirishwar Thakur, is a famous work in which language?

Varnaratnakara is a fourteenth-century classic in Maithili.

Question 22: Vidyapati, the composer of Kirtilata and Kirtipataka, was associated with which region of Bihar?

Vidyapati belonged to Mithila and is the greatest literary figure of Maithili.

Question 27: Who is the creator of the famous Bhojpuri work Bidesiya?

Bhikhari Thakur created the Bhojpuri play and musical drama Bidesiya.

Question 28: Who is called the Janakavi of Bhojpuri?

Bhikhari Thakur is honoured as the Janakavi of Bhojpuri.
Question 1 of 9

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which of the following is not included among the major languages of Bihar?

Awadhi.

Who is considered the first poet of the Magahi language?

Ishan.

In which of the following districts of Bihar is Bhojpuri not spoken?

Darbhanga.

In which year was the Maithili language included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution? (BPSC 66th re-exam, 2021)

2003 CE.

Which litterateurs are associated with the Magahi language?

All of the above.

Varnaratnakara, composed by Jyotirishwar Thakur, is a famous work in which language?

Maithili.

Vidyapati, the composer of Kirtilata and Kirtipataka, was associated with which region of Bihar?

Mithila.

Who is the creator of the famous Bhojpuri work Bidesiya?

Bhikhari Thakur.

Who is called the Janakavi of Bhojpuri?

Bhikhari Thakur.
Question 1 of 9