Rajasthani Literature

Rajasthan has a very reputed place in the country. It has played a major role in contributing to various literature and languages. Rajasthan has a very rich culture and tradition. This makes it the place where varied languages and works of literature are found. 

The residents of Rajasthan have contributed to a great extent to the rise of Indian culture, art, and literature. The artists have done a great job preserving the Indian heritage for centuries through their skills.

Ancient Rajasthani Literature

Rajasthani language evolved from the Sauraseni Prakrit language. Rajasthani literature was started in the early 11th century when the Maru-Gurjari language was developed. It is written in many forms and genres. 

The ancient works of Rajasthan were found as carvings and inscriptions on rock edits, stones, coins, and seals. The written form was mainly inspired by the traditional way of oral literature. People thought it was safe to preserve the literature in a written form to be carried out from one generation to another.

In Rajasthan, literary works are majorly divided into the following broad categories:

• Sanskrit and Prakrit literature

• Rajasthani literature

• Hindi Literature

Sanskrit and Prakrit Literature

These works of literature are very old and were written when Sanskrit and Prakrit were the prominent languages of the country. They were written in the year 1500. The Brahsfut Siddhanta is one of the oldest Rajasthani literary works written by the ancient astronomer and mathematician, Brahmagupta. 

Some famous literary works include:

• • Shishupal Vadh was written by the poet Magha in the 8th century.

• Samaraichcha Katha, written by Hari Bhadra Suri.

• Upmiti Bharva Prancha Katha, written by Sidha Rishi.

Rajasthani Literature

The pieces of literature in this category are mainly written in the Rajasthani language. These can be further classified into the following categories depending upon the time frames, relative history, and traditions:

• • Early period: This period is also known as the “veer gatha” period. The extent of this period was from 1050 AD to 1550 AD.
  • Pre-medieval period: This period is commonly known as the “Bhakti” period. It extended from 1450 AD to 1650 AD.

• Post-medieval period: This period is also known as the “shringar, reeti, and neeti” period. It extended from 1650 AD to 1850 AD.

• Modern period: This period has been continuing since 1850 AD till date. It has numerous subjects and genres.

Hindi Literature

The Hindi literature in Rajasthan became famous during the National movement. The poets wrote against the Britishers to arouse the feeling of nationality and unity. This motivated the people to take a stand against the Britishers. The Hindi literature also exposed the reality of the Britishers and their exploitation. 

Surya Mal Mishran, Girvardhan, and Bhopaldan are some of the well-known writers of that period.

After independence, the Rajput poets of virkavya very smoothly described the sacrifice of the gallant freedom fighters. Their poem depicted the love and selfishness for nationality among the soldiers. They carved out the story of the brave soldiers in the Rajasthani dialect with the help of Dingal versification and bardic idiom.

Modern Literature of Rajasthan

The modern period is also regarded as the transitional phase. After attaining freedom, India did not remain the same. The social, political, and economic conditions were changed. Indian literature was exposed to Western ideologies. The old customs and traditions received a jolt. This was the transition period when modern literature gave birth.

The poets wrote about the progress of the country. Humorous and satirical poems gave birth. Poets started writing in Hindi, which came to be known as the Nai Kavita. The main focus of the Nai Kavita was the changes in attitude towards life, human values, and the environment.

The poems in modern Rajasthani literature were written to pay homage to famous historical people. The main themes of the literary works include patriotism and heroic. 

Rajasthani Literature Books

Some Rajasthani literature books worth reading are:

• A Princess Remembers The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur, written by Gayatri Devi.
• Maharana Pratap: The Greatest Rajput Warrior, written by Rima Hooja
• Folk: Tales of Rajasthan, written by G.L. Mathur
• Rajasthan: The Concise History, written by Rima Hooja
• Magic and Mayhem: The Moustache Man & Revenge of the Puppets, written by Priya Ramanathan

Conclusion

This article mainly focuses on Rajasthani literature and its various forms and classifications. It explains in detail the Rajasthani language and literature. One can go through it and can be aware of Rajasthani literature.