Writers of Bihar and the Regional Tradition
Writers of Bihar and the Regional Tradition
In a Bihar paper this topic can give as many as two questions and the likelihood is higher than usual. Dinkar, Renu, Benipuri and Nagarjun — four names, their forms and two works for each is preparation enough to secure the whole of it.
Ramdhari Singh Dinkar
Born at Simaria in Begusarai. He is principally a poet, but his prose is of equal importance, and he is called Rashtrakavi.
| Work | Form |
|---|---|
| Rashmirathi, Kurukshetra, Urvashi | poetry |
| Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay | cultural essay |
| Ardhanarishwar | essay collection |
Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay is his largest prose work, written on the development of Indian culture, and it received the Sahitya Akademi award. For Urvashi he received the Jnanpith in 1972.
Phanishwarnath Renu
Born at Aurahi Hingna in Araria. He is regarded as the greatest name in the tradition of the regional novel.
- Maila Anchal — 1954; a full picture of life in a Bihar village.
- Parti Parikatha — the fallow land and its people.
- Mare Gaye Gulfam — the film Teesri Kasam was made from this story.
- Rinjal Dhanjal — a collection of reportage written on the floods.
A regional novel means one in which the region itself rises as a character — its dialect, customs, festivals and struggles all become part of the story. Maila Anchal is treated as the standard by which the form is measured.
✗ Teesri Kasam is a novel by Renu | ✓ It is the name of the film made from his story Mare Gaye Gulfam
Benipuri and Nagarjun
| Writer | Place | Major works |
|---|---|---|
| Ramvriksh Benipuri | Muzaffarpur | Mati ki Murten, Gehun aur Gulab |
| Nagarjun | Tarauni, Darbhanga | Yugdhara, Balchanma, Ratinath ki Chachi |
Mati ki Murten is Benipuri's collection of word portraits, in which ordinary village people rise as pictures in words. Nagarjun was both poet and novelist, and his Balchanma is a major peasant-centred novel in Hindi.
चारों को एक कड़ी में रखिए — दिनकर का ओज, रेणु का अंचल, बेनीपुरी का रेखाचित्र और नागार्जुन का किसान। एक-एक शब्द से चारों याद आ जाते हैं।
TRE pointer: The pairing of Maila Anchal with the regional novel is asked most often. Teesri Kasam is the film and Mare Gaye Gulfam the story — that confusion is placed deliberately among the options. Remember Dinkar's prose work Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay and Benipuri's Mati ki Murten as well.
60-Second Recap
- Dinkar was from Begusarai and is called Rashtrakavi.
- Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay is Dinkar's prose work; Urvashi won the Jnanpith in 1972.
- Renu was from Araria and led the tradition of the regional novel.
- Maila Anchal appeared in 1954; Teesri Kasam is the film from Mare Gaye Gulfam.
- Mati ki Murten is Ramvriksh Benipuri's collection of word portraits.
- Nagarjun was from Darbhanga; Balchanma is his peasant-centred novel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a regional novel?
One in which a region itself rises as a character — its dialect, customs, festivals and struggles all become part of the narrative rather than mere background. Phanishwarnath Renu's Maila Anchal is the most celebrated work in this tradition in Hindi.
What is the relation between Teesri Kasam and Mare Gaye Gulfam?
Mare Gaye Gulfam is a story by Phanishwarnath Renu, and Teesri Kasam is the name of the film made from it. Both names are placed together among the options, so it is worth remembering that the original work is a story and the film came later.
What is Dinkar's major prose work?
Sanskriti ke Char Adhyay, in which he views the development of Indian culture in four stages. It received the Sahitya Akademi award. Since Dinkar is thought of chiefly as a poet, this prose work is worth holding separately in memory.
What form does Mati ki Murten belong to?
The word portrait. Ramvriksh Benipuri drew ordinary village people in words in this collection. He belonged to Muzaffarpur, and his other well known work is Gehun aur Gulab, which is treated as a mixture of essay and word portrait.