The Periods of Hindi Literature
The Periods of Hindi Literature
Literature supplies roughly twenty of the Part-III Hindi questions and the division into periods accounts for about two of them. The paper asks for the names of the periods, their spans and which scholar gave which name, so all three are best held together as a single table.
The Division Made by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla
The accepted division of Hindi literature was made by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla in his work Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas. He divided the literature into four periods and named each after the dominant tendency of its time.
| Period | Samvat | Other name |
|---|---|---|
| Adikal | 1050 to 1375 | Virgatha Kal |
| Bhaktikal | 1375 to 1700 | Purv Madhyakal |
| Ritikal | 1700 to 1900 | Uttar Madhyakal, Shringar Kal |
| Adhunik Kal | 1900 to the present | Gadya Kal |
Note that these are Vikram Samvat years, not years of the Christian era. To convert, subtract fifty-seven — Samvat 1375 is about 1318 CE.
✗ Shukla's division is given in years of the Christian era | ✓ It is given in Vikram Samvat; subtract fifty-seven to convert
The Many Names of Adikal
Different scholars gave Adikal different names, and this is the most frequently asked question in the whole topic.
| Scholar | Name given |
|---|---|
| Acharya Ramchandra Shukla | Virgatha Kal |
| Hazari Prasad Dwivedi | Adikal |
| Rahul Sankrityayan | Siddh-Samant Kal |
| George Grierson | Charan Kal |
| Mishrabandhu | Prarambhik Kal |
| Ramkumar Verma | Sandhikal evam Charankal |
The name Adikal is the one in widest use today and it was given by Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. Shukla called it Virgatha Kal, because the Raso works of that time were dominated by accounts of valour.
The Basis of the Names
- Adikal — the dominance of Raso poetry and tales of valour.
- Bhaktikal — the spread of devotion; called the golden age of Hindi literature.
- Ritikal — the writing of works laying down the rules of poetry.
- Adhunik Kal — the growth of prose and the birth of new forms.
आसान क्रम: वीर, भक्ति, शृंगार, गद्य — यह चार शब्दों का क्रम याद रखिए। हर काल की प्रधान प्रवृत्ति ही उसका नाम है।
TRE pointer: Keep Samvat and the Christian era apart, since both are placed among the options. The six names of Adikal and who gave each are near certain — especially Shukla's Virgatha Kal and Dwivedi's Adikal. That Bhaktikal is the golden age is also asked directly.
60-Second Recap
- The division was made by Acharya Ramchandra Shukla.
- There are four periods — Adikal, Bhaktikal, Ritikal and Adhunik Kal.
- The spans are in Vikram Samvat; subtract fifty-seven for the Christian era.
- Shukla called Adikal the Virgatha Kal and Dwivedi called it Adikal.
- Rahul Sankrityayan called it Siddh-Samant Kal and Grierson Charan Kal.
- Bhaktikal is called the golden age of Hindi literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who divided Hindi literature into periods?
Acharya Ramchandra Shukla, in his well known work Hindi Sahitya ka Itihas. He divided it into four periods and named each after the tendency that dominated it. That division remains the most widely accepted one today, which is why it is the version examined.
Why was Adikal called Virgatha Kal?
Because the principal works of that time were the Raso texts, which described the valour of kings and warriors. Acharya Shukla named the period after this tendency. Hazari Prasad Dwivedi later called it Adikal, and that name is the one more commonly used now.
Why is Bhaktikal called the golden age?
Because poets such as Kabir, Jayasi, Surdas, Tulsidas and Mirabai belong to it, and Hindi poetry reached its highest point during this period. In language, in feeling and in craft it is regarded as the richest of the four, which is what earned it the name.
How is Samvat converted to the Christian era?
Subtract fifty-seven from the Vikram Samvat year and the approximate year of the Christian era follows. Samvat 1375 is about 1318 CE and Samvat 1900 is about 1843 CE. Options are set in both forms, so this small calculation is worth remembering.