Readings:
- Valerie Ritter. “The Language of Hariaudh’s “Priyapravās”: Notes toward an Archaeology of Modern Standard Hindi.” Journal of the American Oriental Society 124.3 (2004): 417-38
- Bharatendu Harishchandra from Benares: http://www.varanasi.org.in/bhartendu-harishchandra
- Bharatendu’s dillii darbaar darpan: http://www.columbia.edu/itc/mealac/pritchett/00urduhindilinks/shacklesnell/305harishcandra.pdf
Questions:
1) Why does Urdu literature flourish with the decline of the Mughal courts. Is the emergence of Hindi literature related to it? Explain why?
2) Does the topic or theme choices in Urdu literature parallel the topic choices in Hindi literature? Explain why.
3) Are the genre choices by Urdu writers influenced by the Hindi writers? Explain why.
4) What are the main factors that shaped the writings of Bharatendu?
5) What is the role of the foreign presence in India in the process of establishing Hindi as a literary language?
6) How do you identify the work of Amir Khusro vis-à-vis its contribution to Urdu and/or Hindi literature?
7) Why did the development of prose occur slowly? What obstacles existed for its progress and what stimuli appeared later on?
8) What is the role of translation in the establishment of Hindi language and Hindi literature?
9) Syam Sundar Das, says : ” There are three forms of Khari boli : (1) the pure Hindi, which is the literary language of the Hindus; (2) Urdu, which is used specially among Mussulmans and is their literary language as well as the spoken language outside their homes, the language of educated Muslims and several Hindus; and (3) Hindustani, in which are used, without any difference, words of both Hindi and Urdu languages and which is used by all as a spoken language” Defend the claim/s you believe is/are plausible.
10) Describe the influence of the preceding poetic tradition on any one of the new prose-based genres. Be specific