Literature & Culture — Study Notes for MH Police Bharti
Overview
Literature and Culture is a scoring section in the Maharashtra Police Bharti exam that tests your awareness of India's rich literary heritage, traditional art forms, and cultural practices. Questions typically cover classical literature in Sanskrit and regional languages, famous authors and their works, folk traditions, dance forms, music, and festivals.
This topic connects directly with Maharashtra-specific culture questions, so understanding both pan-Indian and regional cultural elements is essential. Mastering this section requires memorisation of key names, works, and their associations rather than deep analytical understanding.
The exam focuses on classical and medieval literature, performing arts recognised nationally, and cultural institutions. Current cultural awards and recent UNESCO recognitions also appear frequently.
Key Concepts
- Vedic Literature: Oldest Indian literature comprising four Vedas (Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda), Upanishads, Brahmanas, and Aranyakas — all composed in Sanskrit.
- Epics (Itihasas): Ramayana by Valmiki and Mahabharata by Vyasa are foundational texts; Bhagavad Gita is part of Mahabharata.
- Classical Sanskrit Literature: Kalidasa (Shakuntala, Meghadutam), Bhasa, Shudraka (Mrichchhakatika), Banabhatta (Harshacharita, Kadambari) represent the golden age.
- Sangam Literature: Ancient Tamil literature (300 BCE–300 CE) comprising Ettuthogai and Pattuppattu; Thirukkural by Thiruvalluvar is a celebrated ethical text.
- Bhakti and Sant Literature: Devotional poetry across languages — Kabir, Tulsidas (Ramcharitmanas), Surdas, Meerabai in Hindi; Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Namdev in Marathi.
- Classical Dance Forms: Eight forms recognised by Sangeet Natak Akademi — Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya.
- Classical Music: Two traditions — Hindustani (North) and Carnatic (South); raga and tala form the foundation.
- Folk Traditions of Maharashtra: Lavani, Tamasha, Powada, Gondhal, Bharud are distinct performance traditions.
Formulas / Key Facts
| Category | Key Fact |
|---|---|
| Oldest Veda | Rigveda (contains 1028 hymns/suktas) |
| First Sanskrit Drama | Swapnavasavadattam by Bhasa |
| Father of Sanskrit Drama | Bhasa |
| Shakespeare of India | Kalidasa |
| National Poet (Rashtra Kavi) | Ramdhari Singh Dinkar |
| First Hindi Novel | Pariksha Guru by Lala Srinivas Das (1882) |
| First Marathi Novel | Yamuna Paryatan by Baba Padmanji (1857) |
| Dnyaneshwari | Marathi commentary on Bhagavad Gita by Sant Dnyaneshwar (1290 CE) |
| Natyashastra | Ancient treatise on performing arts by Bharata Muni |
| Sangeet Natak Akademi | National academy for music, dance, drama — established 1952 |
| UNESCO Intangible Heritage (India) | Kumbh Mela, Yoga, Ramlila, Vedic Chanting, Kalbelia dance among others |
Marathi Literature Milestones:
- Mahanubhav sect literature (13th century) — earliest Marathi prose
- Dnyaneshwar's Dnyaneshwari and Amrutanubhav — philosophical poetry
- Tukaram's Abhanga — devotional verses
- V.V. Shirwadkar (Kusumagraj) — Jnanpith Award 1987
- P.L. Deshpande — celebrated for humorous Marathi writing
Worked Examples
Example 1: Who is the author of "Geet Govinda"?
Solution:
- Geet Govinda is a Sanskrit lyrical poem
- Composed by Jayadeva in the 12th century
- Theme: Love of Radha and Krishna
- Answer: Jayadeva
Example 2: Match the classical dance form with its state:
- Bharatanatyam — ?
- Kathakali — ?
- Sattriya — ?
Solution:
- Bharatanatyam — Tamil Nadu (temple dance tradition)
- Kathakali — Kerala (story-play with elaborate costumes)
- Sattriya — Assam (originated from Vaishnavite monasteries)
Example 3: Which Marathi saint composed "Abhanga" devotional poetry and is associated with Pandharpur?
Solution:
- Pandharpur is the centre of Warkari tradition
- Abhanga is a form of devotional verse in Marathi
- Key saints: Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath, and especially Tukaram
- Answer: Sant Tukaram (most famous for Abhanga; also accept Dnyaneshwar/Namdev depending on question framing)
Common Mistakes
| Wrong Thinking | Correct Fix |
|---|---|
| Confusing Kalidasa with Kalhan | Kalidasa wrote plays/poetry (Shakuntala); Kalhan wrote Rajatarangini (Kashmir history) |
| Mixing up Ramcharitmanas author | Ramcharitmanas = Tulsidas (Awadhi); Ramayana = Valmiki (Sanskrit) |
| Assuming all classical dances are from South India | Kathak is from North (Lucknow/Jaipur); Sattriya from Assam; Manipuri from Manipur |
| Confusing Dnyaneshwari with Dnyaneshwar's time | Dnyaneshwari was written in 1290 CE when Dnyaneshwar was only 16 years old |
| Forgetting Marathi Jnanpith winners | Remember: Kusumagraj (1987), V.S. Khandekar (1974), Bhalchandra Nemade (2014) |
Quick Reference
- Four Vedas: Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva — remember "RSYA"
- Kalidasa's works: Shakuntala, Meghadutam, Raghuvamsha, Kumarasambhava
- Eight classical dances: BKKK-OMMS (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya)
- Marathi saints chronology: Dnyaneshwar → Namdev → Eknath → Tukaram
- UNESCO Intangible Heritage from India: 15 elements including Kumbh Mela, Durga Puja, Yoga
- Sahitya Akademi: Established 1954; gives annual awards for literature in 24 languages