UP Police Constable · Bite-size lessons

Lekhak & Rachnayen

About 6 min · General Hindi (सामान्य हिंदी) · English

Time worked out from the lesson's 365 words at 150 words a minute, plus a minute for each question.

Hindi literature has a rich tradition spanning centuries, from medieval Bhakti and Riti periods to modern prose and poetry. For UP Police Constable exams, questions on famous Hindi authors (लेखक/कवि) and their works (रचनाएँ) appear under General Hindi. You must be familiar with major writers from different literary movements — Chhayavad, Pragativad, Prayogvad, and contemporary literature — along with their notable works and literary awards.

Key ideas

• Chhayavad (छायावाद) — Romantic movement in Hindi poetry (1918–1938); key poets: Jaishankar Prasad, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma. Focus on imagination, nature and mysticism.
• Premchand Era — Munshi Premchand is called "Upanyas Samrat" (Emperor of Novels); pioneered realistic fiction in Hindi; wrote on rural life, poverty and social reform.
• Pragativad (प्रगतिवाद) — Progressive movement (1936 onwards); socially conscious, leftist themes; key names: Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, Nagarjun, Trilochan.
• Prayogvad/Nai Kavita (प्रयोगवाद/नयी कविता) — Experimental poetry from 1943 (Tar Saptak) onwards; emphasis on individualism and modernism; leaders: Agyeya, Dharamvir Bharati.
• Major Literary Awards — Jnanpith Award (highest literary honour in India), Sahitya Akademi Award (given by Sahitya Akademi for best literary work), Vyas Samman (by K.K. Birla Foundation), Bharatendu Harishchandra Award.

Watch out for

• Confusing Chhayavad poets — Students mix up works of Prasad, Nirala, Pant and Mahadevi Verma. Fix: Associate one signature work per poet (Kamayani–Prasad, Ram ki Shakti Pooja–Nirala, Pallav–Pant, Yama–Mahadevi).
• Attributing Ramcharitmanas to wrong author — Ramcharitmanas is by Tulsidas (medieval Bhakti poet), not Kabir or Surdas. Kabir wrote dohas; Surdas wrote Sursagar (on Krishna bhakti).
• Mixing Jnanpith years — Don't guess award years. If asked, recall the big four: Pant (1968), Dinkar (1972), Agyeya (1978), Mahadevi (1982). If unsure of year, at least know the awardee.

Quick reference

• Upanyas Samrat (Emperor of Novels): Munshi Premchand — Godaan, Gaban, Nirmala.
• Kamayani ka Kavi: Jaishankar Prasad (Chhayavad).
• Madhushala ke Rachyita: Harivansh Rai Bachchan.
• Rashtra Kavi: Ramdhari Singh Dinkar — Rashmirathi, Urvashi (Jnanpith 1972).
• Mahadevi Verma: Leading woman poet, Yama (Jnanpith 1982).

Check yourself: 3 questions

This lesson is cut from the topic's note, not rewritten. Fact-checked on 18 Oct 2026: an AI-assisted check of this note against cited sources; the errors it found were corrected that day. Some errors may remain. The questions are from Shishya's validated question bank.

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