Chhattisgarh
Literature, Chhattisgarhi Language, Idioms and Riddles
Writers and Poets of Chhattisgarh
From Dharamdas to Vinod Kumar Shukla: Chhattisgarh's writers, poets, their works and honours, in tables and timelines for CGPSC Prelims and Mains.
Prerequisites
- Chhattisgarhi Language and Grammar Basics: the language much of this literature is written in
- 1857 and the Freedom Movement in Chhattisgarh: several writers (Sundarlal Sharma, Madhavrao Sapre) were also freedom fighters
- Indian Art, Literature and Culture: the national movements (Chhayavad, Nayi Kavita) these writers belong to
The Hook: A Window in the Wall
Connect
On 23 December 2025 the Hindi writer Vinod Kumar Shukla (विनोद कुमार शुक्ल) died at AIIMS Raipur, aged 88. Months earlier, in 2025, he had received the 59th Jnanpith Award (for 2024), the first writer from Chhattisgarh to win India’s highest literary honour. His novel Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi (“A window lived in the wall”) is set in an ordinary small town much like Rajnandgaon, where he was born.
Rajnandgaon had produced writers before him, Muktibodh taught there and Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi lived there. So who are Chhattisgarh’s major writers, what did they write, and what do examiners expect you to pair with each name?
Why it matters: Prelims P-I regularly pairs a writer with a work, a birthplace or a “first”. Mains GS-IV and the Essay paper reward a candidate who can quote the state’s literary heritage.
The Big Picture: Three Streams
| Stream | What it is | Key names |
|---|---|---|
| Oral and devotional | Folk epics, songs, Kabirpanthi verse | Dharamdas; the bards of Pandavani, Bharthari, Chandaini |
| Chhattisgarhi literature | Written poetry, plays and prose in Chhattisgarhi | Sundarlal Sharma, Narendra Dev Verma, Kodu Ram “Dalit”, Shyamlal Chaturvedi, Lala Jagdalpuri |
| Hindi literature from Chhattisgarh | National Hindi writers born or based in the state | Madhavrao Sapre, Mukutdhar Pandey, Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi, Muktibodh, Shrikant Verma, Vinod Kumar Shukla |
timeline
title Landmarks of literature in Chhattisgarh
15th-16th century : Dharamdas, Kabir's disciple, revered as the Adi Kavi of Chhattisgarh
1880s-1890 : Hiralal Kavyopadhyay's Chhattisgarhi grammar, translated by Grierson
1900 : Madhavrao Sapre starts Chhattisgarh Mitra at Pendra
1905 : Sundarlal Sharma's Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila
1920 : Mukutdhar Pandey's essays introduce the term Chhayavad
1964 : Muktibodh's Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai (posthumous)
1987 : Shrikant Verma's Magadh wins the Sahitya Akademi Award (posthumous)
1999 : Vinod Kumar Shukla's Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi wins the Sahitya Akademi Award
2019 : Narendra Dev Verma's Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar becomes the state song
2025 : Vinod Kumar Shukla receives the 59th Jnanpith Award (for 2024)Early and Devotional Literature
Dharamdas (धनी धर्मदास)
- The chief disciple of Kabir and founder of a major branch of the Kabirpanth (कबीरपंथ). Tradition places him in the 15th–16th centuries; exact dates are uncertain.
- Revered as the “Adi Kavi” (आदि कवि), first poet, of Chhattisgarh; his devotional verse is counted among the earliest literature associated with the region.
- His lineage’s seats are in Chhattisgarh: Damakheda (दामाखेड़ा) and Kawardha (कवर्धा). Kabirdham district takes its name from this Kabirpanthi heritage.
Court literature of the Kalachuri era
- Gopal Mishra (गोपाल मिश्र), a poet at the Kalachuri court of Ratanpur in the late 17th century, is credited in state literary histories with “Khub Tamasha” (खूब तमाशा) and “Jaimini Ashwamedh” (जैमिनी अश्वमेध), in Hindi. See Kalachuris of Ratanpur and Raipur for the political background.
The Pioneers (c. 1880–1950)
| Writer | Dates | Known for | Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hiralal Kavyopadhyay (हीरालाल काव्योपाध्याय) | 19th century | First grammar of Chhattisgarhi (in Hindi); translated by Grierson (1890) | Headmaster at Dhamtari |
| Madhavrao Sapre (माधवराव सप्रे) | 1871–1926 | Founded “Chhattisgarh Mitra” (छत्तीसगढ़ मित्र) from Pendra in 1900; wrote “Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti” (एक टोकरी भर मिट्टी) | The story is widely regarded as one of the first Hindi short stories; the “first” title is debated |
| Pt. Sundarlal Sharma (पं. सुंदरलाल शर्मा) | 1881–1940 | “Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila” (छत्तीसगढ़ी दानलीला), 1905, a Krishna-lila poem in Chhattisgarhi | Regarded as the first prabandh kavya (long narrative poem) in Chhattisgarhi; also a freedom fighter called the “Gandhi of Chhattisgarh” |
| Lochan Prasad Pandey (लोचनप्रसाद पांडेय) | 1886–1959 | Poet in Hindi and Chhattisgarhi, historian and archaeologist; co-edited the 1921 revised edition of Kavyopadhyay’s grammar | Elder brother of Mukutdhar Pandey |
| Mukutdhar Pandey (मुकुटधर पांडेय) | 1895–1989 | Essays of 1920 that introduced the term “Chhayavad” (छायावाद) to Hindi criticism; poem “Kurri Ke Prati” (कुररी के प्रति); Chhattisgarhi rendering of Kalidasa’s Meghaduta | Called a forerunner of Chhayavad; from Balpur on the Mahanadi |
| Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi (पदुमलाल पुन्नालाल बख्शी) | 1894–1971 | Essayist and critic; editor of “Saraswati” (सरस्वती), the leading Hindi magazine of its day | From Khairagarh; later lived in Rajnandgaon |
Why 'Chhattisgarh Mitra' matters
Started in 1900 from Pendra (now in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district), Chhattisgarh Mitra was among the earliest Hindi monthlies of central India. It printed literary criticism and essays and carried Sapre’s story. It shows that modern Hindi prose had a voice in Chhattisgarh within a decade of Bharatendu’s era.
Modern Hindi Writers from Chhattisgarh
| Writer | Dates | Major works | Honours and links |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh (गजानन माधव मुक्तिबोध) | 1917–1964 | Long poem “Andhere Mein” (अंधेरे में); collection “Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai” (चाँद का मुँह टेढ़ा है), published after his death in 1964; “Ek Sahityik Ki Diary” | A poet of Tar Saptak (1943), the Nayi Kavita movement. Born in Madhya Pradesh, he taught at Digvijay College, Rajnandgaon, where he wrote much of his late work |
| Shrikant Verma (श्रीकांत वर्मा) | 1931–1986 | Poetry collection “Magadh” (मगध) | Born in Bilaspur; Sahitya Akademi Award, 1987 (posthumous) for Magadh; also a Rajya Sabha MP |
| Vinod Kumar Shukla (विनोद कुमार शुक्ल) | 1 January 1937 – 23 December 2025 | Novels “Naukar Ki Kameez” (नौकर की कमीज़), “Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi” (दीवार में एक खिड़की रहती थी), “Khilega To Dekhenge”; poetry | Born in Rajnandgaon; Sahitya Akademi Award, 1999 for Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi; 59th Jnanpith Award (for 2024), the first from Chhattisgarh and the 12th Hindi writer to receive it |
Rajnandgaon: a literary town
Three names meet in Rajnandgaon: Muktibodh (taught at Digvijay College), Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi (lived and taught there) and Vinod Kumar Shukla (born there). The town keeps a memorial complex to its writers. Expect “Which writer is associated with Rajnandgaon?” style questions.
Chhattisgarhi-Language Poets and Writers
| Writer | Known for | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Narendra Dev Verma (नरेंद्र देव वर्मा) (1939–1979) | Wrote “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar, Mahanadi He Apaar” (अरपा पैरी के धार, महानदी हे अपार) | Declared the state song in November 2019. The song names the Arpa, Pairi and Mahanadi rivers |
| Kodu Ram “Dalit” (कोदूराम “दलित”) | Popular Chhattisgarhi poet of everyday village life and satire | Often called a janakavi (people’s poet) of Chhattisgarhi |
| Pt. Shyamlal Chaturvedi (श्यामलाल चतुर्वेदी) (1926–2018) | Journalist and Chhattisgarhi poet | First chairman of the Chhattisgarhi Rajbhasha Aayog (2008); Padma Shri recipient |
| Lala Jagdalpuri (लाला जगदलपुरी) | Poet and folklorist of Bastar, writing in Hindi, Chhattisgarhi and Halbi | The central library in Jagdalpur is named after him |
| Pt. Sundarlal Sharma | Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila (1905) | The state’s literary award in his name honours writing in Chhattisgarhi and Hindi |
The oral tradition is literature too
Much of Chhattisgarh’s richest “literature” is oral: Pandavani (Mahabharata), Bharthari (Raja Bhartrihari), Chandaini (Lorik and Chanda) and Dhola-Maru, plus thousands of songs, proverbs and riddles. Performers such as Teejan Bai and Jhaduram Dewangan carried this tradition. Read Folk Theatre: Nacha and Pandavani and Folk Songs for the performance side.
Analysis: What Chhattisgarh’s Literature Tells Us (Mains)
- Reform and nationalism: Sapre and Sundarlal Sharma used journalism and poetry to fight caste discrimination and colonial rule; literature and the freedom movement grew together.
- A voice in national Hindi literature: Mukutdhar Pandey (Chhayavad), Muktibodh (Nayi Kavita) and Shrikant Verma placed Chhattisgarh at the heart of modern Hindi poetry.
- The ordinary as subject: Vinod Kumar Shukla’s “magical” plainness, small-town clerks, everyday objects, showed that world literature can come from a modest town.
- Regional identity: Chhattisgarhi writing, from Dan-Lila to Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar, gave the statehood movement a cultural base.
- Tribal voices: Bastar’s Halbi and Gondi traditions are still mostly oral; documentation and translation remain a gap.
Memory Tricks
Rajnandgaon trio: 'M-B-S'
Muktibodh, Bakshi, Shukla (Vinod Kumar): Rajnandgaon’s three literary giants. “My Book Shelf is in Rajnandgaon.”
Firsts in a line
Grammar → Kavyopadhyay. Magazine → Sapre (1900). Story → Sapre (Tokri). Chhattisgarhi epic → Sundarlal (1905). Chhayavad term → Mukutdhar (1920). Jnanpith → Vinod Kumar Shukla (59th).
Shukla's honours: 99 and 59
Sahitya Akademi in ‘99, Jnanpith number 59. The digits mirror each other.
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Shrikant Verma (Bilaspur): Magadh, Sahitya Akademi 1987 | Vinod Kumar Shukla (Rajnandgaon): Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi, Sahitya Akademi 1999 | |
| Mukutdhar Pandey: introduced the term Chhayavad (1920) | Lochan Prasad Pandey: his elder brother, poet and historian | |
| Sundarlal Sharma: Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila (1905) | Madhavrao Sapre: Chhattisgarh Mitra (1900), Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti | |
| Narendra Dev Verma: wrote Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar | Shyamlal Chaturvedi: first chairman of the Rajbhasha Aayog | |
| Muktibodh: born in MP, worked in Rajnandgaon | Vinod Kumar Shukla: born in Rajnandgaon | |
| Dharamdas: Adi Kavi, Kabirpanth | Gopal Mishra: Kalachuri court poet of Ratanpur |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: the Magadh-Shukla swap
Magadh is Shrikant Verma’s poetry collection. A statement giving it to Vinod Kumar Shukla, or giving Naukar Ki Kameez to Shrikant Verma, is wrong.
Trap 2: 'Muktibodh was born in Rajnandgaon'
Muktibodh was born in Madhya Pradesh (Sheopur) and worked in Rajnandgaon. The Rajnandgaon-born writer is Vinod Kumar Shukla.
Trap 3: the 'first Hindi short story'
Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti is widely regarded as one of the first Hindi short stories, but other stories of 1900–1901 also claim the title. In a statement, accept “one of the earliest”; be careful with an absolute “the first”.
Trap 4: Jnanpith year
Vinod Kumar Shukla’s Jnanpith is the 59th, for the year 2024, announced in 2025. Options may offer 58th or 2025.
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- Chhattisgarh Mitra was started in 1900 from ________ by ________.
- Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila was written by ________.
- The state song “Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar” was written by ________.
Answers
- Pendra; Madhavrao Sapre
- Pt. Sundarlal Sharma
- Dr. Narendra Dev Verma
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Match List-I (Work) with List-II (Writer):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Magadh | 1. Vinod Kumar Shukla |
| B. Naukar Ki Kameez | 2. Madhavrao Sapre |
| C. Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti | 3. Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh |
| D. Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai | 4. Shrikant Verma |
(a) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3 (b) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3 (c) A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2 (d) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
Answer and explanation
(a) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. Magadh is Shrikant Verma’s (Sahitya Akademi 1987). Naukar Ki Kameez is Vinod Kumar Shukla’s first novel. Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti is Madhavrao Sapre’s story. Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai is Muktibodh’s collection, published in 1964.
Q2. Consider the following statements about Vinod Kumar Shukla:
- He was born in Rajnandgaon.
- He received the Sahitya Akademi Award for Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi.
- He was the first writer from Chhattisgarh to receive the Jnanpith Award.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(d) 1, 2 and 3. Shukla was born in Rajnandgaon on 1 January 1937. Deewar Mein Ek Khidki Rahti Thi won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999. He received the 59th Jnanpith Award (for 2024), the first from Chhattisgarh. He died at AIIMS Raipur on 23 December 2025.
Q3. The term “Chhayavad” in Hindi literary criticism is credited to which writer associated with Chhattisgarh?
(a) Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi (b) Mukutdhar Pandey (c) Lochan Prasad Pandey (d) Shrikant Verma
Answer and explanation
(b) Mukutdhar Pandey. His essays of 1920 introduced the word Chhayavad for the new romantic-mystical Hindi poetry, and his poem Kurri Ke Prati is cited as an early example of the style. Lochan Prasad Pandey was his elder brother; Bakshi was an essayist and editor of Saraswati.
Q4. “Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila”, regarded as the first long narrative poem in Chhattisgarhi, was written by:
(a) Pt. Sundarlal Sharma (b) Hiralal Kavyopadhyay (c) Narendra Dev Verma (d) Kodu Ram “Dalit”
Answer and explanation
(a) Pt. Sundarlal Sharma, in 1905 (some sources say 1906). Kavyopadhyay wrote the first grammar, Narendra Dev Verma the state song, and Kodu Ram “Dalit” was a later people’s poet.
Q5. Dharamdas, revered as the “Adi Kavi” of Chhattisgarh, is associated with which tradition?
(a) Nath Panth (b) Satnam Panth (c) Kabir Panth (d) Pushtimarg
Answer and explanation
(c) Kabir Panth. Dharamdas was Kabir’s chief disciple; his lineage’s seats are at Damakheda and Kawardha. The Satnam Panth was founded by Guru Ghasidas; the Nath tradition lies behind the Bharthari ballads; Pushtimarg is Vallabhacharya’s school.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. Assess the contribution of writers from Chhattisgarh to modern Hindi literature. (150–200 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Though often seen as a “backward” region, Chhattisgarh gave modern Hindi literature some of its defining voices.
Body:
- Prose and journalism: Madhavrao Sapre’s Chhattisgarh Mitra (1900) and Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti, among the earliest Hindi short stories.
- Criticism and essays: Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi, editor of Saraswati.
- Poetry movements: Mukutdhar Pandey named Chhayavad (1920); Muktibodh shaped Nayi Kavita with Andhere Mein.
- Political poetry: Shrikant Verma’s Magadh (Sahitya Akademi 1987).
- Fiction: Vinod Kumar Shukla’s novels; Sahitya Akademi (1999) and the 59th Jnanpith.
Conclusion: From Pendra to Rajnandgaon, the region has shaped every major phase of modern Hindi writing; its literary heritage is a resource for cultural pride and tourism alike.
Q2. “Literature in Chhattisgarhi has strengthened regional identity.” Discuss with examples. (100 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Written Chhattisgarhi literature, though young, carries the people’s voice.
Body:
- Kavyopadhyay’s grammar and Sundarlal Sharma’s Dan-Lila (1905) proved the language could carry serious literature.
- Poets such as Kodu Ram “Dalit” and Narendra Dev Verma wrote of village life, rivers and labour.
- Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar became the state song (2019); the language became official in 2007.
Conclusion: Literature gave the statehood demand a cultural foundation and continues to sustain the state’s identity.
Quick Revision Table
| Writer | Key fact |
|---|---|
| Dharamdas | Kabir’s disciple; “Adi Kavi” of Chhattisgarh; Damakheda, Kawardha |
| Gopal Mishra | Kalachuri court poet, Ratanpur; Khub Tamasha |
| Hiralal Kavyopadhyay | First Chhattisgarhi grammar; Dhamtari |
| Madhavrao Sapre | Chhattisgarh Mitra (Pendra, 1900); Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti |
| Sundarlal Sharma | Chhattisgarhi Dan-Lila (1905) |
| Lochan Prasad Pandey | Poet-historian; elder brother of Mukutdhar |
| Mukutdhar Pandey | Introduced the term Chhayavad (1920); Kurri Ke Prati |
| Padumlal Punnalal Bakshi | Essayist; editor of Saraswati; Khairagarh |
| Muktibodh | Andhere Mein, Chand Ka Munh Tedha Hai; taught in Rajnandgaon |
| Shrikant Verma | Magadh; Sahitya Akademi 1987 (posthumous); Bilaspur |
| Vinod Kumar Shukla | Naukar Ki Kameez; Sahitya Akademi 1999; 59th Jnanpith; died 23 Dec 2025 |
| Narendra Dev Verma | Arpa Pairi Ke Dhar (state song, 2019) |
| Shyamlal Chaturvedi | First chairman, Rajbhasha Aayog (2008) |
| Lala Jagdalpuri | Bastar poet-folklorist; Jagdalpur library named after him |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Dharamdas is the “Adi Kavi”; Sundarlal Sharma’s Dan-Lila (1905) is the landmark Chhattisgarhi narrative poem.
- Madhavrao Sapre launched Chhattisgarh Mitra (Pendra, 1900) and wrote Ek Tokri Bhar Mitti.
- Mukutdhar Pandey named Chhayavad (1920); Muktibodh and Shrikant Verma shaped post-independence Hindi poetry.
- Vinod Kumar Shukla (Rajnandgaon): Sahitya Akademi 1999, 59th Jnanpith (first from Chhattisgarh); died 23 December 2025.
- Narendra Dev Verma wrote the state song; Shyamlal Chaturvedi first headed the Rajbhasha Aayog.
What’s Next
- Idioms and Proverbs (Muhavare and Hana): the folk wisdom these writers drew on
- Riddles of Chhattisgarh (Janaula): oral literature in play
- Folk Music, Dance, Theatre and Crafts: Pandavani, Nacha and Habib Tanvir’s theatre
- Tourism, Archaeological Sites and Heritage: Ratanpur, Kawardha and other places linked to these writers
Advertisement