Chapter 9: Garland of Dialects — Rajasthani Language: Origin, Development, Dialects and Script

Chapter 9: Garland of Dialects — Rajasthani Language: Origin, Development, Dialects and Script#

Exam Relevance: RPSC / RSSB / REET / Assistant Professor / College Lecturer / Board Exams

SECTION 2: Core Idea#

The Rajasthani language is among the most vibrant, ancient, and literarily opulent folk tongues of India. Its genesis is predominantly traced to the Shauraseni Apabhramsha (Gurjar Apabhramsha / Nagar Apabhramsha). From a modern linguistic perspective, Dr. George Abraham Grierson first employed the term 'Rajasthani' in 1912 CE in his monumental work 'Linguistic Survey of India' and classified it into 5 primary sub-branches.

The language possesses four foundational core dialects: Marwari (Western Rajasthan), Dhundhari (Eastern Rajasthan), Mewari (South-Central Rajasthan), and Hadoti (South-Eastern Rajasthan). In addition, Mewati, Vagadi (Bhili), Malvi, Ahirwati (Rathi), Godwadi, Shekhawati, Thali, and Devdawali constitute critical regional and border dialects. Rajasthani literature encompasses two primary stylistic traditions: Dingal (Charan poetic style - Western Rajasthani) and Pingal (Bhat poetic style - Braj-infused Eastern Rajasthani). Its historic mercantile script is 'Mahajani' or 'Mudiya' (Muriya) (traditionally attributed to Raja Todar Mal), while literary composition and modern printing rely upon the Devanagari script. February 21 is observed as 'International Mother Language Day' and commemorates Rajasthani Language Day across the state.

Key Keywords: Gurjar Apabhramsha, George Grierson (Linguistic Survey of India), L.P. Tessitori, Dingal and Pingal, Marwari, Dhundhari, Hadoti, Vagadi, Ahirwati, Mudiya/Mahajani Script

An average of 3-5 questions are asked from this chapter.

SECTION 3: DISTRICT-WISE CONTRIBUTION#

SECTION 4: Origin, Classification and Script#

• Major Linguistic Hypotheses on Origin:
  • Gurjar Apabhramsha Hypothesis (Most Widely Accepted): Dr. K. M. Munshi, Motilal Menaria.
  • Shauraseni Apabhramsha Hypothesis: Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, Dr. Nagendra.
  • Nagar Apabhramsha Hypothesis: George Abraham Grierson, Purushottam Lal Menaria.
  • Gurjari form of Shauraseni: Dr. Suniti Kumar Chatterji.
• Chronological Stages of Evolution:
  • First Stage (11th to 13th Century): Gurjari Apabhramsha Era (Early Rajasthani).
  • Second Stage (13th to 16th Century): Ancient Rajasthani Era (Emergence of Dingal bardic poetry).
  • Third Stage (16th to 18th Century): Medieval Rajasthani Era (Golden Age of Charan, Jain, and Bhakti literature).
  • Fourth Stage (19th Century to Present): Modern Rajasthani Era (Development of prose and contemporary genres).
• Dingal vs. Pingal (Literary Traditions):
  • Dingal: Literary medium of Western Rajasthani (Marwari); composed by Charan bards; heroic and martial flavor; e.g., Veli Krisan Rukamani Ri, Dhola Maru Ra Duha.
  • Pingal: Literary medium of Eastern Rajasthani (Dhundhari/Braj); composed by Bhat poets; lyrical, aesthetic, and didactic flavor; e.g., Prithviraj Raso (Chand Bardai), Hammir Raso (Jodhraj).
• Script (Lipi):
  • Mudiya / Mahajani / Baniyawati Script: Named 'Mudiya' due to the cursive folding (rounding) of characters without lifting the pen. Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's finance minister, is historically credited with its invention. It served as the primary script for mercantile account books.
  • Devanagari Script: Today, Devanagari is universally utilized for Rajasthani literature, education, and printing.
• Constitutional Recognition Efforts:
  • On August 25, 2003, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly unanimously passed an official resolution requesting the inclusion of the Rajasthani language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India.

SECTION 5: Renowned Linguists and Treatises (TABLE)#

SECTION 6: Dialectal Classification and Sub-dialects (TABLE)#

SECTION 7: Key Historical Timeline and Milestones#

SECTION 8: PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)#

Q1. [RPSC 2018] Who first coined the linguistic designation 'Rajasthani' for the regional tongue?

Answer: Dr. George Abraham Grierson (1912 CE) Explanation: In his seminal work 'Linguistic Survey of India' (Vol. IX, Part II) published in 1912 CE, Dr. George Abraham Grierson scientifically applied the name 'Rajasthani' to the collective dialects of the province.

Q2. [RSSB 2019] What is the principal dialect used in the poetic discourses of Saint Dadu Dayal and his disciples?

Answer: Dhundhari Explanation: The sacred discourses, hymns, and treatises of Saint Dadu Dayal, Sundardas, and Rajjab Ji were composed in Dhundhari, the prominent dialect of Eastern Rajasthan.

Q3. [REET 2020] What was the traditional mercantile and accounting script of the Rajasthani language called?

Answer: Mudiya (Muriya) Script Explanation: Characterized by cursive rounded strokes written without lifting the pen, it is termed 'Mudiya' or 'Mahajani'. Raja Todar Mal, Akbar's finance minister, is credited as its originator.

Q4. [RPSC 2021] In which dialect were the monumental works of Mahakavi Suryamalla Misrana (Vamsa Bhaskara, Veer Satsai) composed?

Answer: Hadoti Explanation: The court poet of Bundi, Mahakavi Suryamalla Misrana, composed his heroic historical poetry in Hadoti, a major sub-dialect of Dhundhari.

Q5. [RSSB 2020] Which dialect was termed 'Bhili Dialect' by Dr. George Grierson?

Answer: Vagadi Explanation: Spoken across Dungarpur and Banswara (the Vagad tract), Vagadi exhibits profound Gujarati influences and heavy usage among Bhil tribal groups, prompting Grierson to designate it as the 'Bhili dialect'.

Q6. [RPSC 2018] By what name was the Rajasthani language referred to in Udyotana Suri's Prakrit treatise Kuvalayamala in 778 CE?

Answer: Marubhasha Explanation: In the list of 18 regional vernaculars recorded in Kuvalayamala, the language of Western Rajasthan was designated as 'Marubhasha'.

SECTION 9: QUICK REVISION TABLE#

SECTION 10: EXTRA EXAM NOTES#

Memory Tricks:

• "Gurjar nurtured Rajasthani" -> Gurjar Apabhramsha = Rajasthani + Gujarati.
• "Grierson's 1912 Survey" -> In 1912, Grierson classified Rajasthani scientifically into 5 branches.
• "Western Dingal, Eastern Pingal" -> Marwar = Dingal; Dhundhar/Braj = Pingal.
• "Dadu = Dhundhari, Suryamalla = Hadoti, Charan Das = Mewati, Mavji = Vagadi" -> Dialects of iconic saint-poets.
• "Torawati, Rajawati, Chaurasi, Nagarchel = Dhundhari offshoots" -> All four are sub-dialects of Dhundhari.

Common Exam Traps:

• Vagadi (Dungarpur-Banswara - Southern Rajasthan) vs. Bagri (Ganganagar-Hanumangarh - Northern Rajasthan).
• Ahirwati (Rathi dialect - Behror/Kotputli) vs. Rathi cow breed (North-Western Rajasthan desert).
• Ragadi (Harsh blend of Marwari + Malvi spoken among Malwa Rajputs) vs. Rangadi/Ahirwati.
• Mudiya Script is a commercial accounting script, not an independent language.
• Rajasthani Language Day: Celebrated on February 21 (alongside International Mother Language Day); March 30 is 'Rajasthan Day' (statehood day).

Map Locations:

• North (Ganganagar/Hanumangarh) -> Bagri, Punjabi-influenced
• West (Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Barmer) -> Marwari, Thali
• Central-South (Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Bhilwara) -> Mewari
• South (Dungarpur, Banswara) -> Vagadi
• East (Jaipur, Dausa, Tonk) -> Dhundhari
• South-East (Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar, Baran) -> Hadoti
• North-East (Alwar, Bharatpur, Deeg) -> Mewati, Ahirwati
• South-West (Jalore, Sirohi) -> Godwadi, Devdawali