In this guide
A traveller moving across Bihar hears the language change every few hours: Bhojpuri in the west, Magahi around Patna and Gaya, Maithili in the north, Angika around Bhagalpur, Bajjika around Muzaffarpur and Vaishali — with Hindi and Urdu as the languages of the state, schools and much of literature. This linguistic richness is part of Bihar's identity, and a frequent BPSC theme.
Official languages
- Hindi is the official language of Bihar under the Bihar Official Language Act, 1950.
- Bihar has a special place in the history of Hindi: in 1881, it became the first province in which Hindi (in Devanagari) replaced Urdu as the language of courts and administration.
- Urdu is the second official language, recognised in the 1980s.
The main languages of Bihar
| Language | Region | Status / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maithili | North Bihar (Mithila) — Darbhanga, Madhubani, Saharsa, Purnia and others; also in Nepal | In the Eighth Schedule since 2003 (92nd Amendment); traditional script Tirhuta (Mithilakshar), now mostly written in Devanagari |
| Bhojpuri | West Bihar — Bhojpur, Buxar, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Champaran and eastern UP | Widely spoken, including by the diaspora in Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname and the Caribbean; long-standing demand for inclusion in the Eighth Schedule |
| Magahi | South-central Bihar — Patna, Gaya, Nalanda, Jehanabad, Nawada | Traced to Magadhi Prakrit, the language of ancient Magadha |
| Angika | East Bihar — Bhagalpur, Banka, Munger | Linked to ancient Anga |
| Bajjika | Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi | Linked to the Vajji region |
Classical and medieval literature
- Magadhi Prakrit and Pali — the Buddha taught in the languages of the people; early Buddhist texts are in Pali.
- Ardhamagadhi — the language of early Jain texts.
- Vidyapati (fourteenth–fifteenth century) — the greatest poet of Maithili, called Maithil Kavi Kokil ("the cuckoo of Maithili poetry"). He wrote love songs (Padavali) about Radha and Krishna and devotional songs to Shiva and Shakti, as well as works in Sanskrit and Avahatta (such as Kirtilata). He was patronised by Raja Shivasimha of the Oinwar dynasty. His songs influenced Bengali, Assamese and Odia literature.
- Jyotirishwar Thakur — author of the Varna Ratnakara, an early Maithili prose work.
Folk and popular literature
- Bhikhari Thakur (1887–1971) — Bhojpuri playwright and performer, creator of Bidesia; his plays (such as Bidesia, Beti Bechwa and Gabarghichor) addressed migration, the sale of daughters and other social issues.
Modern Hindi literature from Bihar
| Writer | Notable works / contribution |
|---|---|
| Ramdhari Singh "Dinkar" | Rashtrakavi; Rashmirathi, Kurukshetra, Parashuram ki Pratiksha, Sanskriti ke Chaar Adhyay (Sahitya Akademi Award); Urvashi (Jnanpith Award, 1972) |
| Phanishwar Nath "Renu" | Maila Anchal (1954) — the landmark regional (aanchalik) novel set in Purnia; Parti Parikatha; the story Mare Gaye Gulfam (filmed as Teesri Kasam) |
| Nagarjun (Vaidyanath Mishra) | "Janakavi" (people's poet); wrote in Hindi and, as Yatri, in Maithili — Sahitya Akademi Award for his Maithili work Patrahin Nagna Gachh |
| Devaki Nandan Khatri | Chandrakanta and Chandrakanta Santati — among the earliest popular Hindi novels |
| Ramvriksh Benipuri | Essays and sketches; Mati ki Mooraten |
| Shivpujan Sahay | Dehati Duniya; editor |
| Raja Radhika Raman Prasad Singh | Hindi prose writer |
| Gopal Singh "Nepali" | Poet and lyricist |
| Acharya Janaki Vallabh Shastri | Poet |
Urdu literature
- Shad Azimabadi (Patna) — a major Urdu poet of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
- Kalim Aajiz — Urdu poet (Padma Shri).
Language issues today
| Issue | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Eighth Schedule demands | Bhojpuri and Magahi seek inclusion |
| Mother-tongue education | NEP 2020 encourages early education in the home language; implementation in Bihar's many languages is a challenge |
| Maithili script | Efforts to revive Tirhuta |
| Diaspora | Bhojpuri culture abroad strengthens India's ties with countries like Mauritius |
| Cinema and music | The large Bhojpuri film and music industry — and debates about the quality and content of some of its output |
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Which amendment added Maithili to the Eighth Schedule?
- Who is called "Maithil Kavi Kokil"?
- For which work did Dinkar receive the Jnanpith Award?
- Who wrote Maila Anchal, and what kind of novel is it?
- Under which pen name did Nagarjun write in Maithili?
Mains-style:
- "Bihar's languages carry its history and identity." Discuss.
- Examine the contribution of writers from Bihar to modern Hindi literature.
A note on dates and numbers. Exam patterns, vacancies and schedules change from year to year. Always confirm the current details in the latest notification on the Bihar Public Service Commission website .
Get the next BPSC guide by email
New guides every week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.