In this guide
In 1903, as Maharana Fateh Singh of Mewar set out for the Delhi Durbar held to celebrate the British king's coronation, he received a set of verses from the poet Kesari Singh Barhath. Written in Dingal, the thirteen couplets — the Chetavani ra Chungatya ("pricks of warning") — reminded the Maharana of Mewar's proud tradition of never bowing before an emperor. According to tradition, the Maharana travelled to Delhi but did not attend the Durbar. Whatever the precise details, the episode shows the power of Rajasthani literature: it was not only art but a voice of memory and conscience.
The Rajasthani language
Rajasthani is a group of closely related dialects spoken across the state. It has a rich literary history of more than a thousand years.
| Dialect | Region |
|---|---|
| Marwari | Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Nagaur, Pali, Barmer — the most widely spoken; the basis of the literary language |
| Dhundhari (Jaipuri) | Jaipur, Dausa, Tonk region |
| Mewari | Udaipur, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara |
| Mewati | Alwar, Bharatpur (Mewat region) |
| Hadoti | Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar |
| Wagdi | Dungarpur, Banswara — spoken by many Bhils |
| Shekhawati | Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu |
| Malvi | Borders with Malwa (Jhalawar, Pratapgarh) |
Dingal and Pingal
Two literary styles dominated classical Rajasthani poetry:
| Style | Basis | Poets | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dingal | Old Marwari (Rajasthani) | Mainly Charans | Heroic, forceful; used for war poetry and praise of warriors |
| Pingal | Rajasthani mixed with Brajbhasha | Mainly Bhats | Softer; used for devotional and courtly poetry |
Forms of literature
| Form | Meaning | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Raso | Heroic poems about rulers | Prithviraj Raso, Bisaldev Raso, Hammir Raso, Khuman Raso |
| Khyat | Prose chronicles of dynasties | Muhnot Nainsi ri Khyat, Bankidas ri Khyat, Dayaldas ri Khyat |
| Vat | Prose stories and tales | Folk tales and legends |
| Vachanika | Mixed prose-verse narratives | Achaldas Khinchi ri Vachanika (Shivdas Gadan) |
| Veli / Beli | Poetic compositions | Beli Krishan Rukmani Ri |
Major classical works
| Work | Author | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Prithviraj Raso | Chand Bardai | Heroic epic of Prithviraj Chauhan; text contains many later additions |
| Bisaldev Raso | Narpati Nalha | About Vigraharaja IV (Bisaldev) |
| Hammir Raso | Sarangdhar (attributed) | About Hammir of Ranthambore |
| Kanhadade Prabandh | Padmanabha | Resistance of Kanhadadeva of Jalore to Alauddin Khalji |
| Beli Krishan Rukmani Ri | Prithviraj Rathore ("Peethal") of Bikaner | Dingal masterpiece on the marriage of Krishna and Rukmini |
| Muhnot Nainsi ri Khyat and Marwar ra Pargana ri Vigat | Muhnot Nainsi, a Marwar official under Jaswant Singh | Historical chronicle and a statistical and administrative account of Marwar's parganas; Nainsi has been called the "Abul Fazl of Rajputana" |
| Vansh Bhaskar and Veer Satsai | Suryamal Mishran of Bundi | Vansh Bhaskar — a history of Bundi; Veer Satsai — heroic verses, including a call for resistance around 1857 |
Modern Rajasthani literature
| Writer | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Kesari Singh Barhath | Poet and revolutionary; Chetavani ra Chungatya (1903) |
| Kanhaiyalal Sethia | Poems such as Dharti Dhoran Ri ("land of sand dunes") and Pathal ar Peethal |
| Vijaydan Detha ("Bijji") | Master storyteller; Baatan ri Phulwari — a large collection of retold folk tales; stories adapted into films such as Duvidha and Paheli |
| Chandra Prakash Deval, Narayan Singh Bhati and others | Poetry and drama; Sahitya Akademi awards in Rajasthani |
The Sahitya Akademi has given awards for Rajasthani literature since the 1970s, recognising it as a literary language.
The demand for constitutional recognition
Rajasthani is not among the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed a resolution in 2003 asking the Centre to include it. Supporters point to its long literary history and many speakers; others raise questions about standardisation among its dialects and the relationship with Hindi. The demand remains pending.
Practice
Prelims-style:
- Which Rajasthani dialect is spoken in the Kota region?
- What is the difference between Dingal and Pingal?
- Who wrote Beli Krishan Rukmani Ri?
- Who is called the "Abul Fazl of Rajputana"?
- To whom were the Chetavani ra Chungatya addressed?
Mains-style (50 words): What is a khyat?
Mains-style (100 words): Discuss the contribution of Rajasthani literature to the writing of Rajasthan's history.
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 Rajasthan Public Service Commission website .
Get the next RAS guide by email
New guides every week. No spam, unsubscribe any time.