Syllabus for Maithili Literature Optional

Maithili is one of the 28 language literature subjects offered as optional by UPSC. Maithili literature has a rich and long history. It is used in parts of northern Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh as well as some districts of West Bengal and Assam. It is also spoken in Nepal. Candidates who have studied Maithili in a formal setting or have learned Maithili as their native language should take up this optional. The paper has to be written in the Devanagari script. 

Section A: History of Maithili Language 

• Place of Maithili in Indo-European language family.
• Origin and development of Maithili language. (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Avhatt, Maithili)
• Periodic division of Maithili Language. (Beginning, Middle era, Modern era)
• Maithili and its different dialects.
• Relationship between Maithili and other Eastern languages (Bengali, Assamese, Oriya)
• Origin and development of Tirhuta Script.
• Pronouns and Verbs in the Maithili Language.

Section B: History of Maithili Literature

• Background of Maithili Literature (Religious, economic, social, cultural).
• Periodic division of Maithili literature.
• Pre-Vidyapati Literature.
• Vidyapati and his tradition.
• Medieval Maithili Drama (Kirtaniya Natak, Ankia Nat, Maithili dramas were written in Nepal.
• Maithili Folk Literature (Folk Tales, Folk Drama, Folk Stories, Folk Songs).
• Development of different literary forms in the modern era
  • Prabandh-kavya
  • Muktuk-kavya
  • Novel
  • Short Story
  • Drama
  • Essay
  • Criticism
  • Memoirs
  • Translation
• Development of Maithili Magazines and Journals

Section A

• Vidyapati Geet-Shati – Publisher: Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi (Lyrics – 1 to 50)
• Govind Das Bhajanavali – Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (Lyrics – 1 to 25)
• Krishnajanm – Manbodh
• Mithilabhasha Ramayana – Chanda Jha (only Sunder-Kand)
• Rameshwar Charit Mithila Ramayan – Lal Das (only Bal-kand)
• Keechak-Vadh – Tantra Nath Jha.
• Datta-Vati – Surendra Jha 'Suman' {only 1st and 2nd Cantos}.
• Chitra-Yatri
• Samakaleen Maithili Kavita – Publisher: Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi.

Section B

• Varna Ratnakar – Jyotirishwar (only 2nd Kallol)
• Khattar Kakak Tarang – Hari Mohan Jha
• Lorik–Vijaya-Manipadma
• Prithvi Putra – Lalit
• Bhaphait Chahak Jinagi – Sudhanshu 'Shekhar' Choudhary
• Kriti Rajkamlak – Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna (First Ten Stories only)
• Katha–Sangrah – Publisher: Maithili Acadamy, Patna