Gujarati Language and Literature Quiz

Study Notes

Gujarati is one of the major languages spoken in India, with over 56 million speakers globally. It is classified under Indo-Aryan languages and has its own unique literary tradition. This language was developed from Sanskrit during ancient times and later evolved into Apabhramsha, which is found only in Gujarat's medieval poetry. From this emerged the present-day Gujarati language, which uses Devanagari script.

The roots of Gujarati literature can be traced back to the Jain texts of the 8th century CE. However, it gained momentum after the arrival of Arab invaders. Over time, numerous significant works have been written in Gujarati language; some important ones include Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Vita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Ramcharitmanas, Tulsiram Katha, Valmiki Ramayana, Padma Purana, Narada Kalapurush, Natakas, Dharmashastras etc..

In terms of modern literature, Gujarati authors like Kavi Mangaldas and Premsukhdas contributed immensely to the development of a specific type of drama called Garbiyali. In addition, there were many new forms of prose writing such as Shringarshala, Hemchandracharyashala, Kavyalaya, Bhavishya Lok, Adhyatma Svarupda, Niti Sanjivani, Udyog Prakasa, Atisarth Champu, Raidasi, Agyanswaroop, Santnat Darshan, Deenbandhu, Samajik Parichay, Arthdarpan, Sabhasan, Antarmandal, Nikhilarth Darshan, Prithvi Pathik, Kabutarkosh, Atisay Patrika. Furthermore, several notable publications appeared in Gujarati including 'Brahmapuri', 'Varnamala', 'Lilavati', 'Saurashtra', 'Shankhi', 'Narayan', 'Maha Satka', 'Dipika', 'Kavya Khazana'.

However, despite these achievements, post-independence saw a decline in creativity due to lack of patronage by government bodies. Many writers moved out of their native state Gujarat to cities like Ahmedabad and Surat where they had more opportunities for publishing. Despite this setback, Gujarati remains an active medium of communication among Gujaratis worldwide, contributing significantly to Indian culture and heritage through its rich body of work.

Description

Test your knowledge on the history and development of the Gujarati language and its rich literary tradition, from ancient texts to modern works. Explore the origins, notable authors, genres, and significant publications that have shaped Gujarati literature over the years.