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In which language did Tulsidas compose the 'Ramcharitmanas'?
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Answer: Option B — Awadhi
Detailed Solution
The "Ramcharitmanas" ("Lake of the Deeds of Rama") is an epic poem written by the saint-poet Goswami Tulsidas in Awadhi, a dialect of Hindi spoken in the Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh.
About the Ramcharitmanas:
- Tulsidas began writing it in 1574 in Ayodhya, on Ram Navami, and completed it in about two years and seven months, partly in Varanasi.
- It is divided into seven books (kandas): Bal Kand, Ayodhya Kand, Aranya Kand, Kishkindha Kand, Sundar Kand, Lanka Kand and Uttar Kand.
- It is written mainly in the "chaupai" and "doha" verse forms.
- Based on Valmiki's Ramayana and the "Adhyatma Ramayana", it presents Rama as the supreme God (Maryada Purushottam) and emphasises bhakti (devotion).
- Because it was written in the language of ordinary people rather than Sanskrit, it became one of the most widely read and loved religious texts in north India.
The tradition of the "Ramlila" (the dramatic performance of Rama's story, especially before Dussehra) is based largely on it. The Ramlila was inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
In 2024, the Ramcharitmanas, along with the Panchatantra, was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.
About Tulsidas (about 1532-1623):
- He is believed to have been born in Rajapur (Chitrakoot district, Uttar Pradesh) or Soron.
- He lived much of his life in Varanasi, where Tulsi Ghat is named after him.
- His other works include the "Hanuman Chalisa" (in Awadhi), "Vinay Patrika" (in Braj Bhasha), "Kavitavali", "Gitavali", "Dohavali" and "Ramlala Nahachhu".
- He is believed to have been a contemporary of Emperor Akbar.
Other important works in Hindi dialects:
- Awadhi: "Padmavat" by Malik Muhammad Jayasi.
- Braj Bhasha: "Sursagar" by Surdas.
- Maithili: songs of Vidyapati.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Braj Bhasha is the language of Surdas's "Sursagar" and Tulsidas's "Vinay Patrika".
- ✗Sanskrit is the language of Valmiki's Ramayana.
- ✗Maithili is the language of Vidyapati's songs.
Quick tip
Remember: "Ramcharitmanas" = Tulsidas, in Awadhi (begun 1574 in Ayodhya; 7 kandas; basis of Ramlila); "Padmavat" also Awadhi; "Sursagar" = Braj Bhasha; "Vinay Patrika" = Braj.
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Books & Authors — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Books & Authors, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers famous books and their authors, including ancient Indian texts, works of the freedom struggle, classic and modern literature, autobiographies of famous people, and recently published books by well-known personalities. Questions usually name a book and ask for its author, or the other way round. Ancient and historical books, such as Arthashastra (Kautilya), Indica (Megasthenes) and Gitanjali (Rabindranath Tagore), are tested most often. Autobiographies are another favourite, so learn titles such as 'My Experiments with Truth' (Mahatma Gandhi) and 'Wings of Fire' (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam). Practise the books and authors questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.