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IGNOU BHDC-113 Previous Year Solved Question Paper in Hindi

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Q1. Write short notes on any two of the following: (a) Dharmayug (b) Banaras Akhbar (c) Saraswati (d) Hans

Ans.

(a) Dharmayug

‘Dharmayug’ was one of the most popular and prestigious weekly magazines in post-independence India. Its publication was started in 1950 from Bombay (now Mumbai) by The Times of India Group . Its most illustrious editor was Dharamvir Bharati , during whose tenure (1960-1987) the magazine set new benchmarks in literary and cultural journalism.

There were several reasons behind the success of ‘Dharmayug’:

• Diverse Content: It was not just a literary magazine; it had a unique balance of literature, art, culture, science, sports, cinema, and current affairs. It brought serious literature to the common reader.
• High Literary Standard: It published the works (poems, stories, serialized novels) of almost all major writers of that time, such as Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Agyeya, Nirmal Verma, and Mohan Rakesh.
• Attractive Presentation: ‘Dharmayug’ was known for its beautiful layout, high-quality photographs, and attractive printing. It significantly raised the standard of presentation in Hindi journalism.
• National Consciousness: The magazine published serious and thought-provoking articles on issues of national importance, which helped in developing a modern and progressive outlook among its readers.

In short, ‘Dharmayug’ shaped the intellectual and cultural psyche of an entire era. It was a perfect example of literary journalism and commercial success. Its closure in the 1990s marked the end of a glorious chapter in Hindi journalism.

(c) Saraswati

‘Saraswati’ magazine is considered the most influential literary journal of the first two decades of the twentieth century. Its publication began in 1900 from Indian Press, Prayag , through the efforts of Chintamani Ghosh. Although its initial editors included Shyamsundar Das, its golden era is associated with the editorship of Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi (1903-1920), a period also known as the ‘Dwivedi Yug’ in the history of Hindi literature.

The contribution of ‘Saraswati’ is multidimensional:

• Refinement of Khari Boli: The most significant contribution of ‘Saraswati’ was to establish Khari Boli Hindi as the literary language for both prose and poetry. Dwivedi ji corrected the language of writers from a grammatical point of view and gave it a standard form.
• Nurturing a Generation of Writers: This magazine encouraged and provided a national platform to countless writers like Maithilisharan Gupt, Ayodhyasingh Upadhyay ‘Hariaudh’, and Ramchandra Shukla.
• Expansion of Subjects: Besides literature, ‘Saraswati’ expanded the knowledge domain of Hindi by publishing articles on science, history, archaeology, economics, and biography.
• Beginning of Literary Criticism: Through book reviews and critical essays, ‘Saraswati’ laid the foundation of systematic criticism in Hindi.

‘Saraswati’ was not just a magazine but a literary movement that propelled Hindi language and literature on the path of modernity. It also played a significant role in national awakening and social reform.

Q2. Explain the importance of translation in literary journalism.

Ans. In the field of literary journalism, translation is an extremely important and indispensable component. It is not merely a process of presenting a work from one language into another; it acts as a bridge between two cultures, ideologies, and literary traditions. Its importance can be understood through the following points:

• Literary Enrichment: Through translation, the excellent literature of other world languages (English, Russian, French, Japanese, etc.) reaches Hindi readers. This enriches Hindi literature with new genres, styles, themes, and modes of thought. For example, translations of Russian stories helped steer Hindi short stories towards realism.
• Cultural Exchange: Translation provides an opportunity to understand the customs, life values, and social structures of different cultures. This broadens the readers’ perspective and makes them global citizens.
• A Thread of National Unity: In a multilingual country like India, the translation of literature from one Indian language to another strengthens national unity. When Hindi readers read Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, or Kannada literature, they feel the shared Indian sensibilities despite linguistic differences. Translations published by magazines play a vital role in this direction.
• Expansion of Knowledge: Besides literature, important global thoughts related to philosophy, science, politics, and psychology also reach the readers of literary magazines through translation, leading to the development of intellectual consciousness in society.
• Language Development: To express new concepts and expressions, a translator often has to coin new words and idioms in their language. This develops and expands the expressive capacity of the target language (like Hindi).

Therefore, translation is an essential part of literary journalism that connects Hindi literature with world literature, intellectually enriches society, and keeps the language vibrant.

Q3. Explain the importance of literary and cultural journalism.

Ans. Literary and cultural journalism is a mirror of the intellectual and emotional health of any society. It is not just a medium of entertainment or information, but a powerful tool for nation-building and the development of social consciousness. Its importance lies in the following aspects:

• Preservation and Promotion of Literature: Literary magazines provide a platform for new and old generations of writers to publish their works (poems, stories, essays, novel excerpts). This is the most effective way to discover and encourage new literary talent.
• Creation of Literary Discourse: The reviews, critical articles, and debates published in these magazines give rise to a vibrant literary discourse. This helps in setting the criteria for literary evaluation and refines the taste of the readers.
• Refinement and Standardization of Language: Literary journalism plays a historical role in shaping and enriching the standard form of a language. The form that Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi gave to Khari Boli Hindi through the ‘Saraswati’ magazine is its most outstanding example.
• Dissemination of Cultural Awareness: These magazines publish material not only on literature but also on the arts, traditions, history, philosophy, and life values of a society. This connects the society with its cultural roots and makes it more aware of its identity.
• Medium of Social Change: In India, journalism began with the objective of social reform and national consciousness. From the Bhartendu era to the Premchand era, literary journalism raised its voice against social evils, political slavery, and economic exploitation. Even today, it continues to be a carrier of progressive ideas.
• Bridge Between Writer and Reader: Literary magazines establish a deep connection between the writer and the reader, which leads to the formation of a literary community.

Thus, literary and cultural journalism provides intellectual leadership to society, gives direction to its creative energy, and contributes to the building of a sophisticated and sensitive society.

Q4. Discuss the main features of literary journalism of the Bhartendu era.

Ans. Bhartendu Harishchandra (1850-1885) is considered the father of modern Hindi literature and journalism. The journalism of his era was a movement in itself, and its main features are as follows:

• Voice of Nationalism and Social Reform: The primary objective of the journalism of this era was to awaken the slumbering nation. These journals openly criticized the exploitative policies of the British rule and propagated the spirit of patriotism. Simultaneously, they launched a stern attack on social evils like child marriage, Sati, and untouchability, and supported women’s education.
• Promotion of Hindi Language: Bhartendu and his associates (Balkrishna Bhatt, Pratapnarayan Mishra, etc.) used their magazines as a medium for the propagation of Khari Boli Hindi. Their aim was to free Hindi from the influence of Urdu and establish it as a language of knowledge and science.
• Variety of Subjects: Although these magazines were literary, their content was very broad. Besides poetry, stories, and plays, they also included news, political commentary, social essays, discussions on science, and historical narratives. It was a holistic form of journalism.
• Use of Satire and Humour: The journalists of this era made extensive use of satire and humour to put their point across effectively. Sharp satires were directed at foreign rule and social hypocrisy, which were very popular among readers.
• Missionary Spirit: Journalism in the Bhartendu era was not done for commercial profit but as a ‘mission’ or ‘dharma’. The editors were writers and social reformers themselves, who often published their papers despite facing financial hardships.
• Key Magazines: Besides Bhartendu’s ‘Kavivachan Sudha’ (1868) , ‘Harishchandra’s Magazine’ (1873) , and ‘Balabodhini’ (1874) , Balkrishna Bhatt’s ‘Hindi Pradeep’ (1877) and Pratapnarayan Mishra’s ‘Brahman’ (1883) were the representative magazines of this era.

In short, the journalism of the Bhartendu era laid the foundation of modern Hindi society and performed the historic task of connecting literature with public life.

Q5. Explain the various dimensions of literary journalism of the Dwivedi era.

Ans. The literary journalism of the Dwivedi era (approx. 1900-1920) was centered around the magazine ‘Saraswati’, edited by Acharya Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi. The journalism of this era built a well-structured and refined edifice on the foundation laid by the Bhartendu era. Its various dimensions are as follows:

• Language Reformation and Standardization: This was the most important dimension of this era. Through ‘Saraswati’, Acharya Dwivedi systematized, refined, and made the language of Hindi prose and poetry grammatically correct. He rigorously corrected the linguistic errors of writers, which helped in establishing a standard form of Khari Boli Hindi.
• Expansion of Subject Matter: Dwivedi ji believed that literature should not be limited to mere entertainment. He encouraged the publication of informative articles on subjects other than literature, such as science, history, economics, sociology, archaeology, and biography, in ‘Saraswati’. This developed the intellectual capacity of Hindi.
• Morality and Idealism: A prominent tone of the journalism of this era was didactic and reformist. Through literary works, readers were given messages of good conduct, discipline, dutifulness, and patriotism. The purpose of poetry was considered to be ‘instruction’ along with ‘entertainment’.
• Encouragement to New Writers: Dwivedi ji turned ‘Saraswati’ into a school for new writers. He identified numerous talents like Maithilisharan Gupt, Ramchandra Shukla, and Premchand (in his early days), guided them, and established them by publishing their works.
• Development of Criticism: In this era, book reviews and criticism were established as an important genre. The critical articles published in ‘Saraswati’ laid the foundation of the tradition of classical criticism in Hindi.
• Spirit of Nationalism: Although the nationalism of this era was not as aggressive as in the Bhartendu era, the sense of pride in one’s country, culture, and history was strong.

Overall, the journalism of the Dwivedi era established Hindi as a capable and standard language at an all-India level and connected literature with serious intellectual discipline.

Q6. Discuss the value-based features of the journalism of ‘Pratap’ and ‘Karmveer’.

Ans. ‘Pratap’ and ‘Karmveer’ were two newspapers from the second and third decades of the 20th century that turned journalism into a powerful weapon of the national movement. The value-based features of their journalism reflect the highest ideals of the profession.

Value-based Features of ‘Pratap’:

‘Pratap’ was started by Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi in 1913 from Kanpur. Its journalism was based on the following values:

• Fearless Nationalism: ‘Pratap’ was a staunch opponent of British imperialism. Vidyarthi ji supported complete independence (Purna Swaraj) through his paper and fearlessly criticized oppressive government policies. For this, he was jailed multiple times, and heavy fines were imposed on the paper.
• Champion of Farmers and Labourers: ‘Pratap’ was known as the newspaper of farmers and workers. It particularly brought the Bijolia peasant movement to national attention and amplified the voice of the oppressed.
• Sacrifice for Communal Harmony: Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi was a great proponent of Hindu-Muslim unity. Throughout his life, he fought against communal forces with his journalism and ultimately sacrificed his life in 1931 while trying to quell communal riots in Kanpur. This was the establishment of the highest value in journalism.

Value-based Features of ‘Karmveer’:

‘Karmveer’ was edited by the fiery nationalist poet Makhanlal Chaturvedi . Published from Jabalpur and later Khandwa, this paper’s values were:

• Sacrificial Nationalism: The nationalism of ‘Karmveer’ was imbued with a spirit of sacrifice and martyrdom. Makhanlal ji’s famous poem ‘Pushp Ki Abhilasha’ (The Desire of a Flower) is the essence of this paper’s spirit. Its aim was to inspire the youth to sacrifice everything for the country.
• Coordination of Literature and Politics: ‘Karmveer’ published high-quality literature, especially powerful poems, which were directly linked to political consciousness. It used literature not just for art’s sake, but as a weapon for the country and society.
• Constructive and Inspirational Approach: As the name suggests, ‘Karmveer’ (Hero of Action) did not just criticize but inspired its readers to ‘act’, i.e., to actively participate in the freedom movement. Its language and style were extremely motivating and energetic.

In conclusion, both ‘Pratap’ and ‘Karmveer’ adopted journalism as a mission and established values such as sacrifice, fearlessness, and social concern.

Q7. Explain the contribution of ‘Bharat Mitra’ in the field of literary journalism.

Ans. The weekly paper ‘Bharat Mitra’, which started publication from Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1878, holds a significant place in the history of Hindi journalism. Although it had several editors, its most glorious period is associated with the editorship of Babu Balmukund Gupt . Its contribution to the field of literary journalism is invaluable:

• Pinnacle of Political Satire: The greatest contribution of ‘Bharat Mitra’ is its fearless and satirical political journalism. The satirical articles that Balmukund Gupt wrote under the title ‘Shivshambhu Ke Chitthe’ , addressed to the then Viceroy Lord Curzon, are a priceless treasure of Hindi journalism and literature. These articles took political satire to a new height and launched a deep attack on the tyranny of British rule.
• Significant Role in Language Debate: Through ‘Bharat Mitra’, Balmukund Gupt engaged in a long debate with Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi, the editor of ‘Saraswati’, over the purity of language. While Dwivedi was a proponent of a grammar-compliant and Sanskritized language, Gupt valued a fluent, natural, and living form of the language. This debate over the word ‘ansthirata’ was extremely important for determining the nature of Hindi prose.
• A Bridge Between Bhartendu Era and Dwivedi Era: The journalism of Balmukund Gupt and ‘Bharat Mitra’ acts as a bridge between the liveliness and satire of the Bhartendu era and the serious contemplation of the Dwivedi era. It had the sharpness of the Bhartendu era as well as the concern for refined language of the Dwivedi era.
• Literary Standard: In addition to political commentary, ‘Bharat Mitra’ also served literature by publishing literary articles, poems, and reviews. It provided a platform for deliberation on serious questions related to language and literature.
• A Centre for Hindi in Calcutta: At a time when the center of Hindi journalism was gradually shifting towards Prayag and Kashi, ‘Bharat Mitra’ kept the flag of Hindi flying high in Calcutta, the then capital of British India.

Thus, ‘Bharat Mitra’ enriched Hindi literary journalism through its fearless political commentary, linguistic contemplation, and high literary standards.

Q8. Discuss the main features of literary journalism of the Premchand era.

Ans. The literary journalism of the Premchand era (approx. 1920-1936) is deeply marked by the personality and ideology of the ‘Emperor of Novels’, Munshi Premchand. This era was inspired by Gandhian ideology and progressive consciousness. Its main features are as follows:

• Idealistic Realism: The core tone of the journalism of this era was ‘Idealistic Realism’ (Adarshonmukh Yatharthvad), a concept initiated by Premchand himself. The magazines depicted the bitter realities of society—such as the exploitation of farmers, poverty, the caste system, and the oppression of women—but also presented an idealistic solution.
• Influence of Gandhian Ideology: Premchand himself was greatly influenced by Gandhiji. Therefore, the magazines of this period show a deep influence of Gandhian values like truth, non-violence, religious harmony, upliftment of Harijans, and village reform. Many magazines were working to create public opinion for the national movement.
• Rise of Progressive Consciousness: In the last years of his life, Premchand’s inclination shifted towards socialism and progressive ideas. In 1936, he presided over the first convention of the Progressive Writers’ Association. The influence of this consciousness is clearly visible in his magazines ‘Hans’ and ‘Jagran’ . The purpose of literature was seen as bringing about social change and becoming the voice of the oppressed.
• Development of the Short Story and Novel Genres: This era was the golden age for the development of the Hindi short story and novel. Magazines like ‘Madhuri’, ‘Sudha’, and especially ‘Hans’ established the short story as a central genre and provided a major platform for fiction writers like Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, and Jainendra.
• Centre of Ideological Conflict: The magazines of this era were not just a medium for literary publication, but they were also arenas for ideological conflicts over principles like ‘art for art’s sake’ versus ‘art for life’s sake’. Through ‘Hans’, Premchand launched a vigorous campaign in favour of progressive literature.

Hence, the journalism of the Premchand era deeply connected literature with social concerns and turned it into an ideological weapon of the Indian freedom struggle.

Q9. Review post-independence Hindi literary journalism.

Ans. After independence (1947), Hindi literary journalism has seen many ups and downs. Its journey can be broadly understood by dividing it into three phases:

First Phase (1947-1970): The Golden Age of Mainstream Magazines After independence, a new class of readers emerged in the country. During this period, large publishing houses entered journalism. Magazines like ‘Dharmayug’ by the Times of India group and ‘Saptahik Hindustan’ by the Hindustan Times group were launched. Their features were:

• Reach to a wide readership.
• Attractive presentation, colourful content, and high-quality printing.
• Presenting serious literature alongside popular topics (cinema, sports, science).
• During this period, purely literary magazines like ‘Kalpana’ , ‘Prateek’ , and ‘Sarika’ also emerged, which provided a platform for movements like ‘Nayi Kahani’ (New Story) and ‘Nayi Kavita’ (New Poetry). This period is considered the golden age of literary journalism.

Second Phase (1970-1990): The Little Magazine Movement This period belonged to the small, non-commercial, and activist ‘little magazines’ that ran parallel to the large commercial magazines. These magazines opposed established literary norms and commercialism.

• Their aim was not to make a profit but to advance a particular ideology (often leftist) or a literary movement.
• ‘Pahal’ (Gyanranjan) , ‘Vasudha’ (Harishankar Parsai) , ‘Kathan’ , etc., were the prominent magazines of this movement. They gave space to writing with a new and rebellious tone.

Third Phase (1990-Present): Decline, Revival, and the Digital Age In the 1990s, due to the spread of television, large magazines like ‘Dharmayug’ and ‘Saptahik Hindustan’ closed down, creating a huge void.

• This void was filled to some extent by the magazine ‘Hans’ , which was revived by Rajendra Yadav in 1986. ‘Hans’ did the historic work of bringing Dalit and feminist discourse to the center of Hindi literature.
• In the 21st century, the advent of the internet and digital media has changed the landscape of literary journalism. Now, numerous web magazines, blogs, and social media platforms have become mediums of literary expression. This has democratized publishing but has also created a crisis of editorial control and quality.

In conclusion, post-independence Hindi literary journalism has undertaken a long and varied journey, from commercial peaks to ideological movements and now to digital challenges.

Q10. Explain the literary and cultural contribution of ‘Kalpana’ magazine.

Ans. In post-independence Hindi literary journalism, ‘Kalpana’ (started 1949, Hyderabad) holds a unique position due to its distinct seriousness, artistic excellence, and intellectual commitment. Published under the editorship of Aryendra Sharma, this magazine’s literary and cultural contribution is extremely significant.

Literary Contribution:

• High Literary Standards: ‘Kalpana’ never compromised with popularity or commercialism. Its sole criterion was literary excellence. It only gave space to serious, thought-provoking, and artistic writing.
• Platform for ‘Nayi Kavita’ and ‘Nayi Kahani’: ‘Kalpana’ was the most prominent magazine of modernist literature. It provided a prestigious platform to the top writers of ‘Nayi Kavita’ (New Poetry) and ‘Nayi Kahani’ (New Story) like Agyeya, Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh, Shamsher Bahadur Singh, Nirmal Verma, and Raghuvir Sahay. Many of Muktibodh’s important works were first published in ‘Kalpana’.
• Centre for Serious Criticism: The magazine played a major role in the development of serious and classical criticism in Hindi. It published in-depth analytical articles on Indian and Western poetics, literary theories, and world literature, which enriched the academic world of Hindi.
• Artistic Presentation: ‘Kalpana’ was also known for its elegant printing, layout, and cover page. Its presentation was in line with the seriousness of its content.

Cultural Contribution:

• Building an Intellectual Culture: ‘Kalpana’ created a culture of serious intellectual discourse in Hindi society. It established literature not merely as an emotional outburst but as an activity of deep thought and contemplation.
• Bridge Between North and South: Being published from Hyderabad, it geographically acted as a cultural bridge between the Hindi belt (North India) and South India.
• Confluence of Arts: ‘Kalpana’ was not limited to literature alone. It also published high-quality articles on subjects like painting, sculpture, music, and philosophy, making it a comprehensive cultural magazine.

In short, ‘Kalpana’ may have created a small readership in numbers, but it was an extremely influential and intellectual one, and it made a historic contribution to establishing modernist sensibility and intellectuality in Hindi literature.