UGC NET June 2026 — Maithili (Paper 2)
Paper 2 carries 100 marks (50 questions × 2 marks). No negative marking. Vidyapati's Padavali, 20th-century fiction, Tirhuta script, and Maithili linguistics are core areas. Maithili was added to the 8th Schedule of the Constitution in 2003.
Overview: UGC NET Maithili Syllabus 2026
UGC NET Maithili Paper 2 covers the long literary tradition of Maithili — one of India's oldest literary languages, spoken primarily in the Mithila region of Bihar and Terai Nepal. The syllabus spans the medieval devotional poetry of Vidyapati (14th–15th century), the 19th-century renaissance of Chanda Jha, the social satire of Harimohan Jha, the modernist experiments of Rajkamal Chaudhary, and Maithili linguistics including the Tirhuta (Mithilakshar) script. Maithili was granted constitutional recognition under the 8th Schedule in 2003.
Unit 1: Medieval Maithili Literature — Vidyapati
Vidyapati (c. 1352–1448) is the towering figure of medieval Maithili literature and one of the most important poets in the entire Indo-Aryan literary tradition. His Padavali — a collection of devotional lyrics on the Radha-Krishna theme — is his masterwork. The Padavali's language is Maithili (not Sanskrit), making it a landmark in the use of a vernacular for high devotional poetry. Key features of the Padavali:
- Expresses the stages of Radha and Krishna's love (union, separation, longing) through the Madhura Bhakti tradition.
- The lyrics are set to classical ragas and are sung in Mithila to this day — especially at festivals like Sama-Chakeva.
- Vidyapati received the title Abhinava Jayadeva (the new Jayadeva) from his patrons — the Oinwara rulers of Mithila.
- His poems were absorbed into Bengali Vaishnavism and the Odisha Jagannath tradition, showing their pan-regional influence.
Besides the Padavali, Vidyapati wrote in Sanskrit: Kirtilata (a biography of his patron Kirti Singh in Apabhramsha), Bhuparikrima (geography), Purush Pariksha (didactic prose), and the Sanskrit treatise Likhnavali. His Kirtilata in Apabhramsha provides a linguistic bridge between Apabhramsha and early Maithili. Other medieval Maithili poets: Govindadas and Jagadisa Mishra.
Unit 2: Maithili Drama — Umapatidhar and Medieval Theatre
Medieval Maithili literature also has a strong dramatic tradition. Umapatidhar (13th century) composed Parijatharana — a Sanskrit-Maithili bilingual play. The Maithili dialect Sanskrit plays — using Maithili for lower-caste and female characters while Sanskrit is used for upper-caste males — represent an important intersection of language politics and dramaturgy. This convention (analogous to the use of Prakrit in classical Sanskrit drama) is frequently tested in UGC NET.
Unit 3: 19th-Century Renaissance
Chanda Jha (1831–1907) is the father of modern Maithili literature. His Maithili Ramayana — a Maithili adaptation of the Ramayana — is a landmark 19th-century text. He also wrote love poetry and Sanskrit works. He reformed Maithili prose, bringing it closer to spoken language. Manohar Lal and Umesh Mishra were other figures of this period.
The 19th century also saw the development of Maithili journalism and the standardisation of Maithili prose. The literary periodical Mithila Mihira played a role in consolidating Maithili literary identity in the face of Hindi's expansion in the region.
Unit 4: 20th-Century Fiction and Drama
Harimohan Jha (1908–1984) is the most celebrated Maithili novelist of the 20th century. His novel Kanyadan (Gift of a Daughter) — a biting social satire on the oppressive dowry and marriage practices of Maithili society — is a masterpiece of humour and social criticism. His other notable works: Khattarkaaka ke Tarang (humorous sketches of a cantankerous uncle, a beloved Maithili classic) and Preet Puraan. His prose style — colloquial Maithili laced with irony — set the standard for modern Maithili fiction.
Rajkamal Chaudhary (1929–1967) is the most controversial and experimental figure in modern Maithili literature. Dying at 38, he produced poetry, novels, and short stories that break completely with the genteel Maithili literary tradition. His novel Maati Aur Manukhta and poems confront sexuality, caste, and existential despair in a manner unprecedented in Maithili. His poem collections like Mukti Prashan and Aahutaan are studied for their modernist aesthetics.
Other important 20th-century figures: Mayanand Mishra — poet and novelist; Taranand Viyogi — Dalit Maithili writer; Lallit (Lal Prasad Jha, born 1960) — Sahitya Akademi Award winner, contemporary fiction; Usha Kiran Khan — prominent woman novelist known for feminist Maithili fiction.
Unit 5: Maithili Poetry — Modern Period
Modern Maithili poetry moved away from Vidyapati's Brajaboli towards pure Maithili. Surendra Jha 'Suman' (1910–2002) is considered the most important modern Maithili poet — his lyric poetry in standard Maithili set a new direction. Baidyanath Mishra 'Nagarjun' (1911–1998), while more famous for his Hindi poetry, also wrote important Maithili poems under the pen name Yatri — his Maithili output is part of the UGC syllabus. Manmohan Jha and Kirtinath Jha are also tested in modern Maithili poetry.
Unit 6: Folk Literature and Oral Tradition
Maithili folk literature is rich and closely tied to the agricultural calendar and the Mithila region's distinctive culture. Key forms include: Vidyapati songs (Vidyapati geet) — sung at festivals including Sama-Chakeva (a post-monsoon festival unique to Mithila), Chhath Puja, and weddings. Sohar (birth songs), Samachari (songs sung by women at births and weddings), Nacani (women's dance-song), and Lachari (songs of longing). Mithila painting (Madhubani painting) — while primarily a visual art — has a literary dimension through its narrative content drawn from Hindu mythology and Vidyapati themes. The Sama-Chakeva festival generates an entire genre of folk songs unique to Maithili culture.
Unit 7: Maithili Linguistics and Script
Maithili is an Eastern Indo-Aryan language closely related to Bengali, Assamese, and Odia, but with significant morphological and phonological differences from Hindi. It was added to the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution in 2003 — the most recent addition before the current schedule.
The traditional script of Maithili is Tirhuta (also called Mithilakshar or Maithili script) — an abugida derived from Brahmi, used in the Mithila region for manuscripts and traditional documents. However, Devanagari is now widely used in Maithili publishing and education. Both scripts are relevant for UGC NET. Key linguistic features: Maithili has a distinct nominal case system, verb agreement (including gender agreement not found in Hindi), and preserves archaic features absent in Hindi. The Maithili dialects — Bajjika, Angika, and standard literary Maithili — are also tested.
Important Authors and Works
| Author | Period | Major Works | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Umapatidhar | 13th c. | Parijatharana | Early Maithili drama (Sanskrit-Maithili) |
| Vidyapati | c. 1352–1448 | Padavali, Kirtilata | Greatest Maithili poet; Abhinava Jayadeva |
| Chanda Jha | 1831–1907 | Maithili Ramayana | Father of modern Maithili literature |
| Harimohan Jha | 1908–1984 | Kanyadan, Khattarkaaka ke Tarang | Master of Maithili social satire |
| Baidyanath Mishra 'Nagarjun' | 1911–1998 | Maithili poems (as Yatri) | Also famous as Hindi poet |
| Surendra Jha 'Suman' | 1910–2002 | Lyric poetry collections | Most important modern Maithili poet |
| Rajkamal Chaudhary | 1929–1967 | Maati Aur Manukhta, Mukti Prashan | Modernist experimentalist |
| Usha Kiran Khan | Contemporary | Feminist fiction | Sahitya Akademi Award winner |
Quick Revision Facts
- Vidyapati (c. 1352–1448) — Padavali — Abhinava Jayadeva
- Vidyapati's poems were absorbed into Bengali Vaishnavism and Odia Jagannath tradition
- Chanda Jha (1831–1907) — Father of Modern Maithili Literature — Maithili Ramayana
- Harimohan Jha — Kanyadan — satirical masterpiece on dowry/marriage customs
- Rajkamal Chaudhary (1929–1967) — modernist experimentalist — died at 38
- Nagarjun (Baidyanath Mishra) — also wrote Maithili as Yatri
- Maithili added to 8th Schedule in 2003
- Traditional script: Tirhuta (Mithilakshar); Devanagari also used
- Sama-Chakeva festival — unique to Mithila — generates distinctive folk songs
- Maithili has gender agreement in verbs — distinct from Hindi grammar
Exam Strategy
UGC NET Maithili Paper 2 consistently centres on Vidyapati — his Padavali, its linguistic medium (Maithili, not Sanskrit), its pan-regional influence, and his title Abhinava Jayadeva. Questions on Vidyapati typically account for 10–15% of the paper. The second major cluster is 20th-century fiction: Harimohan Jha's satire (Kanyadan, Khattarkaaka ke Tarang) and Rajkamal Chaudhary's modernism contrast well and are often paired in questions.
For linguistics, focus on the 2003 8th Schedule addition, Tirhuta script, and Maithili's Eastern Indo-Aryan classification. Folk forms — especially Sama-Chakeva songs and Sohar — appear regularly. The medieval drama tradition (Umapatidhar, Sanskrit-Maithili bilingual plays, language use by social status) is a specialised area that rewards careful revision.
Vidyapati's Wider Influence and the Brajaboli Question
One of the most important linguistic debates around Vidyapati concerns the language of his Padavali. While most scholars classify it as Maithili, the language is technically a literary idiom called Brajaboli — an artificial courtly register that blends Maithili, Braj Bhasha, and Apabhramsha elements. This language was adopted across Bengal, Odisha, and Mithila for devotional poetry. Chandidas in Bengal and Jayadeva's tradition in Odisha both fed into this shared literary idiom. The UGC NET Maithili syllabus tests candidates' understanding of this linguistic complexity: Vidyapati wrote in Brajaboli (a Maithili-base literary language), not in everyday spoken Maithili. His Sanskrit works like Kirtilata and Purush Pariksha show that he was equally at home in classical Sanskrit composition. This bilingual — or multilingual — literary identity is central to understanding Vidyapati's historical position.
Literary Criticism in Maithili
Maithili literary criticism developed primarily in the 20th century alongside the growth of Maithili print culture. The establishment of the Maithili Sahitya Parishad and later the Sahitya Akademi's Maithili advisory board (following 8th Schedule recognition in 2003) institutionalised Maithili literary culture. Key critical concepts tested include: the transition from Brajaboli to pure Maithili in modern poetry, the debate between tradition and modernity in Rajkamal Chaudhary's work, and feminist criticism of Maithili's marriage and dowry literature.
