UPHESC Assistant Professor Hindi 2025 PYQs

Concept: Hazari Prasad Dwivedi ('Kabir', 1942) presents Kabir as a bhakta whose sadhana centres on prem-leela (loving devotion to Ram), not mere yoga or mysticism.

1. Ramkumar Verma stressed Kabir's mysticism (rahasyavad); Parashuram Chaturvedi placed him in the Sant tradition.

Short trick: Dwivedi: Kabir – 'bhakta' first; prem is the centre.

Concept: Acharya Shukla ('Goswami Tulsidas') argued that Tulsi's 'svantah sukhay' is in fact for the good of others – his lokmangal view of poetry.

1. For Shukla the poet's heart is one with the 'lok-hriday', so self-delight becomes delight of all.

Short trick: Shukla = lokmangal → svantah = parantah sukhay.

Concept: Prasad's first story 'Gram' was published in 'Indu' (1911), the magazine of his nephew Ambika Prasad Gupt.

1. 'Gram' is often cited as an early original modern Hindi story.

Short trick: Prasad – Indu – Gram (1911).

Concept: 'Punarnava' (1973) is set in the Gupta age (4th century, Samudragupta).

1. Banbhatt ki Atmakatha – 7th c. (Harsha); Charuchandra Lekh – 12th–13th c. (Satvahan/Siddhas); Anamdas ka Potha – Upanishadic Raikva story.

Short trick: Punarnava = Gupta 4th c.; Banbhatt = Harsha 7th c.

Concept: 'Sindoor ki Holi' is the problem play of Lakshminarayan Mishra, published in 1934 – none of the printed years is correct.

1. Mishra's problem plays: Sanyasi (1929), Rakshas ka Mandir (1931), Mukti ka Rahasya (1932), Sindoor ki Holi (1934), Aadhi Raat (1934).
2. All options (1961–1967) are three decades too late, so the question is treated as a bonus.

Short trick: Mishra's problem plays = 1929–1934.

Concept: Renu took the title from Pant's poem 'Bharat Mata': 'भारत माता ग्रामवासिनी … धूल भरा मैला सा आँचल'.

1. Maila Anchal (1954) – first regional (anchalik) novel of Hindi.

Short trick: Pant's Bharat Mata → 'maila sa anchal'.

Concept: 'Dhokha' is a lively essay of Pratap Narayan Mishra (editor of 'Brahman').

1. His other essays: Bat, Bhaun, Dant, Khushamad, Aap, Budhapa.

Short trick: PNM writes on everyday words: Dhokha, Bat, Bhaun, Dant.

Concept: Dhokha, Khushamad and Bat are Pratap Narayan Mishra's essays; 'Dharm aur Samaj' is not his.

1. PNM picked homely topics (Bat, Bhaun, Dant, Khushamad) in a witty style.

Short trick: Light everyday titles = PNM.

Concept: Balmukund Gupt's satirical letters 'Shivshambhu ke Chitthe' (Bharatmitra, 1903–05) addressed Lord Curzon.

1. They attacked Curzon's policies including the partition of Bengal.

Short trick: Gupt – Bharatmitra – Curzon.

Concept: Bharatendu delivered 'Bharatvarsh ki Unnati Kaise Ho Sakti Hai' at the Dadri fair, Ballia, in November 1884.

1. He died in January 1885, so it is one of his last public speeches.

Short trick: Ballia 1884 – a year before his death (1885).