Languages and Literature of Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh State PSC (CGPSC) Preparation: All subjects - CGPSC (Chhattisgarh) PDF Download

Origin and History

• In Chhattisgarh, Chhattisgarhi serves as the official language, encompassing around 17.5 million speakers. This eastern Hindi dialect is heavily influenced by Dravidian and Munda languages, offering a unique linguistic blend. Chhattisgarhi, also known as Khaltahi in certain communities, carries historical significance, tracing back to the region's earlier name, Daksin Kosal.
• Chhattisgarhi speakers are widely dispersed, not only within Chhattisgarh but also in neighboring regions of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Orissa. The political and cultural movements in Chhattisgarh since the 1920s have actively promoted linguistic and cultural identity, advocating for increased autonomy within India. In 2000, the creation of Chhattisgarh as a separate state from Madhya Pradesh further reinforced Chhattisgarhi's importance. Among the 93 languages spoken in the region, 70 dialects are specific to Chhattisgarhi, positioning it as a distinct variety of Hindi with 70 widely distributed dialects across Austro-Asiatic language groups.
• Approximately 12 million people speak the Chhattisgarhi language, which is characterized by various accents and pronunciations across different regions of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In addition to Chhattisgarhi, many people in the neighboring state of Madhya Pradesh also speak English and Hindi. Chhattisgarhi boasts a rich cultural and literary history, with numerous eminent literary figures contributing to its enrichment through various forms of literary works. This language is also regarded as a global language, as the educated population of Chhattisgarh is fluent in English and Hindi, often speaking these languages confidently in public. Furthermore, Chhattisgarhi empowers the citizens of the state to communicate with confidence and ease.

Dialects of Chhattisgarhi Language

• The most commonly used dialects in Chhattisgarh include Kalanga, Sadri, Korwa, Bhulia, Khairagarhi, Baigani, Kavardi, and Surgujia. However, some dialects like Kurukh, Parji, and Gondi are nearing extinction and are at risk of dying out. 
• European dialects are also spoken in the central region of Chhattisgarh. The southern part of the state, which lies on the Deccan plateau, exhibits a blend of Dravidian dialects influenced by Indo-European dialects.

Classification

• Awadhi and Bagheli languages are closely related to the Chhattisgarhi language. These languages fall under the East Central Zone of the Indo-Aryan languages, which is a branch of the Indo-European language family. 
• According to the Indian government, Chhattisgarhi is considered an eastern dialect of Hindi and is recognized as a separate language in the Ethnologue. Chhattisgarhi also has several identified dialects of its own, including Kalanga, Kavardi, Bhulia, Sadri Korwa, and Baighani, in addition to the standard form known as Chhattisgarhi Proper.

Writing

• Chhattisgarhi language, like Hindi, employs the Devanagari script for writing.

Literature

• Beyond its cultural diversity, Chhattisgarh is renowned for its rich literary heritage, which captures the historical and social movements of the region. The literature of Chhattisgarh is distinguished by its unique portrayal of social issues and regional consciousness, reflecting the state's struggle to establish its own identity in Central India. 
• Notably, Khub Chand Baghel addressed the social problems of the lower castes in his plays, Jarnail Singh and Unch Neech. Chhattisgarh has also produced many talented writers, including Abhishek Agarwal from Bhilai, who is recognized as one of the state's most prominent young authors.