Mirzapuri


Mirzapuri is a dialect of the Awadhi language spoken in the district of Mirzapur and adjacent regions in Uttar Pradesh. It is a mother-tongue under Eastern [Hindi languages|Eastern Hindi] of Central group and Classified into Hindi language. Thus Mirzapuri is reported as Hindi and is the largest language spoken in Mirzapur district.

A Local Variant of Awadhi

The Mirzapuri dialect is a term used by the residents of Mirzapur to describe their local variant of the Awadhi language. While not formally recognized in historical linguistic surveys, "Mirzapuri" is a colloquial designation used by locals and some Awadhi writers to refer to the dialect spoken in the region. Historically, the Linguistic Survey of India, conducted by G.A. Grierson, identified the language of the Mirzapur region as Western Standard Bhojpuri. However, significant changes have occurred since the division of the district in 1989, with the 2011 census showing that 80% of the population in the current Mirzapur district reports Hindi as their primary language, with Awadhi being a significant Mother-tongue. The Mirzapuri dialect of Awadhi has been documented with a Glottolog code and a Linguasphere ID, indicating its recognition within linguistic databases. Efforts have been made by local communities to document and promote the use of the term "Mirzapuri" to preserve the linguistic heritage of the region.

Historical Context and Linguistic Surveys

Historically, the Linguistic Survey of India, conducted by G.A. Grierson, identified the language of the Mirzapur region as Western Standard Bhojpuri. At the time of the survey, the Mirzapur district included what is now the separate Sonbhadra district. However, significant changes have occurred since the division of the district in 1989. According to the 2011 census, 80% of the population in the current Mirzapur district reports Hindi as their primary language, with Awadhi being a significant Mother-tongue.
The term "Mirzapuri" does not appear in Grierson's survey, which reflects the broader categorization of dialects at the time. Nonetheless, local usage and subsequent linguistic studies have highlighted the distinctiveness of the dialect spoken in Mirzapur, which aligns more closely with Awadhi than with Bhojpuri.

Recognition and Documentation

The Mirzapuri dialect has been documented with a Glottolog code and a Linguasphere ID, indicating its recognition within linguistic databases. Despite its local significance, Mirzapuri is often underrepresented in broader linguistic surveys due to its limited geographical scope and the dominance of more widely recognized languages like Hindi and Bhojpuri.

''Literature''

Indravati is a major work in this language written by Nur Muhammad on the model of Padmdvat in 1757 AD. Another work is Shri Ramayana written by Jhama Dasa at Vindhyachal of Mirzapur in 1761 AD. According to ''Ahmed Shah, who first translated Bijak of Kabir into English, the language of Bijak is in Mirzapuri dialect, which he says a dialect of Bhojpuri but according to Grierson'', there isn't even a single word of Bhojpuri in Bijak and it was written in old Awadhi. which confirms Bijak was written in Awadhi and also Mirzapuri is a dialect of Awadhi.

Current Linguistic Landscape

The current linguistic landscape of Mirzapur reflects a shift from the historical dominance of Western Bhojpuri to a more complex mix of languages. While Hindi is reported as the primary language by the majority of the population, Awadhi remains a significant local dialect. Bhojpuri is still spoken in the eastern region of Chunar Tehsil, but it is no longer the dominant language across the entire district. Kajri folk song is playing a major role in promoting the Mirzapuri dialect.