Depamnent of Hindi and Modern Indian Languages, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India.
His important publications are:
Prayojan Parakh Hindi, Lucknow, 1996; Hindi ka Tathyatmak Itihas, Lucknow, 2004; Adhunik Evam Atyadhunik Kavi, Lucknow, 2004.
The eminent critic of Hindi literature, Dr. Ram Vilas Sharma, was a renowned scholar of English language. His socio-linguistic approach in Hindi criticismis attributed to his versatile scholarship. He is known for his contribution of providing wonderful ideas in the development of Hindi literature and language. The prevailing idea about the growth of Hindi in chronological order- from vedic Sanskrit to laukik Sanskrit to Pali to prakrit Appabhransh to Avhatta to Hindi- was credulously contradicted by him. He also established that Sagun and Nirgun Bhakti movements may not be divided along caste lines. In the genius of Ramanand he found amalgamation of both. The communalization of Hindi and Urdu for political ends, known in literary circles, as “Maturukat Theory”, in his opinion, was a dangerous development. He said that both have the same vocabulary. In this article I have attempted to eastablish why Dr. Ram Vilas Shrama may be called a peerless Hindi critic.
