• Rajasthani, a dialect of Hindi, had its own part to play. The bards (itinerant singers) moved from place to place, providing entertainment and keeping the stories of heroes alive. It was from these ballads that Colonel Tod collected the heroic stories of Rajasthan and put them in the Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan.

• Prithviraj Raso is supposed to be the first book in Hindi language. It is an account of the exploits of Prithviraj Chauhan. In its imitation, several other Rasos were also written.

• The earliest Marathi poetry and prose is by Saint Jnaneshwar (Gyaneshwar) who lived in the thirteenth century. He wrote a long commentary on Bhagavad Gita. He was the one who started the kirtan tradition in Maharashtra. He was followed by Namdev (l270-1350), Gora, Sena and Janabai. All these sang and popularised the Marathi language. Their songs are sung even today by the Verkari pilgrims on their way to Pandharpur pilgrimage.