~* Maaithili Sharan Gupt *~ Introduction Maithili Sharan Gupt (1886-1964) is considered as one of the pioneers of 'Khari Boli' (plain dialect) poetry and the author of the first ever epic in modern Hindi literature. In his literary career spanning 57 years, Gupt has written over sixty works, comprising forty nine collections and seventeen translations of poetry and drama. He was perhaps, the only poet in Independent India to be honoured with the title 'National Poet'. In Saket (Ayodhya, 1932), the poet draws on the mythological tale of Rama, falling back heavily on Tulasidas's epic Ramcharitamanas. Also evident are influences of Valmiki's Ramayana, Bhavabhuti's play Uttara Rama Charita, Kalidasa's Raghuvamsa and the Mahabharata of Vyasa.