Dhirendra Verma (17 May 1897 – 23 April 1973) was an Indian poet and writer. He used to write in Hindi and Brij Bhasha.^[1] Verma holds the same prominence for introducing scientific methods to research in Hindi language and literature as does Ramchandra Shukla.^[2] On the basis of his research in Indian languages, he published the first scientific history of Indian languages in 1933.^[3] He wrote his doctoral thesis on Brij Bhasha in French which was later translated into Hindi.

Verma was born on 17 May 1897 in Bhui colony of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, India.^{[citation needed]} His father, Khanchand, was a Jamindar by birth and occupation.^{[citation needed]} Khanchand had deep interest in Indian culture and was influenced by the ideals of Arya Samaj.^{[citation needed]} Verma was significantly influenced by his father and the ideals of Arya Samaj in his formative years.^{[citation needed]}

Verma died on 23 April 1973.^{[citation needed]}

Verma was admitted to D.A.V. College, Dehradun in 1908.^{[citation needed]} However, he soon returned to his father and took admission in Queen's College, Lucknow. He passed the "School Leaving Certificate Examination" with first division with special honours in Hindi.^{[citation needed]} Subsequently, he went to Myor Central College, Allahabad where he received his M.A. in Sanskrit (1921) from. Later, he was awarded a D. Litt degree from Paris University.^{[citation needed]}

Verma was appointed as the first lecturer of Hindi language at Allahabad University in 1924. Subsequently, he was promoted as a Professor and then Head of Department of Hindi department at Allahabad University, which he headed for several years. Later on, he served as the Vice Chancellor of Sagar University in Madhya Pradesh.^{[citation needed]}

It was his stint as a teacher and researcher that brought a lot of fame for Verma. He is recognized as the pioneer in introducing scientific methods to research in Hindi language and literature.^{[citation needed]}

Verma is known to have mentored many prominent writers, among them Dharamvir Bharati,^[4] who edited the Hindi magazine Dharmyug.

Along with Rahul Sankrityayan, Dhirendra Verma represented the spatial and temporal dimensions of Akshayat.^{[citation needed]}

Considered knowledgeable on Hindi literature,^[1] Verma has written many books. Notable among them in Hindi are Hindi-Rashtra ya Suba Hindustan (1930)^[5] Hindi Bhasha ka Itihasa ( History of Hindi language ) (1933).^[6] Notable books written by Verma in Brij Bhasha are Brij Chhap- Grammar of Brij Bhasha, Ashtchhap,^[7] Sursagar Saar, etc. Also he wrote books on rural Hindi.^{[citation needed]}

Verma was the principal editor of the first 'हिन्दी विश्वकोश' (Hindi Encyclopedia).^{[citation needed]}

Verma maintained a diary during his student years in 1917–23 about the political events taking place in India then. The diary entries were published in four parts called Meri kalej dayari (My College Diary).^[6]

Father Kamil Bulke, the Belgian Jesuit, who later became famous as India's most famous Christian Hindi scholar, wrote that it was on the inspiration of Verma that he went to Allahabad in 1945 and did research in Hindi for four years.^[8]