Q. Which linguist is credited with distinguishing Bajjika as separate from Maithili?
Answer: Rahul Sankrityayan
Notes: Rahul Sankrityayan, a renowned Indian linguist and scholar, distinguished Bajjika from Maithili. Bajjika is spoken in northwestern Bihar and parts of Nepal; its linguistic status is debated. Bihar government promotes it via academies, and it has significant cultural presence, including cinema.