book review in gujarati

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Best Gujarati Books To Read

Want to know Best Gujarati Books To Read? Well you have landed on the right article. Reading books has become one of the most popular hobbies, especially since lockdown. Reading books from different genres allows the reader to gain more knowledge and build up a strong vocabulary. There are many books that contain essential information related to history or science. There are many books available in different languages. There are many Gujarati language books that consist of life-changing stories and lessons for readers.  Many Gujarati books provide a clear perspective and also a lot of information about historical events. Gujarati novels are widely popular and are rich in culture. Many famous Gujarati writers such as  Ashwini Bhatt, K.M Munshi, Amrita Pritam, etc  have written books of various genres such as thrillers, romance, suspense, and many more. Autobiographies of many  Gujarati leaders, especially Mahatma Gandhi,  are also very popular and widely read across the country.

List of 15 Best Gujarati Books To Read

1. saraswatichandra.

Saraswatichandra is a Gujarati novel written by Govardhanram Tripathi. This book is set in the 19th-century feudalism that occurred in India. This novel has three more sequels and was written over a period of over 15 years. The first part of Saraswatichandra was published in 1887 followed by three more sequels in 1892, 1898, and 1902 respectively. This Gujarati novel costs Rs. 700 in paperback and Rs. 588 in Kindle edition. 

Saraswatichandra has a total number of 1184 pages and was originally written in the Gujarati language. It has been translated into several languages since then. Synopsis: Set in late-nineteenth-century India, this is the story of an educated and spiritual young man at a crossroads in his life. Despite being betrothed to and in love with Kumud, he calls off their engagement due to escalating familial tensions and flees Bombay to learn about his country and seek enlightenment. You can purchase the novel Saraswatichandra from these websites:

This novel is also available as Audiobook:

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• Book Summary

Video Review

2. The Five Brothers

The Five Brothers is the third part of a seven-volume sequel written on Krishna's life and his adventures named- Krishnavatara. The Five Brothers is a third volume that ends with the swayamvar of Draupadi. The author of this book is K.M Munshi. The Five Brothers novel was initially published on 26th January 1968 by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and consists of 632 pages. The price of this book ranges between Rs. 300 to 500. This Gujarati novel has been translated into many other languages and is widely available in English as well. 

Synopsis: Krishnavatara is a seven-volume narrative that revolves around Krishna's life and travels and weaves a romance into it. He was smart and valiant, loving and loved, foresightful but present, graced with sage-like detachment yet intensely human; the diplomat, sage, and man of action with a personality as dazzling as a divinity's. You can purchase the novel The Five Brothers from these websites:

• Exotic India

Othaar is a very popular Gujarati novel written by Ashwini Bhatt. This novel describes the struggle of the freedom fighters and the journey they went through against the Britishers. The whole adventure in the novel is beautifully described and that would make you more interested to read the second part of the book. Othaar was originally published in Gujarati language and it consists of 955 pages. 

Othaar was first published in 1984. The Gujarati novel comes in sets of two, its sequel as well. The set costs around Rs. 850-900. Synopsis: The story revolves around the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The stories about Kings, British Raj, and freedom fighters of the 1850s are beautifully portrayed in this book. It has a beautiful description of the locations of Jabalpur. It talks about love stories, romance with suspense and thrill. You can purchase the novel Othaar and its sequel from these websites:

4. Himalayano Pravas

Himalayano Pravas is a great book that describes the Himalayas and their inner beauty. You can read the in-depth details of the Himalayas by peacefully sitting at home. The author of the book Himalayano Pravas is Kakasaheb Kalelkar. This book was originally written in Gujarati language and consists of 233 pages . The publisher of this book is Navjivan Trust . The price range of this book is Rs. 70-94.

Synopsis: This book is about a pilgrim's journey. This is a great book about the Himalayas, according to all sources. It also demonstrates the majestic mountain range's inherent beauty. The author walked over the Himalayan range on foot (Uttarakhand). Over the course of two months, the physical adventure described here unfolded. The travelog describes in great depth the stunning magnificence of the Himalayas, as well as the places and people that live there. It evokes the surreal beauty of the Himalayan valley. The Himalayas will pique your attention after reading this book. You can purchase the novel Himalayano Pravas and its sequel from these websites:

5. Manvini bhavai

Manvini Bhavai is a Gujarati novel written by Pannalal Patel that describes the period during the Indian famine of 1899 to 1900. This novel is about the love story between Kalu and Raju and also about the experience of farmers during the famine. This novel was originally written in Gujarati language and translated to English by V.Y Kantak in 1995. This novel was also adapted into a Gujarati movie scene in 1993 . This book consists of 382 pages and costs between Rs. 260-308.

Synopsis: In Manvi Ni Bhavai, Kalu, the son of Vala Patel, and Raju, the daughter of Gala Patel, fall in love. They are in love and want to marry one other, but both have other commitments. Patel's love story takes place during the Indian famine of 1899-1900, and the novel's closing scene ends with the first drops of rain, symbolizing the end of the hunger. You can purchase the novel Manvini Bhavai and its sequel from these websites:

6. Satya Na paryogo

Satya Na paryogo is all about the experiences of Mahatma Gandhi , and the hardships and struggles to live in an independent India. This book describes Mahatma’s path of non-violence and truth towards independence. This book is an autobiography written by Mahatma Gandhi and consists of 210 pages. Satya Na Paryogo was originally written in the Gujarati language. It was originally published in 1927 by Navjivan.

Synopsis: The book's first page announces a pact he made with his readers, outlining both the circumstances and his motivations for creating it. Following that is a chronologically organized series, beginning with a genealogical description of his forefathers. He then goes into great depth regarding his childhood and youth, his stay in South Africa , and his activities since returning to India. In 1921, four years before he began writing his memoirs, the story abruptly ended. His rejection of the popular praise he received at the Indian National Congress conference in Nagpur is the subject of the concluding chapter. Gandhi's self-experimentation is described in the book as he pursued his quest for truth, which he defined as truth for him. You can purchase the autobiography Satya Na prayogo from these websites:

7. Nirja bhargav

Nirja Bhargav is a Gujarati Novel that consists of a thriller and suspense story. This is one of the best Gujarati novels written by Ashwini Bhatt. This novel comes under the category of thrill and suspense. Nirja Bhargav consists of 226 pages and was originally written in the Gujarati language. It was published in 2012 by Navbharat. The price range of this book is Rs. 160 to 200. Synopsis: Nirja Bhargav is the protagonist of this narrative. At the stroke of midnight, who knocks on the door of a station master? 

He conceals her and discovers a body on his bed. Following that, a series of events occurs involving the police and the drug mafia, as well as other characters such as Dr. Bhargav and Dr. Malu, among others. You can purchase the novel Nirja Bhargav from these websites:

8. Malela Jeev

Malela Jeev is a romantic novel that describes the difficulties people face when they are in love and belong to different castes. This book beautifully portrays the real face of society when it comes to such situations. Malela Jeev is written by Pannalal Patel and was originally published in the 1940s. It was written in Gujarati language and later translated into many languages. This book consists of 272 pages and is a classic novel. 

This book comes within the price range of Rs. 175-220. Synopsis: Caste divisions Kanji and Jivi dwell in Idar's Jogipara and Udharia villages. They met and fell in love during the Janmashtami Fair. Because they came from different castes, they couldn't marry. Social obligations also exist at Kanji's elder brother's house. He, on the other hand, is drowning without Jivi. Hiro, one of Jivi's friends, advises him to marry Dhula, the barber who works in their neighbourhood. Kanji finally decides to marry Jivi to Dhula with Hira after a protracted psychological war. His strategy, on the other hand, fails to provide the desired outcomes. Because of Dhula's suspicious nature, tyranny, and mistreatment of Jivi, Kanji's scheme fails. Kanji's indecisiveness and God-fearing attitude also play a role in his demise. In order to evade Jivi, Kanji moves from the rural to the city. Jivi, meantime, has had enough of the daily squabbles and beatings, and has attempted suicide. Her tyrannical husband Dhulo, on the other hand, is accidently killed, and she has an emotional collapse while grieving for her beloved Kanji. Kanji's earthly love blossomed into spiritual love, and he returned to the city to be with Jivi. You can purchase the novel Malela Jeev from these websites:

Pinjar is a Gujarati novel written by Amrita Pritam. It is one of the best Gujarati novels which consists of 128 pages. It was originally written in the Gujarati language. It is a classic fiction book. The price for this book is around Rs.134. It is also available in the Hindi language. Synopsis : Puro, a Hindu girl kidnapped by a Muslim man, is the novel's key character. This story takes place during the partition of India and Pakistan. Puro is kidnapped and taken away from her home by Rashid. 

She is able to get away from the hum and return to her house. Puro's parents, on the other hand, will refuse to adopt the tainted daughter if she escapes Rashid's house. You can purchase the novel Pinjar from these websites:

Gandhi is also a Gujarati novel written by Gunvant B. Shah. The book consists of 353 pages and is originally written in Gujarati language.  The price of the book is around 200 and is also available in Hindi Language. The book talks about the life of Gandhiji and how he fought for the nation during British rule. Synopsis: The text is divided into separate significant headings by the author. In the first section, he discusses some of Gandhi's ideals with which the new generation or current generation will strongly disagree. 

Cow protection, celibacy, and other views are among them. He then goes on to discuss some of Mahatma's strengths in the next part. One of them is maintaining the highest level of integrity in the face of adversity. Another would be the ability to live a life that is transparent and open at all times. The book can be purchased from these websites:

11. Jai Somnath

Jai Somnath is a very famous historical novel written by K.M Munshi . It is a very inspirational novel that was originally written in the Gujarati language. It consists of all the historical wars and invaders that came to India. This novel consists of 264 pages and costs between Rs. 186-200. Synopsis: Lord Somanath's shrine at Prabhas is a highly holy place where people come for darshan and prayers. When the narrative begins, Chaula is a very young temple dancer. She is only eighteen years old, yet she has the privilege of dancing in front of the Lord on a special day.

Everyone congratulates her. She meets Bheemdev and immediately falls in love with him. The temple is destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni, and this book tells the narrative of how the temple was destroyed. You can purchase the novel Jai Somnath from these websites:

12. Shailaji Sagar

Shailaja Sagar is a fiction book that is written by Ashwini Bhatt. This book was originally written in Gujarati language and it consists of 171 pages. It was published in 1979 by Navbharat Sahitya Mandir. Ashwini Bhatt has written many popular Gujarati novels that have gained a lot of attention. Synopsis: The phone rings on the inflated mattress floating in the swimming pool, ringing the bell, as if the devil had joined hands with Shailaja, and an earthquake shook Shailaja's life. Shailaja-Sanjeev, Prema-Inderjit's story slips into a realm in which one has to wield a dagger to survive and a pistol to make one's way ......!

You can purchase the novel, Shailaja Sagar, from these websites:

13. The Book Of Yudhishthira

The Book Of Yudhishthira is the seventh part of a seven-volume sequel written on Krishna's life and his adventures named- Krishnavatara. The Book Of Yudhishthira is based on religion and spirituality.  The author of this book is K.M. Munshi. This book consists of 262 pages and is published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The price of this book ranges from Rs.260-to 320. Synopsis: This book covers the major events leading up to the Kuruskshetra battle and concludes with the battle itself. 

Hastinapur was ruled by the Kauravas, while the Pandavas had to make do with Khadavaprastha, a barren wasteland. They did, however, transform it into a magnificent location and were able to invite monarchs to conduct the Rajasuya. There is a major fight when Krishna is honoured. The Kauravas then invite the Pandavas to play the famous dice game, which leads to their exile and the Mahabharat war. You can purchase the novel The Book Of Yudhishthira from these websites:

• Exotic India Art

Aakhet is part one of three sequels written by Ashwini Bhatt. It is a Gujarati novel that has a mix of romance, bravery , and adventures. This is one of the best novels by Ashwini Bhatt. This book is originally written in the Gujarati language and consists of 1500 pages. The price of this book is about Rs.1100. This book first Synopsis: It is the story of Vasant Gaonkar, the owner of a huge industrial empire. 

The story of the abandonment of an orphaned child near the railway tracks. The story of an officer who was fired from the police force. You can purchase the novel Aakhet by Ashwini Bhatt from these websites:

15. Vevishal

Vevishal is one of the most popular Gujarati books written by Jhaverchand Meghani which is based on history. This book is used widely to understand Gujarati literature. This book is perfect for readers who love suspense. Vevishal is originally written in the Gujarati language and consists of 292 pages. It consists of a story from 1938 and it is very forward-looking. Synopsis: When their children, Sukhlal and Sushila, reach adulthood, two small town merchant families vow to marry them. 

Sushila's family moves to 43 Mumbai and becomes wealthy before that happens. The 'patriarch' of the wealthy family, Chaak Sheth, is determined to avoid the promised alliance at all costs. Vevishaal portrays the story of the ensuing conflict between a wealthy, cruel guy and his assumed modest competitors without taking sides. At the conclusion of the story, the showdown displays all of the main characters at the pinnacle of their development. You can purchase the novel Vevishal and its sequel from these websites:

Ashwini Bhatt's Kasab is one of the best Gujarati novels which comprises every bit of drama, thrill, humor as well as romance. This novel was widely popular in Gujarat and was translated into many other languages in India. Kasab was originally written in the Gujarati language and was published in 1992 by Shakti. Consists of 120 pages and comes at a price of Rs. 118-126. Synopsis: This book is about the story of a con. A fictional story of a con who cons people for its personal gain. 

The story has drama, thrill, humor and a little romance. A dramatic con fiction story that will win your hearts. You can purchase the novel Kasab from these websites:

These Gujarati books are widely popular and include many inspiring and historical stories. Many Gujarati books have been written in different genres by well-known writers.  You can purchase the best Gujarati books or novels from the given links above. These novels are rich in literature and history. Many spiritual novels by K.M Munshi are also given above.  To know more and gain more information about some of the Best Gujarati Books To Read be sure to conduct a thorough research online.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

1. who is the best author in gujarati.

There are many well-known Gujarati writers such as K.M Munshi, Pannalal Patel, Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi, and Ashwini Bhatt.

2. Which book is best for reading in Gujarati?

There are many Gujarati books that are best for reading such as SaraswatiChandra, The Five brothers, Othaar, Nirja Bhargav, Aakhet and many more.

3. How do you say a book in Gujarati?

In Gujarati book is said as : પુસ્તક.

Here are the Best Books For Gujarati books to read

• Saraswatichandra
• The Five Brothers
• Himalayano Pravas
• Manvini bhavai
• Satya Na paryogo
• Nirja bhargav
• Malela Jeev
• Jai Somnath
• Shailaji Sagar
• The Book Of Yudhishthira

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About the Author

Currently working as an Editor in Chief with Ankuraggarwal.in, he is managing all the ins and outs of the content management process and editorial operations. Having an experience of 8 years in the publishing/ e-solution industry, he manages a small freelancing team of fellow editors and has worked with several domains including academics, healthcare, lifestyle and technical writings. He is a stickler for accuracy and loves to read noir-fiction and binge-watch anthologies.

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વાંચો ગુજરાતના ઐતિહાસિક પુસ્તકાલયોના દુર્લભ અને પ્રસિદ્ધ પુસ્તકો

શ્રેણી અનુસાર પુસ્તકો

કથાસાહિત્ય, કવિતા, અનુવાદ, નાટક, ઇતિહાસ, ચરિત્રસાહિત્ય, નિબંધ, પ્રકીર્ણ, સહભાગી પુસ્તકાલયો.

રાયચંદ દીપચંદ લાઇબ્રેરી, ભરૂચ

ભો. જે. અધ્યયન-સંશોધન વિદ્યાભવન, અમદાવાદ

અ. સૌ. ડાહીલક્ષ્મી પુસ્તકાલય, નડિયાદ

લેખક અનુસાર પુસ્તકો.

ભિક્ષુ અખંડાનંદ

સ્વામી વિવેકાનંદ

અમૃતલાલ સુંદરજી પઢિયાર

નારાયણ હેમચંદ્ર

વલ્લભાચાર્ય

આદ્ય શંકરાચાર્ય

ખલીલ જિબ્રાન

માવજી દામજી શાહ

વિનોબા ભાવે

કિશોરલાલ ઘનશ્યામ મશરૂમવાળા

મહાત્મા ગાંધીજી

ગોવિંદભાઈ હાથીભાઈ દેસાઈ

જેમ્સ ઍલન

વાડીલાલ મોતીલાલ શાહ

ગણપતરામ રાજારામ ભટ્ટ

આપને આ પુસ્તકો પણ વાંચવાનું ગમશે.

પ્રાચીન કાવ્યમાળા (દયારામ)

દ્રષ્ટાંતશતક

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નીતિ સિધ્ધાન્ત

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હક ઇન્સાફ યાને મૂગો માર

Linguistic Survey of India Vol IX Part II - Specimen of The Rajasthani and Gujarati

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ઓગણીસમી સદીનું ગુજરાતી સાહિત્ય – કેટલાંક વણખૂલ્યાં પાનાં

આપણા સાહિત્યનાં વિવેચન કે ઇતિહાસનાં ઘણાં ખરાં પુસ્તકો માટે ઓગણીસમી સદી એટલે દસ-પંદર લેખકો અને તેમની વીસ-પચીસ કૃતિઓ. તેમાંય નર્મદ-દલપત પહેલાંના લેખકો અને તેમનાં પુસ્તકો વિશે તો કોઈ ભાગ્યે જ વાત કરે. આથી આપણા ઓગણીસમી સદીના સાહિત્યનાં ઘણાંબધાં પાનાં આજ સુધી વણખૂલ્યાં રહ્યાં છે. આવાં થોડાંક પાનાંને જરા ખોલીને ઓગણીસમી સદીના કેટલાક લેખકો, તેમનાં પુસ્તકો, સામયિકો ઉપરાંત સમાજ, શિક્ષણ-વ્યવસ્થા, સંસ્થાઓ વગેરે વિશે આ પુસ્તકમાં વિગતે વાત કરવામાં આવી છે. ઓગણીસમી સદીના સાહિત્ય વિશેના લેખકના આ ચોથા પુસ્તકમાં અભ્યાસ અને સંશોધન છે, પણ તેનો ભાર નથી. સામાન્ય વાચકનો પણ રસ પડે તેવી સરળ અને આકર્ષક રીતે થયેલી સચિત્ર રજૂઆત એ આ પુસ્તકમાંના લેખોની આગવી વિશિષ્ટતા છે. એ રીતે એમણે સાહિત્ય સંશોધનોનું મહત્ત્વનું કાર્ય કર્યું છે અને અર્વાચીન યુગના પ્રારંભે થયેલાં સર્જનો વિશે નવો પ્રકાશ પાડ્યો છે. આ પુસ્તક ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યના અભ્યાસીઓ, સંશોધકો અને જિજ્ઞાસુઓને ઉપયોગી બનશે. શ્રી રઘુવીર ચૌધરીએ કહ્યું તેમ `મધ્યકાલીન સાહિત્ય અને અર્વાચીન સાહિત્ય વચ્ચેની ખૂટતી કડીઓ જોડવાનું મહત્ત્વનું કામ દીપકભાઈએ કર્યું છે.’

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ત્રિફળા અને તેની ઘટક વનસ્પતિઓની આ પુસ્તકમાં વિસ્તૃત સમીક્ષા કદાચ સૌપ્રથમ વાર કરવામાં આવી છે. આ વિષયમાં થયેલાં આધુનિક સંશોધનોનો આમાં સમાવેશ કરવા યથાશક્ય પ્રયત્ન કર્યો છે. આ વિશિષ્ટ પુસ્તકમાં ત્રિફળાની ઘટક વનસ્પતિઓનું વિતરણ, આકારવિજ્ઞાન, વનસ્પતિ રસાયણ, ઔષધગુણવિજ્ઞાનીય (Pharmacological) ગુણધર્મો, પ્રણાલિકાગત ઉપયોગો, આયુર્વેદ, લોકઔષધવિજ્ઞાન, યુનાની કે અન્ય ઔષધ પદ્ધતિ અને ઔષધની આડઅસરોનો સમાવેશ કરવાનો યત્કિંચિત પ્રયાસ કરવામાં આવ્યો છે. ત્રિફળા અને હરડે, બહેડાં તથા આમળામાં રહેલા સક્રિય પોષક પદાર્થો વિકિરણ અને વિષયુક્ત રસાયણો સામે રક્ષણ આપે છે. તેઓ પ્રતિઉપચાયી (anti-oxidant) છે અને શરીરમાં થતા રોગોનું પ્રતિરક્ષા (immunity) દ્વારા નિવારણ કરે છે. આ પુસ્તકમાં ત્રિફળા અને તેના ઘટકો દ્વારા કૅન્સર સામે થતી પ્રતિકારની ક્રિયા; વિષવિજ્ઞાન (toxicology), ઔષધ આંતરક્રિયાઓ તથા વૃદ્ધત્વ અને ત્રિફળાની વિસ્તૃત સમજૂતી આપવામાં આવી છે. ઉપરાંત, આયુર્વેદમાં દર્શાવેલાં મહત્ત્વનાં કર્મ(Actions)ને અર્વાચીન સંશોધન સાથે સાંકળવામાં આવ્યાં છે. ત્રિફળા અને ઔષધ વનસ્પતિઓ સાથે સંયોજિત સ્વરૂપમાં બનાવાતાં સંયુક્ત ઔષધો અને તેમના ચિકિત્સીય ઉપયોગોનો અહીં ઉલ્લેખ કરાયો છે. વળી ચરક અને સુશ્રુત જેવા મહાન આયુર્વેદાચાર્યોના વિષયને સંપુષ્ટિ આપતાં અવતરણોનો પણ સમાવેશ કરવામાં આવ્યો છે.

સપનાનાં સોદાગર

`સપનાનાં સોદાગર’ પુસ્તક મુંબઈ મહાનગરના વિકાસમાં યોગદાન આપનાર ચરિત્રોની કથા છે. ગુજરાતના સાહસિકોએ દાખવેલાં અપ્રતિમ સાહસનો માર્મિક ચિતાર આ ચરિત્રોમાંથી મળી રહે છે. મુંબઈ મહાનગરના વિકાસમાં પ્રાણ પૂરનારા ગુજરાતી મહાનુભાવોની આ કથા માત્ર દસ્તાવેજી ચિત્રણ જ નથી બ્લેક નવી પેઢીને પ્રેરણા આપનારી મુંબઈના વિકાસની યશોગાથા છે.

નાટક એ કલા છે, માત્ર કસબ નહીં. કલા (art) આપણી અભિવ્યક્તિમાં મૌલિકતા અને ઊંડાણ લાવે છે જ્યારે કસબ (craft) માત્ર બે ઘડી ઉપરછલ્લો આનંદપ્રમોદ કરાવે છે. જીવનમાં જરૂરિયાત બંનેની છે, આનંદ તેમજ ઊંડાણની, નાટ્યકલામાં પણ બંને જોઈએ – કલા અને કસબ. સૌ ઊગતા કલાકારોએ સમજવા જેવી વાત એ છે કે કસબ શીખી શકાય છે, કેળવી શકાય છે; જ્યારે કલા સહજ રીતે અંદરથી ઊગે છે, પાંગરે છે, વિકસે છે. કલા એ બીજ છે, મૂળ છે, થડ છે જ્યારે કસબ એ ડાળખી અને પાંદડાં છે. કલાની ચરમ પરાકાષ્ઠા તેનાં ઉમદા ફળફૂલોમાં, તેનાં સ્વાદ અને સુગંધમાં છે. જે કોઈની ભીતર કલાનાં આ બીજ કુદરતી રીતે પડ્યાં હશે, મૌલિક અભિવ્યક્તિનું ચમત્કારી રસાયણ ઘૂંટાયેલું હશે, એવા કલાકારો માટે આ પુસ્તક ચોક્કસ માર્ગદર્શક અને પ્રેરણાદાયી બની શકશે.

વીસમી સદીના પ્રારંભે આચાર્ય આનંદશંકર બાપુભાઈ ધ્રુવે ગુજરાતી ભાષા-સાહિત્યના વિકાસાર્થે અને કોઈ પણ વિદ્યાશાખામાં થતાં સંશોધન-વિવેચનથી અભ્યાસીઓ પરિચિત રહે તેમજ એ સદીની સાહિત્યિક, સાંસ્કૃતિક, ધાર્મિક અને રાજકીય ગતિવિધિનો પરિચય સમાજને મળી રહે એવા શુભાશયથી `વસન્ત’ સામયિકનો આરંભ કરેલો. `વસન્ત’ આડત્રીસ વર્ષ ચાલ્યું. એ માત્ર સર્જનાત્મક-વિવેચનાત્મક સાહિત્યનું સામયિક નહોતું; પરંતુ એમાં ઇતિહાસ, સમાજશાસ્ત્ર, અર્થશાસ્ત્ર, રાજકારણ, ધર્મ, વિજ્ઞાન, સંગીત ઇત્યાદિના લેખો પણ પ્રસિદ્ધ થતા. એ પ્રકાશિત સાહિત્ય વિશેની જાણકારી ભાવિ અભ્યાસીઓને મળી રહે તે માટે આ `વસન્તસૂચિ’ તૈયાર કરી છે. અહીં વર્ષવાર -વિષયવાર લેખસૂચિ સાથે લેખસૂચિ અને તખલ્લુસોનો સમાવેશ કર્યો છે. `આ જમાનામાં તો સૂચિ એ જ ગ્રંથનો દીવો છે.’ – એ ઉમાશંકર જોશીનું કથન સૂચિની મહત્તાને નિર્દેશ છે એની પ્રતીતિ આ સૂચિ દ્વારા પણ થશે.

જ્ઞાનાંજન : 2

ગુજરાત વિશ્વકોશ ટ્રસ્ટની શ્રી ભદ્રંકર વિદ્યાદીપક વ્યાખ્યાનશ્રેણીનાં વ્યાખ્યાનોનો આ બીજો ગ્રંથ `જ્ઞાનાંજન-2’ શિક્ષણ, વિજ્ઞાન, સમાજ અને ધર્મચિંતન જેવા વિષયો પર તજ્જ્ઞોએ કરેલા અભ્યાસનું જ્ઞાનાંજન આપે છે. એમાં જદુનાથ સરકાર જેવા ઇતિહાસવિદ તેમજ રામમનોહર લોહિયા જેવા રાજપુરુષનાં વ્યક્તિત્વ, લેખન અને વિચારસૃષ્ટિનો પરિચય પ્રાપ્ત થાય છે. અમૂલના ભૂતકાળનો ઇતિહાસ અને `કલ્પસર પ્રકલ્પ’થી સર્જાનારું ભવિષ્ય – બંને વિશે એ ક્ષેત્રના ઊંડા અભ્યાસીઓએ વાત કરી છે. શિક્ષણ અને વિજ્ઞાન વિશેના લેખોમાં આજનાં શિક્ષણ અને વિજ્ઞાનની સ્થિતિ વિશે સ્વાધ્યાયનિષ્ઠ અવલોકનો મળે છે. જુદા જુદા શિક્ષણવિદોએ પોતાની રીતે શિક્ષણ વિશેની વિભાવના પ્રગટ કરી છે. ભારતીય લોકશાહી અને ગુજરાતની મહાજનપરંપરા વિશે અહીં અધિકૃત વ્યક્તિઓના લેખો સાંપડ્યા છે. હકીકતમાં આટલા બધા ભિન્ન ભિન્ન વિષયો વિશે એના તજ્જ્ઞોએ કરેલા અભ્યાસનું સુફળ અહીં પ્રાપ્ત થાય છે. જ્ઞાનાંજનના આ બીજા ભાગમાં વૈચારિક સમૃદ્ધિ, વર્તમાન પરિસ્થિતિ અંગે ગવેષણા, વિજ્ઞાનનાં વિવિધ પાસાંઓ વિશે અભ્યાસ, શિક્ષણની જુદી જુદી તરાહો વિશે ચિંતન ઉપરાંત ધર્મચિંતન અને ધ્યાનસાધના જેવા વિષયોને પણ આવરી લીધા છે અને આ વ્યાપક વિષય પરના ગંભીર અભ્યાસલેખો આ ગ્રંથને રસપ્રદ, માહિતીપૂર્ણ તથા સર્વજનભોગ્ય બનાવે છે.

જ્ઞાનાંજન : 1

સાહિત્ય અને અન્ય માનવવિદ્યાઓના વિશાળ ગગનમાં મનોરમ મેઘધનુષ દૃષ્ટિગોચર થાય અને હૃદયમાં બ્રહ્મસ્વાદસહોદર આનંદ પ્રગટ થાય તેવો અનુભવ આ ગ્રંથના સાહિત્યાકાશમાં વિહરતા વાચકને થશે. આનું કારણ એ છે કે અહીં સાહિત્યની સર્જન-પ્રક્રિયાથી માંડીને પ્રવાસ, હાસ્ય, આત્મકથા, લોકસાહિત્ય, સંગીત અને સાહિત્યમાં વિજ્ઞાન સુધીના વિષયોની ચર્ચા કરવામાં આવી છે. જેમણે સમગ્ર જીવન અમુક કલાસ્વરૂપના સ્વાધ્યાય અને સર્જનમાં વ્યતીત કર્યું છે એવી અભ્યાસી વ્યક્તિઓએ અહીં એ સ્વરૂપ અંગેના એમના બહુમુલ્ય વિચારો વ્યક્ત કર્યા છે. આ દૃષ્ટિએ આ ગ્રંથ માનવવિદ્યાના અભ્યાસીઓ અને સંસ્કારી વાચકોને સાહિત્યની પ્રક્રિયા, સાહિત્યકૃતિઓ, સાહિત્યનો આસ્વાદ, ચિત્રકલા અને સ્થાપત્યકલા જેવી કલાઓના મહિમાનો સંતર્પક ખ્યાલ આપશે.

ગુજરાતી રંગભૂમિ રિદ્ધિ અને રોનક

ગુજરાતી રંગભૂમિની સ્થાપનાને દોઢસો વર્ષ પૂરાં થાય છે તે નિમિત્તે ગુજરાતની વ્યવસાયી રંગભૂમિની પ્રવૃત્તિની અધિકૃત સંકલિત માહિતી આપતો ગ્રંથ `ગુજરાત રંગભૂમિ : રિદ્ધિ અને રોનક’ તૈયાર થયો, તેના ફળ રૂપે અહીં નાટકો, નાટ્યસંસ્થાઓ, નાટ્યકારો, દિગ્દર્શકો, નટો, નટીઓ, સંગીતકારો, સન્નિવેશકારો અને પ્રેક્ષકો અંગે રસપ્રદ માહિતી સંપાદિત કરીને મૂકેલ છે. આ ગ્રંથમાં ગુજરાતી થિયેટરના ઇતિહાસની અનેક ખૂટતી કડીઓ ઉમેરીને `ગુજરાતી રંગભૂમિની રિદ્ધિ અને રોનક’ને ઉઠાવ આપતી જૂની રંગભૂમિનો ચહેરોમહોરો ઉપસાવી આપવાનો પ્રયાસ છે. નાટ્યરસિકો અને અભ્યાસીઓને તે ગમશે તેવી આશા છે.

સત્યની મુખોમુખ

મારે એવી દુનિયામાં જીવવું છે… “મારે એવી દુનિયામાં જીવવું છે જ્યાં કોઈને નિષ્કાસિત કરેલ ન હોય. હું કોઈને નિષ્કાસિત નહિ કરું. આવતી કાલે હું પેલા પાદરીને `તમે અમુકને બાપ્તિસ્મા નહિ આપી શકો, કેમ કે તમે સામ્યવાદના વિરોધી છો’ એમ નહિ કહું. બીજા પાદરીને એમ પણ નહિ કહું કે `તમારું સર્જન, તમારું કાવ્ય હું પ્રગટ નહિ કરું, કારણ કે તમે સામ્યવાદી છો.’ મારે એવી દુનિયામાં જીવવું છે જ્યાંના લોકો માત્ર માનવ હોય એને બીજું કોઈ વિશેષણ લાગ્યું ન હોય. કોઈ પણ પ્રકારના નિયમ, શબ્દ કે લેબલની માથાકૂટ કર્યા સિવાય માત્ર માનવ હોય તેવી દુનિયામાં હું જીવવા માગું છું. બધા જ પ્રકારના ચર્ચમાં બધા માણસો જઈ શકે, બધાં જ છાપાખાનામાં બધા જઈ શકે એમ હું િચ્છું છું. કોઈ મેયરની ઑફિસના દરવાજે કોઈક બીજાને પકડવા રાહ જોતું હોય અને બીજા કોઈકને દેશવટો આપતું હોય, એવું મારે જોઈતું નથી. દરેક જણ સ્મિત વેરતાં વેરતાં નગર સભાગૃહમાં જાય અને તેમાંથી નીકળે એમ હું ઇચ્છું છું…. બધા જ લોકો મુક્તતાથી બોલી શકે, વાંચી શકે, સાંભળી શકે અને વિકાસ પામી શકે. સંઘર્ષને દૂર કરવા માટેનો સંઘર્ષ કશુંક સાધન બને એ સિવાય હું સંઘર્ષનો અર્થ સમજી શક્યો નથી. સખત પગલાંને દૂર કરવા માટેનો સંઘર્ષ કશુંક સાધન બે એ સિવાય હું સંઘર્ષનો અર્થ સમજી શક્યો નથી. સખત પગલાંને દૂર કરવા માટે સખત પગલાં લેવાય તે સિવાય સખત પગલાંનો અર્થ હું સમજી શક્યો નથી. એક રસ્તો મેં લીધો છે; કેમ કે એ રસ્તો આપણને બધાને ચિરંતન બંધુત્વ સુધી લઈ જશે એમ હું માનું છું. હું તે સર્વવ્યાપી વિશાળ અજરામર સત્તતત્ત્વ માટે લડી રહ્યો છું…. આપણે સર્વલક્ષી પ્રેમ તરફ જઈ રહ્યા છીએ. મને ખબર છે કે આપણા સૌના માથા ઉપર બૉંબનો ભય ઝળુંબી રહ્યો છે, એવી ભયંકર ન્યૂક્લિયર વિપત્તિ આવવાની છે જે કોઈને જીવતા નહિ છોડે. આ પૃથ્વી ઉપર કશુંય રહેશે નહિ. વારુ, પણ તેનાથી મારી આશા ચલિત થશે નહિ. કટોકટીની આ ક્ષણે, અજંપાના આ અનુભવની વચ્ચે, આપણે જાણીએ છીએ કે જાગૃત દૃષ્ટિમાં સાચો પ્રકાશ પ્રવેશશે. આપણે સૌ એકબીજાને સમજતા થઈશું. આપણે સાથે આગળ વધીશું. આ આશાને કોઈ કચડી શક્શે નહિ.’ (પૃ. 218-219) પાબ્લો નેરુદા

માનવસંસ્કૃતિના અન્વેષણ અને નિરૂપણમાં લેખનકલા મહત્ત્વનું અંગ ગણાય છે. માનવીએ લેખનકલાની શોધ કરી ત્યારથી એને મહત્ત્વનું વ્યવહારનું સાધન ઉપલબ્ધ થયું તે ભાષાની વર્ણમાળા. આ વર્ણમાલા લખવાની રીત તે લિપિ. વિશ્વ અને ભારતના સંદર્ભમાં લિપિના વિકાસનાં સોપાનો, લિપિઓનું વર્ગીકરણ, વિવિધ લિપિઓની વર્ણમાળાઓ વચ્ચે આંતરિક સામ્ય, વિભિન્ન સંસ્કૃતિઓ અને ભાષાઓની લિપિઓની ઉત્પત્તિ, તે તે લિપિઓના પ્રાચીન લેખો વગેરે બાબતોની વૈજ્ઞાનિક પણ રસપ્રદ સચિત્ર માહિતી આ પુસ્તિકામાં આપવામાં આવી છે.

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Translating Gujarat: On Raising Visibility and Sharing Literary Wealth

Gujarat boasts a vibrantly active and industrious 24% of India’s overall seacoast. At 1,600 kilometers, this is the longest coastline of all Indian states and, since ancient times, has invited an unceasing influx of travelers, traders, and warriors from all over the world. The region connects with present-day Afghanistan and Pakistan via northbound land routes through the Sindh desert and what is presently known as Rajasthan. Its eastern mainland adjoins the rest of northern and central India. And in the south, it neighbors agriculturally productive and highly industrialized towns and cities like present-day, cosmopolitan Mumbai. The state’s topography is also filled with extremes and contrasts, from the salt deserts and marshes of Kutch in the northwest to the arid and semiarid scrublands of the western Kathiawad peninsula to the forested mountains and fertile plains in the southeast. Frequented by migratory tribes and clans of pastoralist warriors, pilgrims, and traders, these age-old routes and vastly diverse ecologies have allowed for a fascinating hybridization of cultures and languages from all around the country and the world. Even the name Gujarat originates from a tribal dynasty, the Gurjara-Pratiharas, who came from the north in the mid-eighth century to defeat the local rulers and rule the region along with much of northern India.

Given all of the above, the Gujarati language has never been a discrete or stable entity despite the pre-Independence attempts by British colonial officers, Gandhi, and other Indian nationalist leaders to codify it as such. As scholars like Riho Isaka, Samira Sheikh, Sitanshu Yashaschandra, Rita Kothari, Aparna Kapadia, et al. have proved, the language is a richly complex linguistic system without fixed boundaries that has evolved through centuries of economic, political, and cultural interactions between speakers of Sanskrit, Prakrit, Gujari, Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Portuguese, Dutch, Urdu, Sindhi, Hindi, and more.

This plurality enabled the flourishing of numerous ethnolinguistic identities within the region, which, in turn, have engendered diverse literatures and cultural artifacts through the centuries. Arguably, though, Gujarat had its major literary renaissance in the late 1800s. In part, this was due to cross-pollination with the growing number of literary translations from English and other Indian and European languages. And, in part, it was due to a sociopolitical awakening among Gujarat’s literati—most of whom were educated elites—driven by anti-colonialism, nationalism, and the independence movement. Both of these factors led to a profuse blossoming of the modern Gujarati short story, groundbreaking first novels and memoirs, literary criticism approached as a rigorous art form in itself, travelogues that became established as a literary genre, and modern poetic forms that deviated from all previous traditions. Writers, poets, critics, and dramatists like Dalpat, Narmad, Nilkanth Sr., Navalram Pandya, Nandshankar Mehta, and others led the initial charge.

During this pre-Independence peak era of literary output, the historical novel genre became notably dominant because it also grappled with identity-building, a sense of nationalism, and state formation. Gujarati historical novels of this time are, in themselves, sources of history—beyond the stories they contained, they were also modes of collective consciousness, social reform, and earnest attempts to transcend history itself. This pre-Independence rise of Gujarati historical fiction was deeply influenced by the likes of Scott, Tolstoy, Cervantes, and others. The first-ever Gujarati novel, Nandshankar Mehta’s Karan Ghelo, published in 1866, was historical fiction. Next came the canonical, near-historical novel quartet Sarasvatichandra,  by Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi, published from 1887 to 1901. With over 150 characters and 2,000 pages, its length surpassed Tolstoy’s War and Peace and it preceded Proust’s In Search of Lost Time . Writers like K. M. Munshi and Dhumketu published several historical fiction series set in pre-British India. Jhaverchand Meghani painstakingly collected ancient oral folklore from different regional communities into multi-volume works. Gunvantrai Acharya created swashbuckling tales of the nautical adventures of Gujaratis who traveled far and wide.

Yet, the first-ever English (or any language) translations of a handful of these works have only emerged in the last decade or so. The rest remain like faint memories of long-buried treasures despite the recovery and preservation efforts of a few stalwarts in every generation. In particular, many works remain unknown even to the Gujarati readership because they came from marginalized Gujarati communities—for example, the Parsi Gujarati community, which was much smaller than the Hindu majority but produced relatively more books at the time.

We can draw a line connecting the aforementioned Acharya to his daughter, the celebrated and prolific author Varsha Adalja, whose fiction opened this collection. Crossroad is a multi-generational historical novel set during the time of India’s independence movement. Written when the author was in her seventies, the work is groundbreaking for several reasons. In particular, despite Gujarat giving India its two most well-known Independence leaders—Mahatma Gandhi and Muhammad Ali Jinnah—and Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad being Gandhi’s political base, this is among the handful of contemporary Gujarati novels to carefully explore those volatile times. That it does so mostly through the lives and experiences of women is another singular feat. Adalja’s prose is colloquially lyrical and true to its time and place. It is also cinematic and immersive, while not shying away from the worst sociopolitical issues like the infanticide and rape of young girls. As I finish my translation of the novel, I am frequently struck by the depth of her craft and research. And I am reminded of how much we still need to learn about Gujarat during those decades beyond the lives and works of Gandhi, Jinnah, and the intelligentsia.

Immediately after independence from the British in 1947, Gujarat became part of Bombay State, and the Mahagujarat Movement for a separate state became the next big political drive. From 1947 to 1960, a Sanskritized version of the language became more standardized, relegating the many regional variations to dialect status. This is also when, as translator Meena Desai writes in her introduction to a ghazal by Befaam (the pen name of Barkat Ali Ghulam Husain Virani), the Gujarati ghazal form came into its own as part of the “burgeoning movement toward an independent identity of a much-colonized country.” Tracing its origins back to seventh-century Arabic love poetry, the ghazal had gathered Persian influences as it spread across South Asia in the twelfth century through Sufi mystics and Islamic Sultanate courtiers. Ghazals continue to enjoy popularity today—especially in Bollywood—in different languages and regions of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Even noted American poets have composed ghazals in English. Though difficult to translate because of their layered meanings, repetitions, and symbolism, Gujarati ghazals continue to flourish both in India and among the diaspora.

Shortly after Independence, another upheaval in Gujarat—particularly the large regions of Kathiawad and Saurashtra—involved the unification of more than two hundred independent princely states. In British India, these states had functioned more like allies rather than subordinates of the British Raj. The newly-formed Indian government pushed hard to integrate the nearly six hundred total princely states, which made up more than half the country. But legacies, traditions, and memories lingered on, as we see in an excerpt of Hasmukh Shah’s upcoming memoir, Dithu Mai . . . ( From the Margins of History ), translated by Mira Desai. Shah describes markers of a world that was quickly disappearing at that time—a Muslim ruler, his integrated team of Hindu and Muslim drivers from across caste and class hierarchies, and his garage filled with expensive and difficult-to-maintain British and American vehicles. From the child narrator’s innocent point of view, all of this is fascinating and impressive. We know the child grew up to become a key staff member for three separate Indian prime ministers. Undoubtedly, some of his diplomatic and negotiation skills had begun developing in those humble yet culturally syncretic beginnings.

That idea of cultural syncretism is also brought forth in Bharat Trivedi’s poem about Ahmedabad , an ancient city with a rich history named after a fifteenth-century Muzaffarid Sultan. As Mira Desai writes in her translator’s note, “Beyond the Hindu, Muslim, and Maratha dynasties and the British colonial rulers, there were also the Siddis, descendants of shipwrecked Africans, who bequeathed an intricate and famous carved stone screen (referenced here as Siddi Sayyed ni jali) to the city.” Though it has seen much communal tension in the last two decades, Ahmedabad has always been a political and intellectual hotbed, particularly during the Gandhi years. And while it is a constant muse for poets, writers, filmmakers, and songmakers, the walls of this city guard many untold stories still. I lived in the sprawling outskirts from mid-2014 to early 2020 and continue to explore its past and present in my own fiction. Once it grabs hold of your imagination, Ahmedabad remains a perpetual state of mind.

The third poet we’ve featured, Jayesh Jeevibahen Solanki, grew up in a village close to Ahmedabad and was a prominent, brave voice in the Gujarat Dalit Movement for most of his adult life. As translator Gopika Jadeja writes in her introductory note , “These poems give us a glimpse into a promising young mind, a poet and activist who envisioned a different future for Dalit and marginalized communities in India.” The objects described starkly in these two poems—stolen mangoes, torn kites, ice lollies for a rupee, a shirtless torso, and shoeless feet—all reveal the impoverishment that Solanki experienced throughout his life, which he tragically ended in October 2020. During my time in Ahmedabad, when I was fictionalizing the 2014 Dalit flogging incident in Una for a short story, I found a few videos of Solanki talking to journalists and reciting his poetry. His grounded convictions and passionate energy will forever haunt all who encountered him, virtually or in person.

It takes both a deep passion and a certain kind of energy to persist as a bilingual poet and writer, as Pratishtha Pandya writes in her personal essay, “ Writing in Mother Tongue and an Other Tongue .” Pandya traces her lifelong encounters with different languages and literatures to understand how her translation practice made her “more attuned to the sounds, nuances, and even limitations of the languages I was working with.” More profoundly, she investigates how there are things she can write in the “other tongue” that she cannot approach in her mother tongue because of cultural conditioning. This linguistic hopscotching about may feel ungainly at times, she writes. Still, there is joy in the spontaneous discoveries it can yield for those willing to jump past boundary constructs and land on just the right words to express themselves fully.

Sachin Ketkar also talked about the pleasures and challenges of bilingualism in my interview with him. As a Marathi-speaking Maharashtrian who grew up speaking Gujarati in Gujarat and working with English as a scholar and academic, Dr. Ketkar experienced “subtractive bilingualism”—a phenomenon I have also experienced since leaving India in 1991 but had not been able to name until this conversation. This is when, as he told me, the acquisition of an elite and powerful language like English results in the depletion and deprivation of linguistic, cultural, and creative resources of the language(s) in which one is raised. We discussed his own literary and translation journey and how intricate questions of cultural identity, tradition, modernity, and relevance stared at him with every step of that journey. Translation, for him, is primarily a creative process of negotiating through those questions. As he also shares in the interview: while creative bilingualism or multilingualism has been additive in nature for literatures in other Indian languages (e.g. Tamil, Hindi, Bangla, Marathi, and more), it has not been the same with Gujarati literature for various reasons.

In a country with so many languages, translation is, as Rita Kothari put it in my interview with her, “an un-self-conscious act [that’s] in the air, in the cosmos. And it’s hidden by being most proximate and natural.” As a multilingual scholar, translator, academic, and author, she has written extensively about Gujarati literature and translation theory. She has also co-translated, with Abhijit Kothari, the most famous historical fiction in our literary canon: K. M. Munshi’s Patan trilogy. Here, we discussed the evolution and craft of Gujarati literature in translation . This is my third interview with Dr. Kothari, and one of the recurring themes is how she sees languages as sociopolitical constructs that are, beyond their uses for communication, about power and identity. Given the evolutionary aspects I described above, this is truer than ever for the Gujarati language. In closing, Dr. Kothari recommends another great Gujarati-to-English translator, to whom we turn next.

Tridip Suhrud is renowned for his Gandhian scholarship. He is also the only Gujarati-to-English translator who has been brave enough to take on the work of translating the canonical Gujarati historical quartet, Sarasvatichandra , which I mentioned earlier. In this interview , we discussed some of his milestone translations, and I asked him where Gujarati literature stands with respect to literatures from other Indian languages in terms of creativity, innovation, diversity, volume, and recognition. He reflected on the Gujarati intellectual tradition overall, and said that “. . . we in Gujarat [ . . . ] have not thought about ourselves in our tongue with as much rigor and originality as we ought to have, or the seriousness with which language communities like Marathi, Bangla, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam have done.” Regarding the Gujarati translation scene, he has also discussed elsewhere how we Gujaratis are very good at bringing literary wealth from other cultures into ours, but not so good at sharing our own wealth.

Though that last bit was also a good-humored dig at the age-old Gujarati stereotype as the mercantile, business-minded community, when we look at the three Gujarati-to-English translations published in 2022 (excluding my own Dhumketu translation, which was the US edition of the 2020 Indian publication), it bears out. In her omnibus review , Shalvi Shah writes that they were “all written and translated by men and the only literary works translated from Gujarati to English in India in 2022 were published and are set more than five decades ago.” As a young translator herself, she calls out the difficulties of finding daring, new, experimental works. Sadly, this latter point also bears out, although I’m grateful that we have rare translations of books by a Gujarati Parsi and a Gujarati Dalit among those three.

Earlier, I mentioned a literary renaissance period for Gujarati literature as the independence movement got underway. The next big turning point came in the post-Gandhian era of the 1950s and 1960s with avant-garde writers like Mohammad Mankad and Suresh Joshi. Though Joshi was trained and well-read in Western literary traditions, he chose to write in Gujarati. To date, there has been no other who can match Joshi’s experimental aesthetics and prolific works of fiction, literary prose, literary criticism, and translations from several languages. In his 1992 essay collection, Imaginary Homelands , Salman Rushdie writes this about meeting Joshi:

To go on in this vein: it strikes me that, at the moment, the greatest area of friction in Indian literature has nothing to do with English literature, but with the effects of the hegemony of Hindi on the literatures of other Indian languages, particularly other North Indian languages. I recently met the distinguished Gujarati novelist Suresh Joshi. He told me that he could write in Hindi but felt obliged to write in Gujarati because it was a language under threat. Not from English, or the West: from Hindi. In two or three generations, he said, Gujarati could easily die. And he compared it, interestingly, to the state of the Czech language under the yoke of Russian, as described by Milan Kundera.

(Joshi’s stance predates that of contemporary writers like J. M. Coetzee, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, and Minae Mizumura, who have all also made the political choice to write against the hegemony of English by first publishing their books in Spanish, Gikuyu, and Japanese respectively.)

Today, there is still a language pyramid in India where Bangla, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Malayalam, and others sit at the top. The language and history scholars I mentioned earlier have explored the whys and wherefores in their various books and papers. Globalization continues to diminish the ranks of Gujarati readers and writers by increasing the dominance of English. A quick check on Amazon India shows that, beyond academic texts, the Gujarati-language bestsellers are self-help and how-to books translated from English alongside the perennial favorite books about Steve Jobs and Elon Musk. With each generation, the body of Gujarati literature seems to become less abundant, vibrant, and innovative than it was during Joshi’s time. The Indian government and a handful of Gujarati literary institutions do what they can. For example, in 2007, the Gujarati Sahitya Akademi created a prize to recognize and encourage Gujarati authors and poets below the age of thirty . At last count, there are at least twenty different Gujarati literary awards . The Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, the oldest literary organization, has at least thirty different literary awards .

And yet, consider this: Gujarati has fifty-six million speakers worldwide. It is the sixth most spoken language in South Asia and the third most spoken language in the South Asian American diaspora . By some accounts, the Gujarati diaspora is spread over 125 countries . But my 2022 translation, The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu, was the first ever Gujarati-to-English literary translation to be published in the US. It was also the first ever book-length translation of this modern Gujarati short story pioneer, who published nearly twenty-six volumes of short stories alone.

For any literary culture to thrive, its readership must grow within its own societies and beyond with more translations into and from the language. This first-ever collection at Words Without Borders is a cultural intervention to bring these works to a wider readership, and to also help raise visibility within Gujarati society, especially the global diaspora. For translators from under-represented languages like ours, the act of translation can also be a mode of recovery and reclamation. Together, this small sample reveals rich glimpses of the diverse, complex, and ever-evolving literary traditions of Gujarat. It is an effort to share some of our literary wealth and celebrate our Gujarati ways of being.

Copyright © 2023 by Jenny Bhatt. All rights reserved.

Jenny Bhatt

Jenny Bhatt is a writer, literary translator, book critic, and the founder of Desi Books, a global multimedia forum for South Asian literature.

Into English: Sachin Ketkar on Bilingual Translation

The lagoon of languages, out of this world: international science fiction.

35 Best Gujarati Books that One Should Read

Gujarati Books

Top 35 Gujarati Books one should re

Best 35 Gujarati Books નું લીસ્ટ નીચે મુકેલ છે. તે પહેલા જાણીએ કે વાંચન કેમ જરૂરી છે?

– “વિમર્શ ઉભો થા. કેમ આ ખૂણામાં એકલો બેઠો છે ? — હું ટેન્શનમાં છું. મને કંઈ સૂઝતું નથી. – કેમ ? — ખ્યાલ નથી. પણ મૂંઝવણ થાય છે. વિચારોનો વંટોળ મને હડિયે ચઢાવે છે. – એટલે ? — મારો આત્મવિશ્વાસ ડગમગી રહ્યો છે. હું કોઈ ચોક્કસ નિર્ણય પર આવી શકું એમ નથી. –  તો મને તારી સમસ્યા વિશે જણાવ. હું તને મદદરૂપ થઈ શકું છું કે કેમ ? — મારી સમસ્યા….! મારું જીવન એ જ મારે માટે મોટામાં મોટી સમસ્યા છે. એમાં આપ મને કઈ રીતે મદદરૂપ થશો ? – અરે ! આ સમસ્યાનો સરળ ઉપાય તો તારી પાસે જ છે. — મારી પાસે…! કેવી રીતે ? – વિમર્શ, આ ઉપાય તો તારા હાથમાં જ છે. — મારા હાથમાં ?! એ વળી કેવી રીતે ? – વિમર્શ ! તું ન સમજ્યો ? અરે ! વાંચન…     વાંચન…

          હા, વાંચન તમારી જાતના પ્રશ્નોના નિરાકરણ માટે બહુ જરૂરી છે. અંગ્રેજીમાં એક કહેવત છે કે, you knock the door and it will be opened. વાંચન માટે આ કહેવત એટલી જ સાચી છે. તમે વાંચનરૂપી દ્વારા ખટખટાવો અને તમારા માટે એ દરવાજા ખોલી નાંખશે. એટલે વાંચન જ જીવન ઘડનારું છે… વાંચન જ મારી સમસ્યાઓનું સમાધાન કરનારું છે… વાંચન જ મને લીડર બનાવારું છે… વાંચન જ મને વિવેકી બનાવનારું છે…

— વાંચન જ મારી સમસ્યાનું નિદાન કરનારું છે. – ઓ વિમર્શ, તને તારી ગડમથલનો હવે ઉત્તર મળી ગયો હોય એવું લાગે છે. — હા, મને ઘડનારો, આકાર આપનારો ને વિચારતો કરનાર મહામાર્ગ મળી ગયો છે.

          ઉપર વાંચનવિષયક સંવાદમાં આપણને વાંચનની મહત્તા સ્પષ્ટ થતી સમજાય છે. છતાંય વાંચન જેવી આત્મ-ચિંતનાત્મક પ્રવૃત્તિથી આપણે સાવ અળગા જ રહીએ છીએ. વાંચનનું મહત્ત્વ સમજાવતાં અમેરિકન ચિંતક માર્ક ટ્રવેઈન કહે છે, “The man who doesn’t read books has no advantage over the man who can not read.” જે માણસ પુસ્તકોનું વાંચન કરતો નથી એ, ન વાંચી શકનાર કરતાં કોઈ પણ રીતે ચઢિયાતો ન હોય. વાંચન એ જ આપણને ઉત્તમ બનાવવાનું માધ્યમ છે. વાંચનની પ્રવૃત્તિ આપણને નવતર સૃષ્ટિમાં રહેતા, રાચતા ને વિરતા કરનારી છે. ઉત્તમ વારસો આપનારી છે. મહાન સિદ્ધિઓ દેનારી છે. રાષ્ટ્ર ને પેઢીઓનું સંચાલન કરનારી છે. અને અંતે આપણે ઓળખાવનારી છ. તેથી જ તો અમેરિકન ચિંતક હેનરી ડેવિડ થોરો આ વાતને સમર્થન આપતાં કહે છે. “વિશ્વની મહાન સમૃદ્ધિઓનો ખજાનો અને રાષ્ટો તેમજ અનેક પેઢીઓનો ઉચ્ચતમ ને શ્રેષ્તમ વારસો એટલે પુસ્તક વાંચન.”

          વાંચનનું માનવજીવનમાં અતિ મહત્ત્વ છે. વાંચન આપણી ઝંખનાઓને તૃપ્ત કરે છે. વાંચન આપણાં અરમાન ને આશાઓને પૂર્ણ કરે છે. વાંચન એ પરલોક ને આલોકની તરક્કીનાં શિખરો સર કરવા માટે માર્ગદર્શક બની રહે તેવી નિજાનંદી પ્રવૃત્તિ છે.

વાંચન : અનેરું ને અદકેરું જીવન ઘડનારું :

          21 મી સદીના આજના આધુનિક સમયમાં વિજ્ઞાન ને ટેક્નોલોજીએ માનવસમાજને મનોરંજન કરાવી શકે એવી ઘણી શોધખોળ કરી છે. આ શોધખોળે માનવને મનોરંજન કરાવવાની નેમ લીધી છે. નેમ મુજબ શોધખોળે માનવને આનંદ આપ્યો છે. છતાંય તે શાશ્વતને બદલે ક્ષણિક આનંદ છે. આ ક્ષણિક આનંદ માનવને યંત્રવત્ બનાવી દીધો છે, પાંગળો બનાવી દીધો છે જેથી તે શાશ્વત આનંદની ભૂમિકાને સમજવા માટે બધિર કાં તો સંવેદનહન બન્યો છે. આ બધિરતા કે સંવેદનહીનતા ટાળવા એને શાશ્વત, જીવનલક્ષી ને વિચારપ્રેરક એવી વાંચનપ્રવૃત્તિનો આશરો લેવો જ રહ્યો. આ આશરે આપણી જીવનશૈલીને નવ્ય આકાર પ્રાપ્ત થાય છે. જહૉન લૅક આ સંદર્ભે એક વિચાર આપતાં જણાવે છે કે, “વાંચન એ તો આરસપહાણ છે. વ્યક્તિ તેમાં રસ ધરાવે ત્યારે તેની મૂર્તિ ઘડાય છે.”

          વાંચનપ્રવૃત્તિમાં રસ ધરાવવાથી કે કેળવવાથી આપણું ઘડતર થાય છે. આપણો જીવનની ઉત્કૃષ્ટતા તરફનો સાચો અભિગમ સમજાય છે. અંતઃ જીવનને નિરખવાની આપણને નવ્ય દૃષ્ટિ મળે છે. વિવિધ પુસ્તકોના વાંચને જીવનઘડતરની પ્રક્રિયા શરૂ થાય છે. આ જીવનઘડતરની પ્રક્રિયા આપણી સમાજવ્યવસ્થા ને માનવસમાજની દૃષ્ટિએ નવો આયામ પ્રદાન કરે છે. માટે જ તો મિરેકલ ઓફ રાઈટ થોટ્સના સર્જક એરિસન સ્વેટે કહ્યું છે, “વાંચન આપણા વિચારોને, આપણી મનોવૃત્તિઓને, આપણી લાગણીઓને તથા આપણી જાતને ઘડવાનું ઓજાર છે.”

     The books shortlisted are life changing. One will get different perception to look at the world. Here below is the list of 35 Best Gujarati Books that one should read.

        આ લીસ્ટ આકાર એમ્પાવરમેન્ટના ડાયરેક્ટર શ્રી દિનેશભાઈ પ્રજાપતિ દ્વારા સૂચવવામાં આવેલ છે.

For List of Best 20 English Motivational Books to read : Click Here

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7 Must-Read Translated Gujarati Fiction for your TBR

For a multilingual country such as ours, translation is as much a political act as a cultural one; in reading about the different cultures and peoples each language encompasses, we invariably find our shared nationhood.

As Gujarati author, poet and professor Panna Trivedi said in an earlier interview, “ Each community (and) culture has its own sentiment, and their own set of local and global questions – all of which is reflected in their literature “. 

To celebrate the culture of Gujarat, here’s a list of fiction works translated from the language.

Agnipariksha: An Ordeal Remembered by Hamid Kureshi

Translated from Gujarati by Rita Kothari

Published by Orient Blackswan, this translation by author, translator and cultural historian Rita Kothari makes a rare document of a period, a city and inter-faith relationships accessible to a wider readership for the first time.

In Agnipariksha , Kureshi provides the landscape of a violence-ridden city, as also a glimpse into the many lives associated with the Gandhi ashram. In an atmosphere of terrible fear and uncertainty, he recounts how his family’s struggles for self-preservation were buoyed by the constant welding presence, concern and affection of Hindu friends and neighbours, and the ashram community. 

Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu by Jenny Bhatt

Translated from Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi or Dhumketu’s works

Dhumketu was the pen name of Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi, one of the foremost writers in Gujarati and a pioneer of the short story form. 

When Dhumketu’s first collection of short stories, Tankha , came out in 1926, it revolutionized the genre in India. Ratno Dholi brings together the first substantial collection of Dhumketu’s work to be available in English. 

On that note, one can also check out the conversation between Ayushi Mona and Jenny Bhatt for India Booked, or her interview with us , where Bhatt describes, through brilliant metaphors, how a short story differs from a novel and why it is unfair to expect authors with different skillsets to master both, and about the commercial pressures on writers in the publishing industry.

Karan Ghelo : Gujarat’s Last Rajput King by Nandshankar Mehta

Translated by Tulsi Vatsal and Aban Mukherji 

Translated to English in 2015, Karan Ghelo is a historical novel filled with passion, revenge and love. As the blurb tells us, “Rich in psychological insight and imbued with a poetic vision, Nandshankar Mehta’s Karan Ghelo tells the spellbinding tale of a man who tragically failed his land and its people.”

Saraswatichandra by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripath

Translated to English by Tridip Suhrud

Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi was an Indian Gujarati language novelist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for his four-volume novel Saraswatichandra, whose first part was translated to the elation of the Indian literary community by Tridip Suhrud.

He is known for his four volume novel, Saraswatichandra.

Set in the two fictional towns of Suvarnapur and Ratnanagari, it is the saga of the titular protagonist on his journey – from a broken marriage, his escape from his hometown and his eventual return.

Manvini Bhavai by Pannalal Patel (translated from Gujarati by V.Y. Kantak)

Literally meaning ‘Man’s Drama’, Manvini Bhavai brings to fore the basic and universal strife for survival. Writing from his maize farm, Pannalal Patel chronicles the plight of farmers during ‘ Chhapaniyo Dukal ’, the famine of the early 1900s. It is set against the backdrop of the love between Kalu and Raju, who are betrothed to different people.

A master articulator of nuanced reflections on society, Patel gives us a peek into the rural Gujarat of yore, and the influence of colonization on Indian culture.

Even without completing formal education, Patel went on to become one of the most revered Gujarati writers. Manvini Bhavai won him the Jnanpith Award in 1985, and the book’s Gujarati movie adaptation won the National Film Award in 1993.

Patan Trilogy by K. M. Munshi

Translated from Gujarati by Rita and Abhijit Kothari

K. M. Munshi was a lawyer turned politician and educator, best known for founding Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. However, as a writer, very little of his work is read outside Gujarat, even though his fiction was instrumental in shaping Gujarat’s social memory and history.

The Patan trilogy comprising the novels Patan Nee Pratbhuta, Gujarat No Nath, and Rajadhiraj, narrates the rise of the Solanki dynasty’s ruler, Siddharaja Jayasimha.

The historical fiction series is a gripping saga set in the 12 th century with sharp dialogues and vivid descriptions. Fast-paced with unexpected plot twists, the books keep the readers at the edge of their seats. Every new book of the trilogy was looked forward to with feverish anticipation, making K. M. Munshi a household name in Gujarat for his literary prowess.

Akhepatar by Bindu Bhatt

Translated into Hindi by Virendra Narayan Sinh

Set in 1980s Saurashtra, this story of a Brahmin family follows Kanchan’s life from the pre-independent social mileu to post-partition reality as her own roles change from girl, to wife, to mother.

It is the narrative of communal strife, the refugee crisis of the Partition, and the development era that followed, spanning four-generations of a clan, and the changes within the family against the backdrop of a changing nation. “The whole novel contains dialects, proverbs and the folk tongue of Jhalawad, of Karachi and in general of Saurashtra at different times of history.”

Agantuk by Dhiruben Patel

Translated into English by Raj Supe

The novella follows an ex-monk or sanyaasi Ishan, who leaves his life, gives up his saffron robe and returns to civilization. It reveals the new dynamics of a family he has been away from, with occasional philosophical ponderings on the nature of the family, the human mind and emotions, and the lesson that, as one reviewer on Goodreads puts it, “just like wearing an ascetic’s clothes doesn’t make you one, shedding that attire does not guarantee civilization either”.

Vaad by Ila Arab Mehta

Translated into English as ‘Fence’ by Rita Kothari

“ Fence  by Ila Arab Mehta translated from Gujrati by Rita Kothari follows the journey of Fateema Lokhandwala from her formative years as the daughter of a scrap metal seller (hence the surname) to her role as a professor. Fateema dreams of owning a home for her family which remains the highlight in her life with its own share of hardships, made more difficult by her status as a Muslim women in India.” (from our review of the novel)

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Book Review: A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There By Krishna Sobti

Reading Krishna Sobti’s ‘ A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There ’ is like a garland of mixed flowers, a pricey necklace that you like to admire but not wear. In Daisy Rockwell’s apt and timely translation of Krishna Sobti’s work the texture and flavour of Sobti’s writing is reinvigorated. She imbues the original work with a warm, tender insight into the lives of the ruling class, and peeks into the lives of the women and children in the royal family. She is like an aunt, in all our families who doesn’t mince any of her words. 

A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There Author : Krishna Sobti Translator : Daisy Rockwell Publisher : Penguin Random House India Genre : Historical Fiction

What is best about her book, is that her writing reflects the fluidity of the time, a passage here interweaving memories from a past, of a life in Gujarat, Pakistan to a passage here describing her efforts and encounters as she starts a new life in Sirohi in Gujarat, India.

What is best about her book, is that her writing reflects the fluidity of the time, a passage here interweaving memories from a past, of a life in Gujarat, Pakistan to a passage here describing her efforts and encounters as she starts a new life in Sirohi in Gujarat, India. As a refugee, she encounters and scoffs at several situations and people in this princely state. For instance, when she is asked to declare her refugee status in a government form to have access to free blankets and food.

You are shaken by the jump cut style of her writing because she isn’t trying to molly coddle you. The transitions in her writing are symbolic of the jump starts of her life after leaving home, moving to a refugee camp and later getting a job as a governess in the royal family in Gujarat. These transitions mirror her own mixed feelings, joys and novelty of this new life and sadness of never being able to relive the life she left behind in Pakistan.

She often reins in her mind, saying, “ Go over there, dreams, scram! What’s the point of peeking over there, now that you’ve changed your disguise to fit in here? I no longer owe anyone anything “

Also read: Book Review: The Last Queen By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Her writing shows her constant yearning for the past, and desire to create a new life are at constant loggerheads, when she writes, “ Ancient teachings for ancient times. Do our pathways change when we ourselves change? I could never have imagined that one day I would look with my own eyes on this landscape of bygone days. The country is moving forward after -Independence – and these princely states are trying their hardest to carry on with the old ways. Ancient schemes. Ancient customs. “

She writes about long train journeys, and the turmoils in Gujarat-Rajasthan over the statehood of Abu in Sirohi. This township hosts the Amba temple, deeply revered by Gujarati community, which ended up being part of Rajasthan.

“ When you uproot a tribe, it scatters with the destructive power of an earthquake. Everything goes topsy-turvy. Up is down, and down is up, ” she writes.

She contrasts her journeys in erstwhile Pakistan and now in India: while travelling by Frontier Mail one could walk into the pantry to get tea, while the train in Gujarat had a vendor who would come at his convenience to serve tea. This is how she admonished her own mind for being too reminiscent of her past.

Krishna Sobti’s memoir is still relevant to our times. How we have set up borders that divide us instead of unifying, in a more polarised world, how we are lost in ambiguity, and silences of the ones who have no voice, or are responsible equally for the silences we encounter.

Sobti also unabashedly but righteously logs incidences of injustices and women reproducing patriarchal values in her descriptions of the royal family. How the Maharaja’s first wife who couldn’t conceive a royal heir finds another wife for her husband to bear them a child and ends up adopting him to be successor. Sobti is hired to be the interim governess of this child, who is already wise and intelligent as an adult, maybe too intelligent in Sobti’s own words.

In their first encounter he forewarns her that the reason he has been throwing up on the driver every morning since she had started was of her own volition, and she will be reprimanded the next day. Although he is advised by the Queen not to reveal this, he kindly states to her that he has been eating his medicines after having breakfast which is upsetting his stomach. A minor detail Sobti in her amateur way had overlooked but the Prince in his wisdom brings up to prevent any annoying follow ups. Clearly, he has taken a liking to her.

Also read: Book Review: Dewaji—Making Of An Ambedkarite Family By Dipankar Kamble

We don’t find any other instances where he is shown to have any emotions or feelings. He is treated like a toy prince who has to learn the tricks, ways and customs of the royalty. Sobti doesn’t easily give into these ancient customs, which is why, we are told she knows this is not a permanent job for her, and she will move on eventually.

A similar personal incident, where in a letter from her father there is an incident of Sushma, fondly called Sushi. Sushi comes first in an essay competition with Hindustan Times-New York Herald Tribune, where the winner gets the chance to go to a foreign country. But because she is a girl, this opportunity goes to a boy. Sobti has a keen eye to such injustices around her and minces no words to put them across to her readers.

Even having left her home, in the twilight of Partition, she observes a world where the powerful still continue to retain their titles, squabble to keep their power, and establish their superiority by drawing people along caste lines. Sobti has a darling encounter with the young prince who must not have been more than five years old, when Sobti must have been the governess. Tej Singh asks her what caste she belongs to, he may still not know how it divides, but wants to know whether she is a Baniya, or Brahmin. Initially she desists giving a response, but then ends up narrating her family lineage, the satraps who followed Alexander, and families who responded to the call of arms by Guru Gobind Singh.

Krishna Sobti’s memoir is still relevant to our times. Mentioning how we have set up borders that divide us instead of unifying, in a more polarised world, how we are lost in ambiguity, and silences of the ones who have no voice, or are responsible equally for the silences we encounter, Sobti writes, “ She closed her attached case, checked her luggage and began looking out of the window. The vastness of the Indian terrain! How large our country is. Rajasthan’s borders reach out to Gujarat. Sometimes settlements and people must also be pushed across borders. “

As a reader, you take this journey with Sobti and know that she, like us, has transformed. 

Also read: Book Review: Why I Am Not A Hindu Woman By Wandana Sonalkar

Featured Image Source: Cover page of ‘A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There’ (L), Krishna Sobti (file pic: Wikipedia)

Dr. Sneha Krishnan is trained to be a researcher in the interstices of development, health and disasters. One day she grew tired of the world of research that converted people’s life stories into data and evidence, and instead dived deep into the world of telling stories with prose, poetry and photographs. Her poetry, essays and stories have been published in The Conversation, Helter Skelter, Belongg, Medium and The Wire. She also organises the Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IFFB) and Indian Documentary Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IDFFB). She has a PhD in Environment Engineering from University College London and Professor of Environmental Studies at Jindal Global University. She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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