Manilal H. Patel
Manilal Haridas Patel is a Gujarati poet, essayist, novelist, and literary critic from Gujarat, India. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the 2007 Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak literary medal for his significant contributions to Gujarati literature.
Life
Patel was born on 9 November 1949 in the village of Golana Palla near Lunavada to Ambaben and Haridas, an agriculturist. He had five siblings. Patel studied at a school in his village until grade four, and then attended a school in the nearby village of Madhvas. He completed his Secondary School Certificate in 1967. He completed a B. A. in Gujarati and English in 1971 and a M. A. in Gujarati and Sanskrit in 1973. In 1979, Patel received a PhD for his thesis Arvachin Gujarati Kavitama Pranaynirupan under the guidance of Dhirubhai Thaker.He taught briefly at schools in Vadagam and Madhvas. He taught Gujarati at the Arts and Commerce College, Idar from 1973 to 1987. In 1987, Patel joined the Sardar Patel University in Vallabh Vidyanagar as the Reader of Gujarati and was later promoted to professor and head of the department. He retired in 2012. He edited the Dasmo Dayko, Paraspar 1-2-3, Sheelshrutam and Pragnya magazines.
Works
His poetry is a combination of romanticism and classicism. He wrote poetry touching on his experiences in and around Idar, a town in Gujarat. Padma Vinana Deshma and Satami Ritu, Dungar Kori Ghar Karya, Patzar, Vichchhed and Mati ane Megh are his poetry collections.The novels Patel has written include: Tarasghar, Ghero, Killo, Andharu, Lalita, and Anjal. Ratvaso and Bapano Chhello Kagal, Sadabahar Vartao Chayan and Sudha Ane Biji Varta are his story collections. Manilal H. Patelni Vartasrishti is a collection of his selected stories.
Patel's essays have been collected and published in: Mukhomukh, Vrikshalok, Mativato, Matina Manekhe, Bhusata Gramchitro, Malakni Maya, Koi Saad Pade Chhe, Aksharne Ajvale, Vela Velani Vaat, Aada Dungar Ubhi Vat, and Sarjakno Samajlok. Aranyoma Akash Dholay Chhe is a collection of narrative essays, some autobiographical in nature.
Hu To Nitya Pravasi is a travelogue. Tarasya Malakno Megh is a biography of Pannalal Patel. He has translated Ramdarash Mishra's Apane Log from Hindi to Gujarati as Sagavhala.
Kavitanu Shikshan, Jivankatha, Ishwar Petlikar, Nibandhkar Suresh Joshi, Parishkrut Varta Ane Bija Lekho, Sarjak Ravji Patel, Gujarati Prem Kavita are his works of criticism. Parishkrut Gujarati Varta, 1996ni Shreshth Vartao, 1997ni shreshth Vartao, Okhaharan, Ratiragni Vartao, Himanshi Shelatni Vartashrishti, Raino Parvat are edited by him. Patel has also edited Gujarati Sonnet, Suman Shahni Vartashrishti, Ravji Patelni Kavita Chayan, Kathashrishti, Navi Varta Shrishti, Gujarati Bhashanu Adhyayan, Rag Parag.