Sharifa Vijaliwala
Sharifa Vijaliwala is an Indian Gujarati language writer, critic, translator and editor from Surat, Gujarat, India. She is a recipient of a 2018 Sahitya Akademi Award for Vibhajanni Vyatha, a collection of critical essays in Gujarati, and has won several Gujarat Sahitya Akademi awards for her literary work.
Biography
Sharifa Vijliwala was born to her parents, Kasambhai and Hajaraben, on 4 August 1962 in Amargadh, a village in Shihor, in the Bhavnagar district of Gujarat, India. She completed her primary education there, and passed her secondary and higher secondary board exams in 1978 and 1981 respectively. In 1985, she graduated from the Faculty of Technology and Engineering, at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda earning a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. She worked as a pharmacist for five years. Because of her interest in literature, she had also joined the university's Gujarati department to study Gujarati literature in 1986. In 1990, she secured the first rank in the university and completed post graduation with a Kantawala Gold Medal. During her literature studies, she passed the National Eligibility Test examination and secured a Junior Research Fellowship. In 1994, under the guidance of Shirish Panchal, she researched narratology. Vijliwala received a PhD for her dissertation Point of View in Short Stories: A Critical Study with Particular Reference to Some Gujarati Short Stories. She taught Gujarati literature at the M.T.B. Arts College, Surat from 1991 to 2013. Since 2013, Vijliwala has been a professor and head at the Department of Gujarati, at Veer Narmad South Gujarat University in Surat.Works
Vijliwala is a translator, critic and editor. She wrote her first article "Mara Bapu", published in Pitrutarpan compiled by Joseph Macwan in 1988. Her first work of criticism wasTunki Vartama Kathankendra which was also her doctoral research. Varatasandarbh, Sampratyay, Naval Vishv and Vibhajanni Vyatha are her other collections of criticism.She has translated several literary works. She began literary translation in 1994 translating the best short stories of western literature. Ananya, Anusang, Tran Katha, Vachan, Gandhi ni Kedie are her translations. She has made a significant contribution as a translator of literature based on the Partition of India. Her translations of Partition-oriented literature include Manto ni Vartao, Vibhajan ni Vartao, Intizar Husain ni Vartao ''Jene lahor Nathi Joyu E Janmyo J Nathi, Sukato Vad, Pinjar, Basti, Adha Gaon and Mahabhoj. She also completed a research project Analytical and Comparative Study of Literature Based on Partition Theme funded by the University Grants Commission of New Delhi. Himanshi Shelat, a renowned Gujarati author, said that, "without losing the flavour of the source language the translated works of Sharifa Vijaliwala aim to preserve the lucidity of the target language. She works diligently to achieve the high standards of excellence in her translations."
She has edited more than 20 books including: Bani Vatu, Bakulesh ni Vartao, 2000 ni Vartao, Shatrupa, Jayant Khatri ni Gadhyasrushti, Jayant Khatri no Vartavaibhav, Varta Vishesh : Harish Nagrecha, Varta Vishesh : Saroj Pathak, Varta Vishesh : Himanshi Shelat, Ratilal Anil na Uttam Chandrana, Vibhajan ni Gujarati Vartao, Himanshi Shelat Adhyayan Granth, Bhagwatikumar Sharma no Varta Vaibhav, Shirish Panchal Adhyayan Granth, Umashankar Joshi no Varta Vaibhav, Pannalal Patel no Varta Vishesh, Meghni no Varta Vaibhav, Varsha Adalja no Varta Vaibhav, Ghanshyam Desai no Varta Vaibhav, Mohan Parmar no Varta Vaibhav, Chunilal Madia no Varta Vaibhav and Eva Dave no Varta Vaibhav.
Sammukh and Vyatha ni Katha are a compilation of her interviews. Sambandho nu Aakash is her collection of reminiscences. Her other works include Manto ni Vartasrushti – Introduction Booklet, Komi Samasya ni Bhitarma and Harmony''.