Dinkar Joshi is a

Gujarati language Gujarati (; gu, ગુજરાતી, Gujarātī, translit-std=ISO, label=Gujarati script, ) is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Indian state of Gujarat and spoken predominantly by the Gujarati people. Gujarati is descended from Old G ...

author from India. He has written more than 160 books including novels, short story collections, essay collections and columns.

Life

Dinkar Joshi was born on 30 June 1937 in Bhadi Bhandaria village of

Bhavnagar district Bhavnagar District is a district of southeastern Gujarat, India, on the Saurashtra peninsula. It is also known as Gohilwar as a major portion of Bhavnagar district was ruled by Gohil Rajputs. The administrative headquarters is in the town of B ...

to Lilavati and Maganlal Joshi. His family belonged to Nagdhaniba village. He completed his Bachelor of Arts in 1963 with history and politics from

Gujarat University The Gujarat University is a public state university located at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. The university is an affiliating university at the under-graduate level and a teaching university at the postgraduate level. It is accredited B++ by NA ...

. He started writing in 1950 and published his first short story in 1954. He worked in banking sector from 1959 till his voluntary retirement in 1995. He was principal of Staff Training College of the bank when retired. His novels were serialized in weekly supplements of Gujarati and Hindi dailies like '' Gujarat Samachar'' and ''Jagran''. His novel ''Prakash no Padchhayo'' was simultaneously serialized in the Sunday supplements of three Gujarati dailies; ''Samkaleen'', ''Jansatta'' and ''Loksatta''. He married Hansaben in 1963. He challenged the claim about number of

Shloka Shloka or śloka ( sa, श्लोक , from the root , Macdonell, Arthur A., ''A Sanskrit Grammar for Students'', Appendix II, p. 232 (Oxford University Press, 3rd edition, 1927). in a broader sense, according to Monier-Williams's dictionary, is ...

s in Bhagvad Geeta by Dr. Vedavyas of

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

and proved it with an example.

Works

Dinkar Joshi has written more than 156 books in his six decade long literary career. He has written 45 novels on social, historical, rural and ancient subjects. He has written many essays and topical sketches. He has edited and translated several books in Gujarati. He has done extensive study and research on

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is on ...

and

Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (; ; 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948), popularly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist Quote: "... marks Gandhi as a hybrid cosmopolitan figure who transformed ... anti- ...

. He has studied the

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages ...

Mahabharata The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; sa, महाभारतम्, ', ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India in Hinduism, the other being the '' Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the struggle between two groups of cousins in the K ...

Veda upright=1.2, The Vedas are ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism. Above: A page from the '' Atharvaveda''. The Vedas (, , ) are a large body of religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the ...

s and

Upanishads The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

and has written extensively on these subjects. He has written several

biographical novel The biographical novel is a genre of novel which provides a fictional account of a contemporary or historical person's life. Like other forms of biographical fiction, details are often trimmed or reimagined to meet the artistic needs of the fictio ...

s including on poet

Narmad Narmadashankar Lalshankar Dave () (24 August 1833 – 26 February 1886), popularly known as Narmad, was an Indian Gujarati-language poet, playwright, essayist, orator, lexicographer and reformer under the British Raj. He is considered to be the ...

;

Harilal Gandhi Harilal Mohandas Gandhi (born Hiralal Mohandas Gandhi; 23 August 1888 – 18 June 1948) was the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi. He had three younger brothers: Manilal Gandhi, Ramdas Gandhi and Devdas Gandhi. Early life ...

, the eldest son of Mahatma Gandhi;

Muhammad Ali Jinnah Muhammad Ali Jinnah (, ; born Mahomedali Jinnahbhai; 25 December 1876 – 11 September 1948) was a barrister, politician, and the founder of Pakistan. Jinnah served as the leader of the All-India Muslim League from 1913 until the ...

Rabindranath Tagore Rabindranath Tagore (; bn, রবীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941) was a Bengali polymath who worked as a poet, writer, playwright, composer, philosopher, social reformer and painter. He resh ...

, Gautam Buddha,

Sardar Patel Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel (; ; 31 October 1875 – 15 December 1950), commonly known as Sardar, was an Indian lawyer, influential political leader, barrister and statesman who served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of I ...

and

Lev Tolstoy Count Lev Nikolayevich TolstoyTolstoy pronounced his first name as , which corresponds to the romanization ''Lyov''. () (; russian: link=no, Лев Николаевич Толстой,In Tolstoy's day, his name was written as in pre-refor ...

. Some of his novels have been adapted into Gujarati films. His novel ''Prakash no Padchhayo'', written on the life of Harilal Gandhi, has been dramatized in English, Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi and several Indian languages. This adapted play by Feroz Abbas Khan, ''Mahatma versus Gandhi'' was staged during the commemorative function held to celebrate Gandhi's anniversary at

Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, organised by the Indo-American Arts Council. His novels include ''Door Door Aara'' (1963), ''Jane Ajane'' (1963), ''Tan Zankhe Man Roy'' (1965), ''Matsyavedh'' (1966), ''Adithan Roop'' (1967), ''Shesh - Ashesh'' (1969), ''Aganpathari'' (1972), ''Tarasyan Pagalan Tran'' (1974), ''Yakshaprashna'' (1974), ''Asahya'' (1976), ''Satyano Chahero'' (1977), ''Khelo Re Khel Khurshina'' (1978), ''Kankuna Suraj Aathamya'' (1979), ''Suraj Dhima Tapo'' (1981), ''Barafni Chadar'' (1981), ''Sachan Motino Charo'' (1982), ''Aa Pag Nicheno Rasto'' (1982), ''Agiyarmi Disha'' (1982), ''Aapane Kyank Malyan Chhie'' (1983), ''Triji Aankh'' (1983), ''35 Up 36 Down'' (1983), ''Garvun Roop Varvi Chhaya'' (2005), ''Ek Tukado Aakashno'' (1984) based on life of

, ''Radhani Vedana'' (1984), ''Saranama Vinanun Ghar'' (1986), ''Jamana Pagno Angutho'' (1987), ''Sarpsatra'' (1987), ''Shyam Ekvar Aavone Aangane'' (1988), ''Prakash no Padachhayo'' (1988) based on life of Harilal Gandhi, ''Kale Surajne Kahejo Ke'' (1989), ''Kurusabha'' (1990), ''Alpaviram'' (1991), ''Vastraharan'' (1992), ''Amrutyatra'' (1994), ''Kalpurush'' (1995), ''Ekada Vagarna Mindan'' (1997), ''Sami Sanjna Padachhaya'' (1999), ''Dariyathi Dariya Sudhi'' (2001), ''Pratinayak'' (2002), ''Amrutpanthano Yatri'' (2003), ''Ahin Koi Nathi'' (2005), ''Prashnapradeshni Pele Paar'' (2008), ''Ayodhyano Ravan Ane Lankana Ram'' (2010), ''Mahamanav Sardar'' (2014), ''Gaikal Vinani Avatikal'' (2016). He coauthored novel ''Parivartan'' (1991). His short stories collections are ''Anradhar'' (1964), ''Vanpravesh'' (1965), ''Tarafadat'' (1969), ''Ek Lawaris Shab'' (1974), ''Ek Vaheli Sawarnun Sapanun'' (1980), ''Nam Badalvani Ramat'' (1986), ''Dinkar Joshini Shreshtha Vartao'' (1988), ''Bandhi Muththino Khalipo'' (1990), ''Nava Varasnun Panchang'' (1995), ''Ek Hato Manas'' (1997), ''Sarvalani Badbaki'' (2003), ''Vagadanu Phool'' (2012), ''Ekvar Evun Banyun'' (2016). He edited several works including ''Yaad (1954-64 ni Pratinidhi Varatao)'' (1987), ''Kavyarasaswad'' (1987), ''Venibhaino Varta Vaibhav'' (1991), ''Rangnagarno Rasiyo Nagar'' (a memorial book on

Venibhai Purohit Venibhai Jamnadas Purohit (1916-1980) was Gujarati poet, lyricist, short story writer and journalist. Life Venibhai was born on 1 February 1916 in Jamkhambhaliya. He completed his primary education in Bombay and secondary education in Bombay. He ...

, 1991), ''Saravaiyun'' (commemorative book on centenary of Chandulal Selarka, 1992), ''Aambavadiyun'' (articles of

Swami Anand Swami Anand (1887 – 25 January 1976) was a monk, a Gandhian activist and a Gujarati writer from India. He was the manager of Gandhi's publications such as ''Navajivan'' and ''Young India'' and inspired Gandhi to write his autobiography, ''Th ...

, 1996), ''Amaratvel'' (articles of Swami Anand, 1996), ''Ugamani Dishano Ujas'' (Letter correspondences of Swami Anand, 1996), ''Dhodhamar'' (Letter correspondences of Swami Anand, 1996), Krushnacharitra (Bankimchandra, 2000), ''Ekakshari Shabdakosh'' (2003), ''Samay Chintan'' (articles of Kakasaheb Kalelkar, 2008), ''Spandan'' (articles of

Bhagwatikumar Sharma Bhagwatikumar Sharma (31 May 1934 – 5 September 2018) was an Indian author and journalist who wrote in Gujarati. Born in Surat and educated in languages, he edited a daily for several years. He wrote novels, short stories, poetry, essays and c ...

, 2011) and twenty volumes of ''

'' (2010) translated into Gujarati. He translated ''Punjabi Ekanki'' in 1978. His other works are, ''Tulasi Is Sansar Men'' (1986), ''Tachali Aangalie Govardhan'' (1989), ''Manas Taran Roop Anek'' (1991), ''Ek Najar Aa Taraf'' (1992), ''Krushnam Vande Jagadgurum'' (1990), ''Mahabharatma Manavdarshan'' (1991), ''Ardhya'' (1994), ''Abhishek'' (1994), ''Aachaman'' (1994), ''Anjali'' (1994), ''Archana'' (1994), ''Mara Vidhya Guruo'' (1994), ''Tulsidal'' (1995), ''Darbhasan'' (1997), ''Nadabrahma'' (1997), ''Kalpataru'' (1997), ''Halvu Ful Aakash'' (1997), ''Satya Taraf Do Jatun Asatya'' (1997), ''Dharatinum Sarnamun'' (1997), ''Bodhivruksha'' (1997), ''Mahabharatman Matruvandana'' (1997), ''Mahabharatman Pitruvandana'' (1997), ''Suranjo Chhadidar'' (1997), ''Mahabharat : Ek Darshan'' (1999), ''Pratah Vandana'' (1999), ''Paramno Panth'' (1999), ''Adrashyani Aaradhana'' (1999), ''Dishaoni Pele Paar'' (1999), ''Ramayanman Patravandana'' (2001), ''Mahalakshmina Mandirman'' (2001), ''Dinkar Joshini Vicharyatra'' (2004), ''Latamandap'' (2004), ''Parijat'' (2004), ''Bharatiya Sanskrutina Sarjako'' (2004) with Yogesh Patel, ''Shri Krushnanun Sarnamun'' (2005), ''Gandhino Yagna Dandiyatra'' (2005), ''Mumbaina Vikasman Gujrationun Yogadan'' (2005), ''Ramayan, Mahabharat, Bhagawat Chintan Ane Manan'' (2006), ''Chakrathi Charkha Sudhi'' (2006), ''Sukhanun Sarnamun'' (2006), ''Akshrani Aakashganga'' (2007), ''Dikari Etle Tulsikyaro'' (2007), ''Tyare Ane Atyare - 1947 to 2007'' (2008), ''Ame Ane Aapane'' (2009), ''Manasnun Kai Kahevay Nahin'' (2009), ''Manase Mangelun Vardan'' (2009), ''Mrutyu Aa Paar Ke Pele Paar'' (2009), ''Najaronajar'' (2009), ''Hun Mane Joun Chhun'' (2009), ''Kalni Kasotie Gandhijini Geeta "Hind Swaraj"'' (2009), ''Shadaripu'' (2011), ''Shunyama Shabda Tun'' (2012), ''Sohamano Suryasta'' (2012), ''Gandhi Sardar ane Jinha Vyaktidarshan'' (2013), ''Matini Sugandh'' (2013) and ''X-ray Apana Sahuno'' (2015). His several works are translated into other languages totaling fifty eight books including in English, German, Kannad, Marathi, Malayalam, Telugu, Tamil, Bangala, Oriya and Hindi languages. His books translated into English are ''Glimpses Of Indian Culture'', ''Αn Etertnal Journey'', ''Quaid Azam Mohmmad Ali Jinnah'', ''Mahatma Vs Gandhi'', ''Sardar, The Sovereign Saint''.

Recognition

He is conferred with five Gujarat State Sahitya Akademi awards. He is awarded an honorary degree of D.Litt. by Shri Jagdishprasad Jhabarmal Tibrewala University,

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern ...

. He received

Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar The Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar (Gujarati: સાહિત્ય ગૌરવ પુરસ્કાર), also known as Sahitya Gaurav Award, is a literary honour in Gujarat, India. The award is conferred by Gujarat Sahitya Akademi and Government of ...

in 2017.

Selected bibliography

* *

References

External links