Dhirendra Pritamlal Mehta is a Gujarati novelist, poet, critic and editor who received the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati language for his novel ''Chhavni''.

Life

Dhirendra Mehta was born in

Ahmedabad Ahmedabad ( ; Gujarati: Amdavad ) is the most populous city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the administrative headquarters of the Ahmedabad district and the seat of the Gujarat High Court. Ahmedabad's population of 5,570,585 (per t ...

on 29 August 1944. His family belonged to Bhuj. At the age of four, he suffered from

poliomyelitis Poliomyelitis, commonly shortened to polio, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Approximately 70% of cases are asymptomatic; mild symptoms which can occur include sore throat and fever; in a proportion of cases more severe sym ...

in both his legs. He matriculated from

Alfred High School, Bhuj Alfred High School in Bhuj, Kutch is one of the oldest educational institution of Gujarat and first high school of Kutch. It was founded by Rao of Cutch, Pragmalji II in year 1870 at cost of . The school was named Alfred High School, after Pr ...

in 1961. He completed B. A. in Gujarati with first class in 1966. In 1968, he completed M. A. in Gujarati and Hindi from School of Languages, Gujarat University. In 1976, he received Ph.D. for his dissertation, ''Gujarātī Navalakathānō Upēyalakṣī Abhyāsa''. He briefly worked at Akashvani, Bhuj and later joined H. K. Arts College as Research Fellow. He taught

Gujarati literature The history of Gujarati literature ( gu, ગુજરાતી સાહિત્ય) may be traced to 1000 AD, and this literature has flourished since then to the present. It is unique in having almost no patronage from a ruling dynasty, othe ...

as a Head of the Department in Gujarat College, Ahmedabad from 1970 to 1976. Then he moved to Bhuj and taught Gujarati literature as the Head of the Department of Gujarati and Undergraduate Centre in R. R. Lalan College until his retirement in November 2006. He served as a visiting professor for two years at KSKV Kutch University.

Works

''Valay'' (1971) was his first novel dealing with subjects of love, relationships and their impacts resulting in depression, unhappiness and loneliness. His next two novels, ''Chihna'' (1978) and ''Adrashya'' (1980), also expand on the similar subjects. ''Kaveri Ane Darpanlok'' (1988) has two novellas adapted from radio plays, both having two female protagonists. ''Ghar'' (1995) has four stories dealing with subjects of home and death, pointing to the nature of change. His other novels include ''Dishantar'', ''Apane Loko'', ''Dharna'' (1990), ''Khovai Gayeli Vastu'' (2001), ''Bhandari Bhavan'' (2002) and ''Chhavni'' (2006). Loneliness and depression have been continued subjects of exploration. ''Sanmukh'' (1985) is collection of 26 stories. ''Atlu Badhu Sukh'' and ''Hu Ene Jou E Pahela'' are his other story collections. ''Pavanna Veshma'' (1955) collects his 119 poems written between 1963 and 1993. ''Pratyanchano Kamp'' is his other poetry collection. His dissertation is published as ''Nandshankarthi Umashankar'' (1984). He wrote short biography ''Dr.

Jayant Khatri Jayant Heerji Khatri (1909-1968) was a Gujarati short story writer. Life Jayant Khatri was born to Heerji Hansraj Khatri and Jayaben on 24 September 1909 at Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat, India. His father was a government doctor of Cutch State. He c ...

'' (1977) under ''Gujarat Granthkar'' series. ''Nisbat'' (1990), ''Ghardo Minj To Gare'' (1993), ''Morchangna Soor'' (1995) are works of criticism. He edited ''Ranni Ankhma Dariyo'' (1986, collection of stories from Kutch), ''Jayant Khatrini Vartao'' (2004, Stories of Jayant Khantri), ''Gujarati Kavita Chayan'' (2003). ''Bhuskani Ujani'' (1986) is collection of

children's poetry Children's poetry is poetry written for, appropriate for, or enjoyed by children. Children's poetry is one of the oldest art forms, rooted in early oral tradition, folk poetry, and nursery rhymes. Children have always enjoyed both works of p ...

. ''Mehtaji, Tame Eva Shu?'' is his memoir.

Recognition

He has been awarded R. V. Desai Award (1994), Critics Award (1985), Jayant Khatri - Bakulesh Award (2000), Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak, K. M. Munshi Chandrak, Darshak Award (2003) and 12th Dumketu Navalika Puraskar. He is also awarded by Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and Gujarat Sahitya Akademi. In 2010, he received Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati language for his novel ''Chhavni''. In 2011, he was awarded Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak.

Personal life

He married Nutanben in 1977 and has two daughters, Venu and Shalmali.

References

External links