Harilal Upadhyay was a Gujarati novelist and poet. He wrote more than 100 books.
Life
Harilal Upadhyay was born on 22 January 1916 in Mota Khijadiya village near
Rajkot
Rajkot () is the fourth-largest city in the Indian state of Gujarat
Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the ...
in a family of Jadavji and Gangaben. His father was a priest in a temple at
Makaji Meghpar. He completed his primary education from
Paddhari while living with his father's elder brother Bhavanishankar and sister Dayakunwarben. He moved to
Jamnagar and studied in Sanskrit Pathshala where he mastered in traditional rituals and texts under Trambakram Shastri.
He started writing poetry during his stay in Jamnagar. At the age of 13, he recited a poem in public. His first short story, "Hridaypalto", was published in ''Modhbandhu'' magazine at the age of 15, and another story was published in ''Beghadi Moj''. He was connected with traditional bards and folk stories during this period. He was influenced by the bard Krishnada. He returned to Makaji Meghpar but he was not interested in priesthood. His uncle Bhavanishankar was also a traditional story teller and musician who used to go to different
princely states for performance in royal courts. He went with him to different places and started taking notes on folk stories, incidents and folk songs. He also learned poetry presentation from him. He met Vajubhai Shulka, an
Indian independence activist from Rajkot. He studied politics there and also wrote a 500 stanza long poem, "Tanya". Vajubhai brought "Tanya" to
Bombay
Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...
. After reading it, Harilal was invited to Bombay by Amritlal Sheth, journalist and the founder of ''Janmabhoomi'' newspaper.
He moved to Bombay and published his first short story collection, ''Jeevanchhaya'', on the insistence of
K. M. Munshi. He later moved to Paddhari and continued to write from there.
He died on 15 January 1994 in
Paddhari, Gujarat, India.
Works
;Historical novels
He wrote a large number of historical novels. His ''
Mewad
Mewar, also spelled as Mewad is a region in the south-central part of Rajasthan state of India. It includes the present-day districts of Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Pirawa Tehsil of Jhalawar District of Rajastha ...
'' or ''Suryavansh/Rajasthan'' historical novel series include ''Mevad Ni Tejchhaya'', ''Mevad Na Maharathi : NariRatna PannaDai'', ''Chittod Ni Rangarjana : RoopRani Padmini'', ''Mevad No Kesri'', ''ShauryaPratapi Maharana Pratap''. ''Deshgaurav Bhamashah'', and ''Jay Chittod''. His ''Chandravansh/Gujarat'' historical novel series include ''ShauryaPratapi Chandravansh'', ''Rudhir Nu Rajtilak'', ''Lakho Fulani'', ''Ranmedan'', ''Ek Bhalo Saput'', ''Tati Talvar'', ''Navanagar Na Narbanka'', ''Managal Fera'', ''Rajsatta Na Rang'', ''Nayan Ughadyu Ne Phool Kharyu'', ''KachchhBhoomi Na Kesri'', and ''Padata Gadh Na Padchhaya (Part 1 and 2)''. His books on Modh Brahmins are ''Otrada Vayara Utho Utho''
/ref> and ''Sonavarani'' (the history of Modh Brahmins). His social novels set in historical background are ''Kalank Ane Kirtirekha'', ''Vijay Vardaan'', ''Bhagya devata'', ''Roshani'', and ''Aparajita''.
He wrote seven book series on Indian epic ''Mahabharata
The ''Mahābhārata'' ( ; , , ) is one of the two major Sanskrit Indian epic poetry, epics of ancient India revered as Smriti texts in Hinduism, the other being the ''Ramayana, Rāmāyaṇa''. It narrates the events and aftermath of the Kuru ...
'' which include ''Bhishma Pratigna'', ''Dharma Pratigna'', ''Kurukshetra'', ''Bhishma No Shantibodh'', ''Dharma Vijay'', ''Mahaprasthaan'' and ''Yog Viyog''.
;Social novels
* ''Ramkali (RoopMangala)''
* ''Rahi Gai Man Ni Man Ma''
* ''Gauri''
* ''Tan Bhukhya Koi Dhan Bhukhya''
* ''Preete Parovaya''
* ''Dharati Lal Gulal''
* ''Nathi Sukaya Neer''
* ''Sukh Savaya Thay''
* ''Kundan Chadyu Kante''
* ''Savazada Senjal Pie''
* ''Man Dubya Mrugjal Ma''
* ''KesarBhino Kanth''
* ''Varso Re Ur na Amee''
* ''AmrutBhini Ankhaladi''
* ''Tej Chhavai Raat''
* ''Haiye Madhaya Het''
* ''Nisha Sunave Naad''
* ''Alka''
* ''ManPankhi Na Mala''
* ''Kanchan Lage Na Kaat''
* ''Antar Khole Ankh''
* ''Nari Hati Ek Namani''
* ''Paras Sparshe Ek J War''
* ''Ugyo Chandra Amase''
* ''Dhabakatu Dhan''
* ''Rajpur Ni Lachhu''
* ''Van Man Khili Vasant''
* ''Gori To Gunial Bhali''
* ''Dharm Ane Rajkaran''
* ''Andhkaar Chhaya''
* ''Saheli ''
* ''Sukhlalsa''
* ''Man Ne Lagi Maya''
* ''Pagla Padya Kankuvarna''
* ''Chhanydee''
* ''Roshnee''
;Short story collections
* ''Saurashtra No Vartaras''
* ''Saurashtra Ni Rasgatha (2 parts)''
* ''Saurashtra Ni Veergathao (5 parts)''
* ''Sorthi Lokvato''
* ''Jeevanchhaya''
* ''PushpMangal'' (''BaalVartao'' – kids' literature)
;Biographies
* ''Harsiddhi Ane Hinglaj''
* ''Sant Dada Mekan''
* ''Sant Dharamshi Bhagat''
* ''Mast Avdhoot Moondiya Swami''
* ''Naag Mahima''
* ''Chhelnami Saurashtra''
* ''Karma Prabhaav''
* ''ShaktiParichay'' (about Mahadevi Hinglajmata, Mahadevi Harsiddhi and Mahadevi Khodiyar)
;Children's literature
* ''Pushpamangal''
;Play
* ''Najar Samena Shamana'' (''Dreams in Front of the Eyes'')
Recognition
* Jyotirvigyan Sanshodhan Award
/ref>
* Kanaiyalal Munshi Award
See also
* List of Indian writers
This is a list of notable writers who come from India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by ...
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Upadhyay, Harilal
Indian male novelists
1994 deaths
1916 births
Gujarati-language writers
20th-century Indian novelists
Poets from Gujarat
People from Rajkot district
Novelists from Gujarat
20th-century Indian poets
20th-century Indian male writers