Ravji Patel (Gujarati: રાવજી પટેલ; 15 November 1939 – 10 August 1968) was a modernist poet, short story writer and novelist of Gujarati language.[1]

Ravji Patel
Native name
રાવજી છોટાલાલ પટેલ
BornRavji Chhotalal Patel
(1939-11-15)15 November 1939
Bhatpur, Anand, Gujarat, India
Died10 August 1968(1968-08-10) (aged 28)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
OccupationPoet, Short story writer, Novelist
LanguageGujarati
NationalityIndian
Educationunder graduate
PeriodPost-modern Gujarati literature
GenresGeet, Free verse, Sonnet, Ghazal
Literary movementRe Math
Notable works
  • Ashrughar (1966)
  • Jhanza (1967)
  • Angat (1970)
  • Vrutti ane Varta (1977)
Notable awardsUma-Snehrashmi Prize (1966-67)

Life

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Sansthan High School at Dakor where Ravji studied

He was born in Bhatpur village (now in Anand district, Gujarat) on 15 November 1939. His family was a native of Vallavpura village in Kheda district. He completed his primary education from his village, Vallavpura and moved to Ahmedabad for further education. He completed his S.S.C. from Navchetan High School, Ahmedabad. Then he joined City Arts College, but he could only study up to the second year of college and dropped out owing to financial difficulties. He worked briefly at various places like mills, libraries, newspapers and universities. After staying in Amirgadh and Anand for few months, he died in Ahmedabad on 10 August 1968 due to tuberculosis and mental disorder.[2][3][4]

Works

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Bust of Ravji Patel inaugurated in 2017 at Dakor

He co-edited poetry journal Shabda with Mukund Parikh.[5]

His only collection Angat (1970) was published posthumously which includes fourteen songs. One of his songs, "Mari Aankhe Kankuna Suraj Athamya" is considered as the landmark in Gujarati literature.[2][3] The song flags a great change in the trends and styles of writing in Gujarati literature, bringing it into what is now known as the modern Gujarati literary trend.[citation needed]

Ashrughar (1966; House of Tears) is his novel about a person suffering from tuberculosis. Jhanjha (1967; Foggy) is his other novel. Both are considered experimental novels.[6] Vrutti ane Varta (1977) includes his incomplete story Vrutti. Rakh Pan Bole Chhe is his one-act play published in third issue of Kriti magazine. Some of his letters to fellow authors are published in Ravji Patel by Mafat Oza.[3]

In 2018, Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust published his biography entitled Mol Bharelu Khetar, written by Manilal H. Patel.[7]

Further reading

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  • Patel, Manilal H. (2016). Ravji Patel. Sahitya Sarjak Shreni (2nd ed.). Ahmedabad: Parshva Publication. ISBN 978-93-5108-580-5.
  • Patel, Manilal H. (2018). Mol Bharelu Khetar (biographical sketch of Ravji Patel). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. ISBN 978-93-83975-73-0.

References

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  1. ^ Joshi, S. (1969). "Life against Death: The Poetry of Ravji Patel". Books Abroad. 43 (4): 499–503. doi:10.2307/40123774. JSTOR 40123774.
  2. ^ a b Saccidānandan (2001). Indian Poetry: Modernism and After : a Seminar. Sahitya Akademi. p. 94. ISBN 978-81-260-1092-9.
  3. ^ a b c Brahmabhatt, Prasad (2010). અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era) (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Parshwa Publication. pp. 54–59. ISBN 978-93-5108-247-7.
  4. ^ K. Satchidanandan (1 January 2000). One Hundred Indian Poets. National Book Trust, India. p. 435. ISBN 978-81-237-2865-0. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  5. ^ Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. January 2009. p. 263. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  6. ^ K. M. George (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. p. 141. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  7. ^ Raval, Praful (August 2018). "વિશ્વકોશ-પ્રકાશન" [Vishwakosh-Publications]. Vishwavihar (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. pp. 28–29. ISSN 2321-6999.
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