The history of Gujarati literature 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, other than its composers.
Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak, also known as the Ranjitram Gold Medal, was founded by Gujarat Sahitya Sabha and is considered the highest literary award in Gujarati literature. The award is named after renowned Gujarati writer Ranjitram Mehta. It is awarded since 1928.
Suresh Hariprasad Joshi was an Indian novelist, short-story writer, literary critic, poet, translator, editor and academic in the Gujarati language. Along with his teaching career, he led the modernist movement in Gujarati literature. He was prolific writer and he transformed the field of literary criticism.
Ravji Patel was a modernist poet, short story writer and novelist of Gujarati language.
Dhiruben Gordhanbhai Patel was an Indian novelist, playwright and translator.
Jyotindra Hariharshankar Dave (1901-1980) was a Gujarati humourist writer from India. Born and educated at Surat, he is regarded as a great humourist writer in Gujarati literature.
Himanshi Indulal Shelat is a Gujarati author from Gujarat, India. She received Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 1996 for her short stories collection Andhari Galima Safed Tapakan (1992).
Hariprasad Maniray Vyas was a Gujarati humorist and author of children's literature.
Miya Fuski is a fictional character created by Jivram Joshi for children's literature in Gujarati language. He is mostly accompanied by his friend, Tabha Bhatt. Both characters were inspired by the people of Kashi during Joshi's stay there. Joshi wrote more than thirty stories on the characters. They became popular and were later adapted into plays, TV series and a film.
Vinod Joshi is an Indian poet, writer and literary critic in Gujarati language from Gujarat, India. His notable works include Parantu, a collection of Geet, Shikhandi, a long narrative poem based on Shikhandi, a character from the Mahābhārata, Radio Natak: Swarup ane Siddhant, Tundil-tundika, a form of padyavarta, a Gujarati medieval literary genre, and Zalar Vage Zoothadi, a collection of poems. He is the recipient of the Jayant Pathak Puraskar (1985), Critic's award (1986), Kavishwar Dalpatram Award (2013), Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar (2015), Narsinh Mehta Award (2018), Kalapi Award (2018), Darshak Sahitya Sanman Award (2021), Narmad Suvarna Chandrak (2022) and Sahitya Akademi Award (2023).
The Children's literature in Gujarati language of India has its roots in traditional folk literature, Puranic literature, epics and fables from Sanskrit literature. Following 1830s, the large number of stories and fables adapted and translated from various traditional and western sources started to appear in Gujarati. Led by Gijubhai Badheka and Nanabhai Bhatt, the children's literature expanded rapidly in form of stories, poems, rhymes and riddles. Several authors and poets wrote for children intermittently and exclusively. Large number of magazines catering to children were published by middle of twentieth century. Later adventure novels, science fiction, young-adult fiction were also published. Ramanlal Soni and Jivram Joshi contributed for five decades creating stories, fictional characters and novels. Few children's plays were published while the biographies of historical characters appeared frequently.
Chandrakant Sheth was an Indian Gujarati poet, essayist, critic, translator and editor from Gujarat. His pen names include Aryaputra, Nand Samavedi, Balchadra and Daksh Prajapati. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 1986 for his book Dhoolmani Paglio.
Dhansukhlal Krishnalal Mehta was a Gujarati writer from Gujarat, India. He is considered a pioneer of Gujarati short stories. He is known for his humorous novel Ame Badha, co-written with Jyotindra Dave. He received the Gujarati literary awards Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1940 and the Narmad Suvarna Chandrak in 1957.
Ratilal Mohanlal Borisagar is a Gujarati humourist, essayist and editor from Gujarat, India. Born and educated in Savarkundla, he received a PhD in 1989. After working for some years as a teacher, he joined the state school textbook board until his retirement in 1998. He started his writing career as a story writer, but eventually gained acclaim as a humourist. He published several humour collections and humour novels, including the acclaimed book Enjoygraphy. He edited several works of children's literature and humour literature. In 2019, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his essay collection, Mojma Revu Re.
Chimanlal Narandas Patel was an Indian writer, literary critic and translator from Gujarat, India. He received the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 2000 for his contribution to Gujarati literature.
Chasani, is a 2019 Indian Gujarati film directed by Abhinn Sharma and Manthan Purohit. The film is produced by Jayesh Patel, Munna Shukul and Shikha Sharma under the banners Sagar S Sharma Productions and Shukul Showbiz. Veer Vashisht has written the story. The film has an ensemble cast of Manoj Joshi, Sejal Shah, Divyang Thakkar, Maira Doshi and Ojas Rawal.
Jayant Jhaverchand Meghani was an Indian editor, translator and bookman from Gujarat, India. He was the fifth son of Gujarati writer Jhaverchand Meghani whose several works he edited.
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.
Hemu Gadhavi, also spelled Hemu Gadhvi, was a Gujarati singer, songwriter, composer, playwright, and actor. He was an exponent of folk-music of Saurashtra.
