Chandrakant Bakshi

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Chandrakant Bakshi
Chandrakant Bakshi.jpg
Bakshi at Kolkata, 2003
Born(1932-08-20)20 August 1932
Palanpur, Gujarat, India
Died25 March 2006(2006-03-25) (aged 73)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
OccupationAuthor
Language Gujarati
NationalityIndian
Notable works Paralysis (1967)
SpouseBakula Bakshi
ChildrenReeva
Signature
Chandrakant Bakshi Signature.svg

Chandrakant Keshavlal Bakshi was an Indian Gujarati-language author from Gujarat, India and a former Sheriff of Mumbai. He was known for his bold and new concepts in writing during his time in Gujarati literature. He is also addressed as Bakshi or Bakshibabu. Born in Palanpur, he completed higher education and had a business in Calcutta. He started writing there and later moved to Mumbai for his teaching career. He wrote 178 books, and wrote extensively in newspaper columns.

Contents

Life

Bakshi's home in Palanpur where he was born Home of Chandrakant Baxi.jpg
Bakshi's home in Palanpur where he was born

Chandrakant Bakshi was born on 20 August 1932 at Palanpur (now in Banaskantha district, Gujarat). [1] He was second child of Keshavlal Bakshi and Chanchalben, a Gujarati Jain family. He completed his primary education in Palanpur. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta. He moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) where he studied for an LL.B. in 1956 and an M.A. in History in 1963. [2]

He was in the textile business for twelve years and had a garment shop in Calcutta. He wrote his first short story Makan Nu Bhut (Ghost of the House) at this shop. He published his first book Padgha Doobi Gaya (Sunken Echoes) in 1957. [3] In 1969, he moved to Mumbai and settled there and started teaching history at Raheja College. He joined Mithibai College as a professor of history and politics from 1970 to 1980. He also taught postgraduate students at the University of Bombay and was its senate member. He was the principal of L. S. Rajani Arts and Commerce College from 1980 to 1982 and retired from there. Later he accepted writing and journalism as his career. He wrote columns for several dailies and magazines. He also served as an adviser to Divya Bhaskar daily. [1] [2]

He was appointed to the ceremonial post of Sheriff of Mumbai in 1999 by the Government of Maharashtra. [3] He died on 25 March 2006 in Ahmedabad following a heart attack. [1] [4] [5]

Writing

Style

Bakshi prepared only one draft for his writings. His language was a mix-up of Gujarati and Urdu words. His novels and stories had impact of existentialism, his characters are suffering and frustrated yet surviving. Ekra (1963) is one such example. In his novels, the story was a chief element. He rejected social and literary taboos in his novels but his works were concerned for readers. He freely borrowed words and phrases from Hindi, Urdu and English in his works. [6] He wrote historical fiction like Atitvan and Ayanvritta. His short stories have themes like complexities of urban life, emotional outbursts, and the atmosphere of war. He wrote extensively on history and culture. According to Rediff, his writing was 'sharp and brutal' when he criticised people he disliked. His biography Bakshinama was partially published in serialised form in Gujarati daily Samkalin. Some parts were not published due to its violent imagery like urinating on the dead body of his enemy. [4] [5]

Works

He is best known for his sixth novel Paralysis published in 1967, which revolves around protagonist Professor Shah who becomes paralyzed and reminisces about his past life events in hospital. The novel is translated in Marathi, English and Russian. Another well known non-fiction book he authored is મહાજાતિ ગુજરાતી (Gujarati - A great race), a book on the traditions, characteristics and behavior of the various castes of Gujarat.

He authored 178 books, including 17 books on history and culture, 26 novels, 15 collections of short stories, six books on politics, eight travelogues, two plays and 25 books on varied subjects, besides his autobiography Bakshinama. [1] [5]

He has also written extensively in newspapers and 15 of his books have been translated into Hindi, Marathi, English and other languages. [1] [4] [5]

His works are as follows: [5] [7]

Short stories

NameYearEnglish meaning
Pyar1958Love
Ek sanjh ni mulaquat1961Meeting at one evening
Mira1965
Mashal1968 Lamp
Kramashaha1971 To be continued
Ketlic American vartao1972Some American stories
Bakshini ketlic vartao1972Some stories by Bakshi
Pashchim1976West
Aajni soviet vartao1977Soviet stories of today
Chandrakant bakshi ni shreshth vartao1977Greatest stories by Chandrakant Bakshi
139 vartao-11987139 stories-First part
139 vartao-21987139 stories-Second part
Chandrakant bakshi : Sadabahar vartao2002Chandrakant Bakshi : Evergreen stories
Bakshi ni vartao(Akademi)has not been publishedStories of Bakshi(Academy)
KuttiBitch (female dog)

Novels

NameYearEnglish meaning
Padgha dubi gaya1957Sunken Echoes
Roma1959Roma
Ekaltana kinara1959Shores of Solitude
Aakar1963 Shapes
Ek ane Ek1965One and one
Paralysis 1967 Paralysis
Jatakkatha1969Jataka Tales
Honeymoon1971Honeymoon
Ayanvrutt1972The Equator, Transition of events from Prehistoric to Historic era spanning over 10,000 years narrated in fictional style
Atitavan1973In the Timberland of Ancient Time, a sequel to Ayanvrutt, yet another novel blending fiction and historical account
Lagnani aagli rate1973On the night prior to marriage
Zindani1974The prison
Surkhab1974 Pelican
Aakashe kahyu1975Sky told
Reef Marina1976Reef Marina
Yatra no ant (translated)1976End of the tour
Dishatarang1979Wave of the direction
Baki raat1979Remaining night
Hatheli par Badbaki1981Deduction on palm
Hu, Konarak Shah1983I, Konarak Shah
Lili nasoma Pankhar1984Translated as "Lost Illusions", literally meaning Autumn in every leaf, translated as पतझड हर पत्ते में in Hindi
Vansh1986Descent
Priy Nikki1987Dear Nikki
Chorus1991
Maru naam taru naam1995My name Your name
Samkaal1998Contemporaneous

Columns

He wrote weekly columns in several Gujarati newspapers and magazines including Divya Bhaskar , Gujarat Samachar , Sandesh , Mid-Day , Chitralekha .[ citation needed ]

Adaptations

His popular short story 'એક સાંજની મુલાકાત ... ' (One evening visit) was adapted into a telefilm "Ek Shaam Ki Mulakaat" by Tigmanshu Dhulia. It was the first episode of acclaimed Indian television series Star Bestsellers, aired on Star Plus in 1999–2000. The main leads were played by Irrfan Khan and Tisca Chopra.

Controversies

His short story Kutti was banned by the Government of Gujarat and an arrest warrant was issued against him; so he fought a court case against the government. They later withdrew all charges against him. [4] [3] [5]

He criticised Indian politician, Bal Thackeray in his column and was asked to apologise by Thackeray's party members. He refused and never did. [4]

His autobiography Bakshinama was adapted into a Gujarati play, Hu Chandrakant Bakshi , by Shishir Ramavat. It was directed by Manoj Shah and starred Pratik Gandhi in the lead role. [8]

Personal life

He married Bakula, who died in 2002. Their daughter Reeva Bakshi lives in Ahmedabad. [1] [4] His elder brother Lalit and younger brother Bakul, a retired I. A. S. officer, are also columnists.

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References

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  2. 1 2 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. 163–170. ISBN   978-93-5108-247-7.
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  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Well-known Gujarati writer Chandrakant Bakshi dead". Rediff News. 26 March 2006. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
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  7. Introduction of Samkal(Novel)
  8. Seta, Keyur (1 October 2013). "Review: Hu Chandrakant Bakshi – Meet the bold and rebellious author". My Theatre Cafe. Archived from the original on 26 May 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2015.