Editor | Ichchharam Desai (1880–1912), Manilal Desai (1912–1929), Natwarlal Desai |
---|---|
Frequency | Weekly |
Circulation | 2500 (1885) |
Publisher | Kaisar-i-Hindi (1880–1885), Gujarati Printing Press (1885–1929) |
Founder | Ichcharam Desai |
First issue | 6 June 1880 |
Final issue | 15 December 1929 |
Country | British India |
Based in | Bombay (now Mumbai) |
Language | Gujarati |
Gujarati was a Gujarati language weekly published from 1880 to 1929 by Ichcharam Desai and his sons.
In late nineteenth century, the majority of Gujarati magazines in Bombay (now Mumbai) were published by Parsi people. With focus of catering Hindu people, the Gujarati weekly was launched. It was the first Gujarati magazine for Hindus. The first issue with eight pages was printed at Kaisar-i-Hind Press and published on 6 June 1880. The name Gujarati was suggested by poet Narmad to its editor Ichchharam Desai. The weekly published articles on political, social and literary subjects. It was also instrumental in spreading the views of the Indian National Congress. It published articles in simple, non-Sanskritized Gujarati language focusing on common people. [1] [2] It became very popular all over Gujarat and Kathiawad. [3]
The articles by Narmad published later in Dharmavichar were first appeared in Gujarati. Manilal Dwivedi's essay Nari Pratishtha was also first serialized in Gujarati as well as several historical novels by Kanaiyalal Munshi. In 1884, Gujarati Printing Press was established and Gujarati started being printed from there. Desai compiled and published Brihad Kavyadohan volume I—VIII (1886–1913), an anthology on medieval Gujarati poets and poetry, from Gujarati Press. Gujarati also published humour articles while the Gujarati Press published Sanskrit works and its commentaries. They also gifted books to their subscribers. In 1885, when Desai announced to gift his much discussed political novel Hind ane Britannia to each subscriber, the number swelled from 850–900 to 2500 subscribers. The weekly continued its publication between the financial distress and political interventions. After death of Desai, his elder son Manilal Desai edited the weekly. It published its last issue on 15 December 1929. After a brief period, Desai's second son Natwarlal revived the weekly for brief period but it published only religious articles. [1] [2] [4]
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.
Narmadashankar Lalshankar Dave, popularly known as Narmad, was an Indian Gujarati-language poet, playwright, essayist, orator, lexicographer and reformer under the British Raj. He is considered to be the founder of modern Gujarati literature. After studying in Bombay, he stopped serving as a teacher to live by writing. During his prolific career, he introduced many literary forms in Gujarati. He faced economic struggles but proved himself as a dedicated reformer, speaking loudly against religious and social orthodoxy. His essays, poems, plays and prose were published in several collections. His Mari Hakikat, the first autobiography in Gujarati, was published posthumously. His poem Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat is now the state anthem of Gujarat state of India.
Dalpatram Dahyabhai Travadi was a Gujarati language poet during 19th century in India. He was the father of Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi, a poet.
Tribhuvandas Purushottamdas Luhar, better known by his pen name Sundaram,, was a Gujarati poet and author from India.
Manilal Nabhubhai Dwivedi was a Gujarati-language writer, philosopher, and social thinker from British India, commonly referred to as Manilal in literary circles. He was an influential figure in 19th-century Gujarati literature, and was one of several Gujarati writers and educators involved in the debate over social reforms, focusing on issues such as the status of women, child marriage, and the question of whether widows could remarry. He held Eastern civilisation in high esteem, and resisted the influence of Western civilisation, a position which drew him into conflicts with other social reformers of a less conservative outlook. He considered himself a "reformer along religious lines".
Navalram Laxmiram Pandya was a Gujarati critic, playwright, poet, essayist, editor, educationist and a social reformer. He is considered to be a most important figure in modern Gujarati literature. The first humourist, the first historical dramatist, the first critic and a leading scholar of his age, Navalram was the first to herald the new generation of writers like Manilal Dwivedi, Govardhanram Tripathi and Narsinhrao Divetia. His writings covered numerous areas, including philosophy, patriotism, reformation, education, journalism, grammar and literature.
Manilal Bhagwanji Desai was a Gujarati poet from India.
Dhirubhai Premshankar Thaker was an Indian Gujarati writer, who was best known for creating the Gujarati Vishwakosh, a 25-volume encyclopedia of the Gujarati language.
Ichharam Suryaram Desai, also known by his pen name, Shankar, was a Gujarati author, anthologist and journalist. Though he did not complete his primary education, he worked with several newspapers and magazines and also wrote several novels, edited anthologies and translated classics.
The Media in Gujarati language started with publication of Bombay Samachar in 1822. Initially the newspapers published business news and they were owned by Parsi people based in Bombay. Later Gujarati newspapers started published from other parts of Gujarat. Several periodicals devoted to social reforms were published in the second half of the 19th century. After arrival of Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian independence movement peaked and it resulted in proliferation of Gujarati media. Following independence, the media was chiefly focused on political news. After bifurcation of Bombay state, the area of service changed. Later there was an increase in readership due to growth of literacy and the media houses expanded its readership by publishing more number of editions. Later these media houses ventured into digital media also. The radio and television media expanded after 1990.
Dhiru Ishwarlal Parikh was an Indian Gujarati poet, short story writer and critic. He was an editor of Kavilok and Kumar, Gujarati literary magazines.
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), and Narmad Suvarna Chandrak (2022).
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Manilal Haridas Patel is a Gujarati poet, essayist, novelist, and literary critic from Gujarat, India. He has won numerous awards for his work, including the 2007 Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak literary medal for his significant contributions to Gujarati literature.
Bhadrambhadra is a 1900 Gujarati satirical novel by Ramanbhai Neelkanth. It is regarded as the first humorous novel in Gujarati literature and as the first Gujarati novel written in the first person narrative. Ramanbhai used the novel to illustrate the ridiculousness of a highly orthodox view of Gujarati society and as a vehicle for social reform.
Balabhai Virchand Desai, better known by his pen name Jaybhikhkhu, was a Gujarati novelist, short story writer, playwright, essayist, and biographer from Gujarat, India. He is known for his historical novels.
Stribodh was a monthly journal/magazine in Gujarati language. Founded in 1857 by a group of social reformers, the journal was one of the earliest magazines aimed at a women's audience in India.
Sudarshan was a Gujarati magazine founded and edited by Indian writer Manilal Nabhubhai Dwivedi.
Uttamlal Keshavlal Trivedi was a Gujarati writer and translator from India.
Jnanasudha was a Gujarati magazine that ran from 1892 to 1919, in which Ramanbhai Neelkanth edited.