Nakar was a 16th-century Gujarati poet from Gujarat who wrote several Akhyanas. [1]
Very little is known about his life as his verses are the only source regarding his life. His lived in sixteenth century, though it was initially believed that he lived in seventeenth century. He belonged to Disaval Bania caste and lived in Vadodara. He wrote several Akhyana which were recited in public by Manabhatt (professional storytellers belonging to Brahmin caste) as only Brahmins were allowed to do so. [1] [2] [3] [4]
He wrote several poems but only seven are published. Most of them are in Akhyana form to be recited by professional storytellers. He did not write poems in metres but in local tunes (ragas) like Ramagri, Ashavari and Sameri. He wrote Harishchandrakhyan (1516, Vikram Samvat 1572) in Umreth based on story of Harishchandra. His other works include Shiva-vivah (marriage of Shiva, 1544), Chandrahasakhyan, Lavkushakhyan, Dhruvakhyan (1544), Mrigalisamvad, Bhiladi na Bar Mas. Shiva-vivah and Dhruvakhyan were written earlier than 1544 but a Brahmin for whom he wrote was not pleased with its short form so he rewrote and expanded them in 1544. Bhaktamal is about saints of Gujarat which resemble Sadhu Charita of Vasto. [1] [5]
Chimanlal Trivedi has published a Ph. D. thesis Kavi Nakar - Ek Adhyayan (1966) on him and his published and unpublished works. The followups to this work are included in Nakar (1979) of Gujarati Granthkar series as well as in Gujarati Sahityano Itihas - Volume 2. [6]
Narsinh Mehta, also known as Narsinh Bhagat, was a 15th-century poet-saint of Gujarat, India, honored as the first poet, or Adi Kavi, of the Gujarati language. Narsinh Mehta is member of Nagar Brahman community. Narsinh became a devotee of Krishna, and dedicated his life to composing poetic works described as bhakti, or devotion towards Krishna. His bhajans have remained popular in Gujarat and Rajasthan for over 5 centuries. Most notably, his composition Vaishnav Jan To was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite and became popular with freedom fighters across India.
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.
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Chimanlal Shivshankar Trivedi was a Gujarati critic and editor from Gujarat, India.
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