Suresh Joshi

Last updated

Suresh Joshi at the age of 29.jpg
Joshi at the age of 29
Suresh Joshi with Usha Joshi, Mumbai.jpg
Joshi with his wife Usha Joshi
Young Suresh Joshi
Building of Department of Gujarati, M. S. University Department of Gujarati at M S University.jpg
Building of Department of Gujarati, M. S. University

He was born in Valod, a small town near Bardoli in South Gujarat on 30 May 1921. He did his schooling from Songadh and Gangadhara. He matriculated from Navsari in 1938. He completed his BA in 1943 and MA from Elphinstone College in 1945. In the same year, he started teaching at D. J. Singh College in Karachi and later joined Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar in 1947. From 1951, he served as a lecturer, professor and later as Head of the Gujarati Department at the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara till his retirement in 1981. [1] [2] [3]

His early life was spent at Songadh which influenced his life. At the age of eight, he secretly published his poem in Baljeevan magazine. He edited Falguni magazine in his college life. Upjati (1956) was his first published work. He had also edited Manisha, Kshitij, Etad and Uhapoh magazines. [1] [2] [3] [4]

He died on 6 September 1986 due to kidney failure at Nadiad. [1] [3] [2]

Style

Joshi at the age of 45, Vadodara Suresh Joshi at the age of 45.jpg
Joshi at the age of 45, Vadodara

Joshi influenced many up-and-coming writers in the 1960s and 1970s. His personal essays "are said to have introduced a new prose style in Gujarati literature," according to Gujarati scholar Sarala Jag Mohan. [4] [3] He was influenced by efforts of experimentation in western literature. [5]

He was one of the chief exponents of experimentalist poetry in Gujarati, primarily through his literary criticism, rather than his poems. Under his influence, form, technique and structure became far more important considerations within Gujarati poetry. The torments of the individual and literary craftsmanship became more highly esteemed, but intelligibility, lyricism and musicality were valued less, as were social concerns of the writer and even the contents of the work, according to Deepak B. Mehta. [6]

Existentialism and phenomenology were prime interests of his. [3] [4]

Works

Suresh Joshi was a modernist author who led the modernist movement in Gujarati literature which emerged after 1955, the post-Gandhian era. [3] He is recognized as the father of modern Gujarati literature [5] and as the leader of avant-garde writers in Gujarati. [7] According to Gujarati critic Bharat Mehta, the period of Gujarati literature from 1975 to 2000 was highly influenced by Suresh Joshi. [8]

Upjati (1956), Pratyancha (1961), Itara (1973) and Tathapi (1980) are his poetry collections. He withdrew his first publication Upjati on his second publication. [1] [3] [4] Through his poems, he introduced obscurity and ambiguity to Gujarati literature. [9]

His four novels are collectively published as Kathachatushtay. Two of them, Chhinnapatra (1965) and Maranottar (1973) were already published before. Vidula and Kathachakra were published before with other short stories but Joshi considered them as novels and published again with other two. [1] [3] Chhinnapatra was translated into English by Tridip Suhrud as Crumpled letters (1998). [10]

He was very experimental in novellas. He transformed the genre in Gujarati literature by his continued experimentation and esthetics. Grihapravesh (1957), Biji Thodik Vartao (1958), Apich (1965), Na Tatra Suryo Bhati (1967), Ekda Naimisharanye (1980) are his collections of stories which include 62 novellas. His 21 stories were collected in Maniti Anmaniti (1982), edited by Shirish Panchal. [1] [3] [4] He promoted a theory of fiction known as Ghatanavilop which focuses on suggestive potential of language instead of plot element in fiction. [7]

Janantike (1965) is his first collection of essays. His other essay collections are Idam Sarvam (1971), Ahobat Kim Ashcharyam (1975), Iti Me Iti (1987). Bhavyami (1984) includes selected essays edited by Shirish Panchal from his more than thousand essays. [1] [3] [4] [11] Janantike was translated into English by V. Y. Kantak as Intimated Asides (1995). [12]

He was a reformer in field of literary criticism. His first work of criticism Kinchit (1960) rebelled against established norms. Gujarati Kavitano Aswad (1962), Kavyacharcha (1971), Kathopkathan, Shrunavantu (1972), Arunyarudan (1976), Chintayami Manasa (1983), Ashtamoahyay (1984) are his other collections of criticism. [1] [3] [4]

Madhyakalin Gyanmargi Kavyadharani Bhumika (1978) is his research work. Jananti Ye Kimapi (1984) is collection of six essays edited by him which focuses on new movement in literary criticism. He edited some anthologies; Navonmesh (1971), Narharini Gyangeeta (1978), Gujarati Sarjanatmak Gadya: Ek Sankalan (1981), Vastana Pado (1983). Parakiya (1975) is his collection of translation of fine world poetry. Dhire Vahe Chhe Don Volume I (1960) and Bhonytaliyano Adami (1967) are translations of Russian novels. Shikari Bandook ane Hajar Saraso (1975) is translation of Japanese stories. Ameriki Tunki Varta (1967) is translation of The Short Story in America by Raymond B. West. Amerikana Sahityano Itihas (1965) is translation of book by Marcus Cunliffe. He translated essays of Rabindranath Tagore in Panchamrut (1949) and Sanchay (1963). [1] [3]

Awards

He was awarded Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1971. [1] He refused to accept Sahitya Akademi Award in 1983 which was awarded to him for Chintayami Manasa. He said that,"The book contains nothing more than some stray essay. It is only critical articles based on European and American criticism, and not reflects his original critical thinking". [3] [7] He was awarded the Narmad Suvarna Chandrak for Janantike in 1965. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shirish Panchal</span>

Shirish Jagjivandas Panchal is a Gujarati critic, fiction writer, translator and editor. He won the 2009 Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati language for his criticism Vaat Aapanaa Vivechan-ni. He refused the award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramesh Parekh</span> Indian poet and lyricist

Ramesh Parekh (1940-2006) was a Gujarati poet and lyricist from Gujarat, India. He was one of the most popular poets of modern Gujarati poetry. Though government servant by profession, he had deep interest in literature and music. He contributed heavily in field of poetry including geet, ghazal and non-lyrical poetry. He also wrote stories and contributed in Gujarati children's literature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bholabhai Patel</span> Indian Gujarati author

Bholabhai Patel was an Indian Gujarati author. He taught numerous languages at Gujarat University and did comparative studies of literature in different languages. He translated extensively and wrote essays and travelogues. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramanlal Joshi</span> Indian literary critic and editor

Ramanlal Jethalal Joshi was Gujarati language literary critic and editor from India. He studied and later taught at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. He served at several literary and educational institutions. He edited, authored and published criticism in more than forty-two books. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi award in 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madhu Rye</span>

Madhu Rye is a Gujarati playwright, novelist and story writer. Born in Gujarat and educated at Calcutta, he started writing in the 1960s and became known for his stories and plays. His experience at the University of Hawaii introduced him to experimental writing and improvisations as writing aid, which later led to a movement against absurd theatre. He moved to the US in 1974 and has lived there since. He chiefly wrote novels, short stories and plays. His plays were successful and have been adapted into several languages and media. He has adapted his novels into plays and some plays into novels. The most notable is Kimball Ravenswood, which was loosely adapted into a Hindi TV series Mr. Yogi (1989), and a Hindi film, What's Your Rashee? (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pravin Darji</span> Gujarati Poet

Pravin Darji is Gujarati essayist, poet, critic and editor from India. He was awarded Padma Shri in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Himanshi Shelat</span>

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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suman Shah</span> Indian critic, short story writer, novelist, essayist, editor and translator

Suman Shah is a Gujarati language critic, short story writer, novelist, essayist, editor and translator from Gujarat, India. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2008 for his short story collection Fatfatiyun. He has written both in the modern and in the postmodern eras in Gujarati literature. He has authored more than 74 books, including 2 novels, 6 short story collections, 4 collections of creative essays, 6 translations into Gujarati from English and Hindi, 22 books on literary criticism and around 23 edited works of literary theory and modern Gujarati short stories and poems. He was honorary editor of Shabdasrishti from 1983 to 1986 and an editor of Khevna, a literary journal, from 1987 to 2009.

<i>Gujarati Tunki Vartama Pariveshni Karyasadhakta</i>

Gujarati Tunki Vartama Pariveshni Karyasadhakta is an analysis of Gujarati short stories that served as Rajesh Vankar's doctoral dissertation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrakant Sheth</span> Indian poet, essayist, critic, translator and compiler

Chandrakant Sheth is a Gujarati poet, essayist, critic, translator and compiler from Gujarat, India. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anil R. Joshi</span>

Anil Joshi is a Gujarati language poet and essayist from Gujarat, India. He won Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 1990 for his essay collection Statue (1988). His significant works include Kadach, Barafna Pankhi and Pavan Ni Vyaspithe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aniruddh Brahmabhatt</span> Indian poet

Aniruddh Lalji Brahmabhatt was a Gujarati writer from Gujarat, India. He was poet, critic, biographer and short story writer.

<i>Chintayami Manasa</i> 1983 Gujarati-language collection of essays by Suresh Joshi

Chintayami Manasa, published in 1983, is a critical work of essays in the Gujarati language by Indian writer Suresh Joshi. Joshi evaluated ideas based on European and American criticism, like new criticism, semiotics linguistics-oriented criticism, modernism, and postmodernism in the book. In 1983, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award for his book, which he refused to accept.

<i>Fero</i> (novel) 1968 Gujarati novel by Radheshyam Sharma

Fero is a Gujarati novel written by Radheshyam Sharma. It was published in 1968 by Rekha Prakashan in Ahmedabad. It is acclaimed in Gujarati literature for its experimental nature and is considered a literary milestone among modern Gujarati authors. It was followed by Sharma's similarly exploratory novel, Swapnatirtha.

<i>Chhinnapatra</i> 1965 Gujarati novel by Suresh Joshi

Chhinnapatra is a 1965 Gujarati novel by Suresh Joshi. The novel is composed in the form of letters written by protagonist Ajay, a creative writer. Considered to be a lyrical novel, it uses stream of consciousness technique.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramnarayan V. Pathak</span> Gujarati author from India

Ramnarayan Vishwanath Pathak was a Gujarati poet and writer from India. Profoundly influenced by Gandhian thought, Pathak wrote criticism, poetry, drama, metrics and short stories. He edited and translated literary works. He was appointed the president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad in 1946. He was awarded the Gujarati literary prizes Narmad Suvarna Chandrak for Prachin Gujarati Chhando in 1949 and Sahitya Akademi Award for Bruhat Pingal in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagdish Joshi (poet)</span> Indian poet

Jagdish Ramkrishna Joshi was a Gujarati poet and translator from India. He received a posthumous Sahitya Akademi Award in 1979 for his collection of poems, Vamal Na Van.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manilal H. Patel</span> Indian poet, essayist, novelist and literary critic

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.

<i>Janantike</i> 1965 collection of essays by Suresh Joshi

Janantike is a 1965 collection of personal essays by Indian writer Suresh Joshi. V.Y. Kantak translated it into English with the title Intimate Asides (1995).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharifa Vijaliwala</span> Indian critic and translator

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 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. 22–33. ISBN   978-93-5108-247-7.
  2. 1 2 3 "સુરેશ જોષી (Suresh Joshi)". Gujarati Sahitya Parishad . Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Panchal, Shirish (2004). Makers of Indian Literature: Suresh Joshi. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 2–66. ISBN   978-81-260-1922-9.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Mohan, Sarala Jag, Chapter 4: "Twentieth-Century Gujarati Literature" (Google books link), in Natarajan, Nalini, and Emanuel Sampath Nelson, editors, Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India, Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996, ISBN   978-0-313-28778-7, retrieved 10 December 2008
  5. 1 2 Sivasankari (1998). Knit India through literature. Eastwest Books. p. 279. ISBN   9788186852118.
  6. George, K. M., editor, Modern Indian Literature: An Anthology, published by Sahitya Akademi, 1992, ISBN   978-81-7201-324-0, Chapter: "Modern Gujarati Literature" by Deepak B. Mehta
  7. 1 2 3 G. N. Devy (1 January 2002). Indian Literary Criticism: Theory and Interpretation. Orient Blackswan. p. 184. ISBN   978-81-250-2022-6.
  8. Sahitya Akademi Annual Report 2004 - 2005. Sahitya Akademi. 2004. p. 75. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  9. Tripathi, Salil (16 February 2018). "A new generation of poets from Gujarat is keeping a rich poetic legacy alive". LiveMint . Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  10. Margaretta Jolly (4 December 2013). Encyclopedia of Life Writing: Autobiographical and Biographical Forms. London: Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers. p. 1087. ISBN   978-1-136-78744-7 . Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  11. National Book Trust (1997). Masterpieces of Indian literature. National Book Trust. p. 304. ISBN   978-81-237-1978-8.
  12. "'માનવીની ભવાઈ'નો સુંદર અંગ્રેજી અનુવાદ -Navgujarat Samay". Navgujarat Samay (in Gujarati). 24 May 2014. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  13. Trivedi, Ramesh M. (2015). Arvachin Gujarati Sahityano Itihasઅર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઇતિહાસ[History of Modern Gujarati Literature] (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Adarsh Prakashan. p. 415. ISBN   978-93-82593-88-1.

Further reading

Suresh Joshi
Suresh Joshi in 1955.jpg
Joshi in 1955, Mumbai
BornSuresh Hariprasad Joshi
(1921-05-30)30 May 1921
Valod, Bardoli, Bombay presidency, British India
Died6 September 1986(1986-09-06) (aged 65)
Nadiad, Gujarat, India
Occupation
  • Novelist
  • short-story writer
  • critic
  • poet
  • translator
  • essayist
Language Gujarati
NationalityIndian
Alma mater Elphinstone College
Notable works
Notable awards
Signature
Suresh Joshi autograph.svg
Academic background
Thesis A Critical Edition of Jnanagita (1616 A. D.) of Narahari
Doctoral advisor Bhogilal Sandesara