Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar (Sahitya Gaurav Award)
1 appearances
-
Edition 28 (2009) Winner
Kumarpal Desai
クマールパル・デサイ
Kumarpal Desai
Pen Names:
Desain（Pen name used for some works in 2017）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1942-08-30 （Ranpur (now in Botad district, Gujarat), India）
- Nationality
- India
- Languages
- Gujarati, English
- Religion
- Jainism
- Residence History
- Ranpur (birthplace) → Sayla (family origin) → Ahmedabad (academic and professional career)
Career
- Occupations
- writer, literary critic, columnist, translator, editor, university professor
- Active Years
- 1965-
- Affiliations
- Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, Gujarat Sahitya Sabha, Gujarat Sahitya Akademi (served as vice-president etc.), Institute of Jainology (Managing Trustee), Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust (Director), Gujarat University (former professor, head of department)
- Influenced By
- Father: Jaybhikhkhu (Balabhai Desai), Jhaverchand Meghani, Gunvantrai Acharya, Dhumketu (writer), Dula Bhaya Kag
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H. K. Arts College | — | Gujarati (major) | BA | 在学期間不明 | India |
| Gujarat University | — | Gujarati (major) | MA | 1963–1965（研究課程） | India |
| Gujarat University | — | Gujarati Literature | Ph.D. | 1970年代後半–1980 | India |
H. K. Arts College
Gujarati (major)
Degree:
BA
Period:
在学期間不明
Year of Graduation:
1963
Country:
India
Completed undergraduate studies (exact enrollment period unknown)
Gujarat University
Gujarati (major)
Degree:
MA
Period:
1963–1965（研究課程）
Year of Graduation:
1965
Country:
India
Master of Arts in Gujarati
Gujarat University
Gujarati Literature
Degree:
Ph.D.
Period:
1970年代後半–1980
Year of Graduation:
1980
Country:
India
PhD thesis on Anandghan (doctoral advisor: Dhirubhai Thaker)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Padma Shri | — | — | Government of India | 受賞 |
| 2001 | Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak | — | — | Dhanji Kanji Gandhi award (organizer details unclear) | 受賞 |
| 2009 | Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar | — | — | Sahitya Gaurav awarding body (Gujarat) | 受賞 |
| 2015 | Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak | — | — | Ranjitram award (literary body) | 受賞 |
| 2002 | Hemchandracharya Award | — | — | Awarding body details unclear | 受賞 |
| 2001 | Jain Ratna Award | — | — | Jain-related organization | 受賞 |
| 2019 | Bal Sahitya Puraskar | For contribution to Gujarati children's literature | — | Sahitya Akademi | 受賞 |
Padma Shri
2004
Organization:
Government of India
Result:
受賞
Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak
2001
Organization:
Dhanji Kanji Gandhi award (organizer details unclear)
Result:
受賞
Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar
2009
Organization:
Sahitya Gaurav awarding body (Gujarat)
Result:
受賞
Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak
2015
Organization:
Ranjitram award (literary body)
Result:
受賞
Hemchandracharya Award
2002
Organization:
Awarding body details unclear
Result:
受賞
Jain Ratna Award
2001
Organization:
Jain-related organization
Result:
受賞
Bal Sahitya Puraskar
2019
Work:
For contribution to Gujarati children's literature
Organization:
Sahitya Akademi
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak
1 appearances
-
Edition 88 (2015) Winner
Works
Major Works
Lal Gulab
1965 children's biographyA children's biography of Lal Bahadur Shastri; one of Desai's early successful works.
biographymodern Indian leaders
Mahamanav Shastri
1966 biographyA full-length biography of Lal Bahadur Shastri, published in 1966.
biographynational leadership
Ekante Kolahal
1976 short story collectionA collection of short stories compiling Desai's early short fiction.
everyday lifehuman observation
Anahata
2019 novelA novel recounting the story of Kunti from the Mahabharata; published in 2019 and noted as Desai's only novel.
mythfemale perspective
Anandghan: A Study
1980 research / literary criticismAn academic study on Anandghan derived from his doctoral research; part of Jain literature scholarship.
Jainismliterary study
Bibliography
- Lal Gulab (1965)
- Mahamanav Shastri (1966)
- Kede Katari, Khabhe Dhal (1969)
- Biradari (1971)
- Apang Na Ojas (1973)
- Ekante Kolahal (1976)
- Anandghan: A Study (1980)
- Moti Ni Kheti (1983)
- Bindu Banyu Moti (1986)
- Anahata (2019)
Translations by Author
- Translation of Austin Bukenya's play The Bride as Navavadhu
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- clear and accessible prosescholarly tone in criticism and researchexpository narration in children's books and biographies
- Recurring Motifs
- Jainism and religious philosophynon-violence (ahimsa)Indian culture and historybiographical focushumour and children's literature elements
Legacy
Kumarpal Desai is an important figure in Gujarati literature and Jain studies, contributing widely through biographies, criticism, children's literature and works on Jainism. He has been recognized with multiple literary and civilian awards.
Academic Societies
- Gujarati Sahitya Parishad
- Gujarat Sahitya Sabha
Archives
- Gujarat University archives
- Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust holdings
- Materials deposited with the Institute of Jainology
Trivia
- His father was the noted Gujarati writer Jaybhikhkhu (Balabhai Desai).
- He has written many biographies and children's books in addition to criticism and research.
- He has written columns for Gujarat Samachar since 1962 (e.g., Int ane Imarat).
- As an academic he supervised numerous PhD students researching Jain philosophy, Gujarati journalism and peace studies.
- Received the Sahitya Akademi's Bal Sahitya Puraskar in 2019 for contributions to Gujarati children's literature.
- Has published several works in English on Jainism and Indian culture.