Kumarpal Desai facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kumarpal Desai
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| Born | Kumarpal Balabhai Desai 30 August 1942 Ranpur (now in Botad district, Gujarat), India |
| Pen name | Desain in 2017 |
| Occupation | writer, critic, columnist, translator |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Education |
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| Alma mater | Gujarat University |
| Notable awards |
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| Spouse | Pratima |
| Children | 2 sons |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Anandghana: A Study with Special Reference to Anandghana Bavisi |
| Doctoral advisor | Dhirubhai Thaker |
Kumarpal Balabhai Desai is a famous writer, critic, and journalist from Gujarat, India. He has also worked as an editor and translator. He studied and later taught at Gujarat University. He is part of many social and literary groups, like the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. Kumarpal Desai has written and edited over a hundred books. These include life stories and many books about Jainism. In 2004, he received the Padma Shri award, which is a very high honor in India.
Contents
His Early Life
Kumarpal Desai was born on August 30, 1942, in Ranpur. His father was Balabhai Desai, who was also a well-known Gujarati writer named Jaybhikhkhu. His mother's name was Jayaben. His family originally came from Sayla.
He went to H. K. Arts College. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1963. Then, he completed his Master of Arts (MA) degree in 1965. Both degrees were from Gujarat University, where he focused on Gujarati language.
A Teacher and Scholar
In 1965, Kumarpal Desai started working as a professor at Navgujarat College in Ahmedabad. He earned his PhD in 1980. His research was about the writer Anandghan, and his guide was Dhirubhai Thaker.
In 1983, he joined the Gujarati Literature Department at the School of Languages, Gujarat University. He became a Reader in 1988 and a Professor in 2000. From 2001 to 2004, he was the Head of the Department and later the Director of the School of Languages. He also served as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts for two years. Many students earned their PhDs under his guidance. They studied topics like Jain philosophy, Gujarati journalism, and peace. He even worked as a sports commentator! Today, he is a Professor Emeritus at Vishwabharati Institute, Ladnu.
His Writing Journey
Kumarpal Desai began writing when he was only eleven years old. His very first short story appeared in a children's weekly magazine called Zagmag. He was inspired by his father, Jaybhikhukhu, and other great writers. Some of these writers include Jhaverchand Meghani and Dhumketu.
His first book, Vatan, Tara Ratan, was published while he was still in college. In 1962, he started writing a regular column in the newspaper Gujarat Samachar. His first book for children, a biography called Lal Gulab, came out in 1965. It was about Lal Bahadur Shastri. This book was very popular, and he later wrote a longer biography about Shastri called Mahamanav Shastri in 1966. He has written many other biographies since then. He also created a funny character for children's books named Damodar Mehta.
Kumarpal Desai has held important positions in literary organizations. He was the president of the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad and the Gujarat Sahitya Sabha. He also served as the vice-president of Gujarat Vidyasabha and Gujarat Sahitya Akademi. He is currently a Managing Trustee for the Institute of Jainology, India. He is also a Director of the Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust.
He writes five weekly columns in the Gujarati daily newspaper Gujarat Samachar. These columns have interesting names like Int ane Imarat and Aakaash Ni Olakh.
What He Has Written
Kumarpal Desai has written a lot of books!
Gujarati Books
He has written many short stories. Some of his collections are Ekante Kolahal (1976) and Suvarna Mruga (1985). His only novel, Anahata, was published in 2019. It tells the story of Kunti from the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata.
He has also written books where he shares his thoughts on literature, called criticism. Examples include Sabdasannidhi (1980) and Bhavan-Vibhavan (1986). He has done research on old writings too, like Apragat Madhyakalin Kritio (1982).
Kumarpal Desai has edited many books for other writers. He edited Ekvismi Sadinu Bal Sahitya (2000), which is about children's literature of the 21st century. He also edited books about his father's religious stories.
He has published collections of essays that make you think. Some of his inspiring essays are in books like Zakal Banyu Moti (1983) and Jeevan nu Amrut (1996).
He has written many biographies, which are life stories of real people. These include Apang Na Ojas (1973) and Veer Rammurti (1976).
Books for Children
Kumarpal Desai has written many books especially for young readers. His children's biography of Lal Bahadur Shastri, Lal Gulab, came out in 1965. Other fun books for kids include Vatan Tara Ratan (1965), Dahyo Damaro (1967), and Haiyu Nanu, Himat Moti (1976). He has also written stories about brave characters like Parakrami Ram (1977) and Veer Hanuman (1978). He even wrote books about animals, like Chalo Pashuo Ni Duniyaman (1980).
He translated a play called The Bride into Gujarati, naming it Navavadhu (2000). He has also written two books about journalism.
English and Hindi Books
Kumarpal Desai has written several books in English, mostly about Jainism. Some of these are Stories from Jainism (1988), Bhagvan Mahavir (1990), and Non-Violence – A way of life (1990). He also wrote books in Hindi, such as Jin Shashan Ki Kirtigatha (1999).
Books on Jainism
Kumarpal Desai is an expert on Indian culture, Jainism, and Jain literature. He often gives talks about Jain philosophy in India and other countries.
He has written many books specifically about Jainism. These include Anandghan – A Study (1980), which is about the writer Anandghan. He also wrote Bhagwan Mahavir – Life and principles of Lord Mahavir (1990), about Mahavira. Other books are Bhagwan Rishabhdev (1983) and Moti Ni Kheti (1983), which contains religious tales from Jainism. He has also edited books related to Jainism, like Jaybhikhkhu Ni Jain Dharmakathao.
Awards and Recognition
Kumarpal Desai has received many important awards for his work. In 2004, he was given the Padma Shri. This is the fourth highest award for civilians in India.
He also received the Jain Ratna Award in 2001 and the Gujarat Ratna award. Other honors include the Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak (2001), the Hemchandracharya Award (2002), and the Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar (2009). In 2015, he was awarded the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak. In 2019, the Sahitya Akademi gave him the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for his great work in Gujarati children's literature.
About His Family
Kumarpal Desai is married to Pratima. They have two sons named Kaushal and Nirav.
See also
- List of Gujarati-language writers
