Gujarati Literature

Gujarati literature, an essential component of the Indo-Aryan linguistic family, evolved from Gurjar Apabhramsa. Its development is broadly classified into the Medieval period (11th–18th century) dominated by devotional poetry, and the Modern period (19th century onwards) influenced by Western education and the Indian freedom struggle.

The Early and Medieval Period (11th to 14th Century)

The earliest literary works in Gujarati were heavily influenced by Jainism, as Jain monks used the local dialect to propagate religious teachings.

• Rasas and Phagus: These were the primary literary forms. Bharateswara Bahubali Rasa (1185 AD) by Salibhadra Suri is considered the first major work in Gujarati.
• Hemachandracharya: A towering scholar of the Solanki era, his work Siddha-Hema-Shabdanushasana laid the grammatical foundation for the language.
• Prabandha: Narrative poems like Kanhadade Prabandha (1455 AD) by Padmanabha provide historical accounts of the resistance against Alauddin Khalji’s invasion.

The Bhakti Era: The Golden Age of Poetry

From the 15th to the 17th century, Gujarati literature was synonymous with the Bhakti movement. This era saw the rise of iconic saint-poets who moved literature from the royal courts to the village squares.

Narasinh Mehta (The Adi Kabi)

The 15th-century poet-saint Narasinh Mehta is the most celebrated figure in Gujarati literature.

• Major Works: Sudama Charitra, Chaturi, and the famous bhajan Vaishnav Jan To, which was a favorite of Mahatma Gandhi.
• Contribution: He introduced the Prabhatiya (morning hymns) and shifted the focus toward Krishna Bhakti.

Mirabai

While also claimed by Rajasthani and Hindi literature, Mirabai’s contributions to Gujarati are significant. Her padas (verses) expressing intense devotion to Lord Krishna are characterized by emotional depth and simplicity of language.

Premanand Bhatt and the Akhyana Tradition

In the 17th century, Premanand Bhatt refined the Akhyana (storytelling through song and verse).

• The Manbhat Tradition: Premanand was a Manbhat, a storyteller who played a copper pot (Man) to provide rhythm while reciting epics.
• Key Works: Nalakhyana, Okhaharan, and Dasham Skandha.

Key Literary Forms of Medieval Gujarat

Transition to Modernity: The 19th Century Renaissance

The contact with British education led to the “Arvachin” (Modern) period. This era was marked by the emergence of social reformist literature.

• Narmad (Narmadashankar Lalshankar): Often called the father of modern Gujarati prose. He compiled the first Gujarati dictionary (Narmakosh) and his poem Jai Jai Garvi Gujarat is now the state anthem.
• Dalpatram: A contemporary of Narmad who focused on social reform through humor and traditional meters. He worked closely with Alexander Kinloch Forbes to preserve Gujarati heritage.
• Govardhanram Tripathi: His four-volume epic novel Saraswatichandra is considered a masterpiece, reflecting the conflict between traditional Indian values and Western modernity.

The Gandhian Era (1915–1947)

Mahatma Gandhi’s return to India transformed Gujarati literature. He advocated for a simple, direct style of writing that the common man could understand.

• Mahatma Gandhi: His autobiography, Satyana Prayogo (The Story of My Experiments with Truth), is a landmark in Gujarati prose.
• K.M. Munshi: A prolific writer and founder of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. His historical trilogy (Patan ni Prabhuta, Gujarat no Nath, and Rajadhiraj) romanticized the Solanki period of Gujarat.
• Jhaverchand Meghani: Known as the Zaveri of Folk Literature, he was titled ‘Rashtriya Shayar’ (National Poet) by Gandhi. His work Saurashtra ni Rasdhar preserved the folk oral traditions of Kathiawar.
• Umashankar Joshi: A giant of modern Indian literature who won the Jnanpith Award for Nishith. He was known for his exploration of universal humanism.

Post-Independence and Contemporary Trends

Post-1947 literature moved toward existentialism, surrealism, and the exploration of the inner self.

• Pannalal Patel: A recipient of the Jnanpith Award, his novel Manvini Bhavai depicts the struggle for survival during a famine with deep rural empathy.
• Suresh Joshi: The pioneer of the modernist movement in Gujarati, who emphasized “form” over “content” and introduced Western literary theories.
• Dalit and Feminist Literature: Writers like Joseph Macwan (Angaliyat) and Kundanika Kapadia (Saat Pagala Aakashma) brought marginalized voices and gender issues to the forefront.

Fact Sheet for UPSC Aspirants

• First Printing Press: Established in Gujarat in 1824 by the American Mission.
• Gujarat Vernacular Society: Founded in 1848 by Alexander Forbes and Dalpatram to promote the language.
• Jnanpith Award Winners:
  1. Umashankar Joshi (1967)
  2. Pannalal Patel (1985)
  3. Rajendra Shah (2001)
  4. Raghuveer Chaudhari (2015)
• Linguistic Trivia: Gujarati is derived from Shauraseni Prakrit and was historically written in a script similar to Devanagari but without the upper horizontal line (Shirorekha).
• Major Literary Organizations: Gujarat Sahitya Sabha (Ahmedabad) and Gujarat Sahitya Akademi (Gandhinagar).
• The ‘Vidhyapith’ Influence: Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Gandhi, played a crucial role in standardizing Gujarati spelling and grammar.