book review in gujarati

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Best Gujarati Books To Read

Want to know Best Gujarati Books To Read? Well you have landed on the right article. Reading books has become one of the most popular hobbies, especially since lockdown. Reading books from different genres allows the reader to gain more knowledge and build up a strong vocabulary. There are many books that contain essential information related to history or science. There are many books available in different languages. There are many Gujarati language books that consist of life-changing stories and lessons for readers.  Many Gujarati books provide a clear perspective and also a lot of information about historical events. Gujarati novels are widely popular and are rich in culture. Many famous Gujarati writers such as  Ashwini Bhatt, K.M Munshi, Amrita Pritam, etc  have written books of various genres such as thrillers, romance, suspense, and many more. Autobiographies of many  Gujarati leaders, especially Mahatma Gandhi,  are also very popular and widely read across the country.

List of 15 Best Gujarati Books To Read

1. saraswatichandra.

Saraswatichandra is a Gujarati novel written by Govardhanram Tripathi. This book is set in the 19th-century feudalism that occurred in India. This novel has three more sequels and was written over a period of over 15 years. The first part of Saraswatichandra was published in 1887 followed by three more sequels in 1892, 1898, and 1902 respectively. This Gujarati novel costs Rs. 700 in paperback and Rs. 588 in Kindle edition. 

Saraswatichandra has a total number of 1184 pages and was originally written in the Gujarati language. It has been translated into several languages since then. Synopsis: Set in late-nineteenth-century India, this is the story of an educated and spiritual young man at a crossroads in his life. Despite being betrothed to and in love with Kumud, he calls off their engagement due to escalating familial tensions and flees Bombay to learn about his country and seek enlightenment. You can purchase the novel Saraswatichandra from these websites:

This novel is also available as Audiobook:

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2. The Five Brothers

The Five Brothers is the third part of a seven-volume sequel written on Krishna's life and his adventures named- Krishnavatara. The Five Brothers is a third volume that ends with the swayamvar of Draupadi. The author of this book is K.M Munshi. The Five Brothers novel was initially published on 26th January 1968 by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and consists of 632 pages. The price of this book ranges between Rs. 300 to 500. This Gujarati novel has been translated into many other languages and is widely available in English as well. 

Synopsis: Krishnavatara is a seven-volume narrative that revolves around Krishna's life and travels and weaves a romance into it. He was smart and valiant, loving and loved, foresightful but present, graced with sage-like detachment yet intensely human; the diplomat, sage, and man of action with a personality as dazzling as a divinity's. You can purchase the novel The Five Brothers from these websites:

• Exotic India

Othaar is a very popular Gujarati novel written by Ashwini Bhatt. This novel describes the struggle of the freedom fighters and the journey they went through against the Britishers. The whole adventure in the novel is beautifully described and that would make you more interested to read the second part of the book. Othaar was originally published in Gujarati language and it consists of 955 pages. 

Othaar was first published in 1984. The Gujarati novel comes in sets of two, its sequel as well. The set costs around Rs. 850-900. Synopsis: The story revolves around the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The stories about Kings, British Raj, and freedom fighters of the 1850s are beautifully portrayed in this book. It has a beautiful description of the locations of Jabalpur. It talks about love stories, romance with suspense and thrill. You can purchase the novel Othaar and its sequel from these websites:

4. Himalayano Pravas

Himalayano Pravas is a great book that describes the Himalayas and their inner beauty. You can read the in-depth details of the Himalayas by peacefully sitting at home. The author of the book Himalayano Pravas is Kakasaheb Kalelkar. This book was originally written in Gujarati language and consists of 233 pages . The publisher of this book is Navjivan Trust . The price range of this book is Rs. 70-94.

Synopsis: This book is about a pilgrim's journey. This is a great book about the Himalayas, according to all sources. It also demonstrates the majestic mountain range's inherent beauty. The author walked over the Himalayan range on foot (Uttarakhand). Over the course of two months, the physical adventure described here unfolded. The travelog describes in great depth the stunning magnificence of the Himalayas, as well as the places and people that live there. It evokes the surreal beauty of the Himalayan valley. The Himalayas will pique your attention after reading this book. You can purchase the novel Himalayano Pravas and its sequel from these websites:

5. Manvini bhavai

Manvini Bhavai is a Gujarati novel written by Pannalal Patel that describes the period during the Indian famine of 1899 to 1900. This novel is about the love story between Kalu and Raju and also about the experience of farmers during the famine. This novel was originally written in Gujarati language and translated to English by V.Y Kantak in 1995. This novel was also adapted into a Gujarati movie scene in 1993 . This book consists of 382 pages and costs between Rs. 260-308.

Synopsis: In Manvi Ni Bhavai, Kalu, the son of Vala Patel, and Raju, the daughter of Gala Patel, fall in love. They are in love and want to marry one other, but both have other commitments. Patel's love story takes place during the Indian famine of 1899-1900, and the novel's closing scene ends with the first drops of rain, symbolizing the end of the hunger. You can purchase the novel Manvini Bhavai and its sequel from these websites:

6. Satya Na paryogo

Satya Na paryogo is all about the experiences of Mahatma Gandhi , and the hardships and struggles to live in an independent India. This book describes Mahatma’s path of non-violence and truth towards independence. This book is an autobiography written by Mahatma Gandhi and consists of 210 pages. Satya Na Paryogo was originally written in the Gujarati language. It was originally published in 1927 by Navjivan.

Synopsis: The book's first page announces a pact he made with his readers, outlining both the circumstances and his motivations for creating it. Following that is a chronologically organized series, beginning with a genealogical description of his forefathers. He then goes into great depth regarding his childhood and youth, his stay in South Africa , and his activities since returning to India. In 1921, four years before he began writing his memoirs, the story abruptly ended. His rejection of the popular praise he received at the Indian National Congress conference in Nagpur is the subject of the concluding chapter. Gandhi's self-experimentation is described in the book as he pursued his quest for truth, which he defined as truth for him. You can purchase the autobiography Satya Na prayogo from these websites:

7. Nirja bhargav

Nirja Bhargav is a Gujarati Novel that consists of a thriller and suspense story. This is one of the best Gujarati novels written by Ashwini Bhatt. This novel comes under the category of thrill and suspense. Nirja Bhargav consists of 226 pages and was originally written in the Gujarati language. It was published in 2012 by Navbharat. The price range of this book is Rs. 160 to 200. Synopsis: Nirja Bhargav is the protagonist of this narrative. At the stroke of midnight, who knocks on the door of a station master? 

He conceals her and discovers a body on his bed. Following that, a series of events occurs involving the police and the drug mafia, as well as other characters such as Dr. Bhargav and Dr. Malu, among others. You can purchase the novel Nirja Bhargav from these websites:

8. Malela Jeev

Malela Jeev is a romantic novel that describes the difficulties people face when they are in love and belong to different castes. This book beautifully portrays the real face of society when it comes to such situations. Malela Jeev is written by Pannalal Patel and was originally published in the 1940s. It was written in Gujarati language and later translated into many languages. This book consists of 272 pages and is a classic novel. 

This book comes within the price range of Rs. 175-220. Synopsis: Caste divisions Kanji and Jivi dwell in Idar's Jogipara and Udharia villages. They met and fell in love during the Janmashtami Fair. Because they came from different castes, they couldn't marry. Social obligations also exist at Kanji's elder brother's house. He, on the other hand, is drowning without Jivi. Hiro, one of Jivi's friends, advises him to marry Dhula, the barber who works in their neighbourhood. Kanji finally decides to marry Jivi to Dhula with Hira after a protracted psychological war. His strategy, on the other hand, fails to provide the desired outcomes. Because of Dhula's suspicious nature, tyranny, and mistreatment of Jivi, Kanji's scheme fails. Kanji's indecisiveness and God-fearing attitude also play a role in his demise. In order to evade Jivi, Kanji moves from the rural to the city. Jivi, meantime, has had enough of the daily squabbles and beatings, and has attempted suicide. Her tyrannical husband Dhulo, on the other hand, is accidently killed, and she has an emotional collapse while grieving for her beloved Kanji. Kanji's earthly love blossomed into spiritual love, and he returned to the city to be with Jivi. You can purchase the novel Malela Jeev from these websites:

Pinjar is a Gujarati novel written by Amrita Pritam. It is one of the best Gujarati novels which consists of 128 pages. It was originally written in the Gujarati language. It is a classic fiction book. The price for this book is around Rs.134. It is also available in the Hindi language. Synopsis : Puro, a Hindu girl kidnapped by a Muslim man, is the novel's key character. This story takes place during the partition of India and Pakistan. Puro is kidnapped and taken away from her home by Rashid. 

She is able to get away from the hum and return to her house. Puro's parents, on the other hand, will refuse to adopt the tainted daughter if she escapes Rashid's house. You can purchase the novel Pinjar from these websites:

Gandhi is also a Gujarati novel written by Gunvant B. Shah. The book consists of 353 pages and is originally written in Gujarati language.  The price of the book is around 200 and is also available in Hindi Language. The book talks about the life of Gandhiji and how he fought for the nation during British rule. Synopsis: The text is divided into separate significant headings by the author. In the first section, he discusses some of Gandhi's ideals with which the new generation or current generation will strongly disagree. 

Cow protection, celibacy, and other views are among them. He then goes on to discuss some of Mahatma's strengths in the next part. One of them is maintaining the highest level of integrity in the face of adversity. Another would be the ability to live a life that is transparent and open at all times. The book can be purchased from these websites:

11. Jai Somnath

Jai Somnath is a very famous historical novel written by K.M Munshi . It is a very inspirational novel that was originally written in the Gujarati language. It consists of all the historical wars and invaders that came to India. This novel consists of 264 pages and costs between Rs. 186-200. Synopsis: Lord Somanath's shrine at Prabhas is a highly holy place where people come for darshan and prayers. When the narrative begins, Chaula is a very young temple dancer. She is only eighteen years old, yet she has the privilege of dancing in front of the Lord on a special day.

Everyone congratulates her. She meets Bheemdev and immediately falls in love with him. The temple is destroyed by Mahmud of Ghazni, and this book tells the narrative of how the temple was destroyed. You can purchase the novel Jai Somnath from these websites:

12. Shailaji Sagar

Shailaja Sagar is a fiction book that is written by Ashwini Bhatt. This book was originally written in Gujarati language and it consists of 171 pages. It was published in 1979 by Navbharat Sahitya Mandir. Ashwini Bhatt has written many popular Gujarati novels that have gained a lot of attention. Synopsis: The phone rings on the inflated mattress floating in the swimming pool, ringing the bell, as if the devil had joined hands with Shailaja, and an earthquake shook Shailaja's life. Shailaja-Sanjeev, Prema-Inderjit's story slips into a realm in which one has to wield a dagger to survive and a pistol to make one's way ......!

You can purchase the novel, Shailaja Sagar, from these websites:

13. The Book Of Yudhishthira

The Book Of Yudhishthira is the seventh part of a seven-volume sequel written on Krishna's life and his adventures named- Krishnavatara. The Book Of Yudhishthira is based on religion and spirituality.  The author of this book is K.M. Munshi. This book consists of 262 pages and is published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The price of this book ranges from Rs.260-to 320. Synopsis: This book covers the major events leading up to the Kuruskshetra battle and concludes with the battle itself. 

Hastinapur was ruled by the Kauravas, while the Pandavas had to make do with Khadavaprastha, a barren wasteland. They did, however, transform it into a magnificent location and were able to invite monarchs to conduct the Rajasuya. There is a major fight when Krishna is honoured. The Kauravas then invite the Pandavas to play the famous dice game, which leads to their exile and the Mahabharat war. You can purchase the novel The Book Of Yudhishthira from these websites:

• Exotic India Art

Aakhet is part one of three sequels written by Ashwini Bhatt. It is a Gujarati novel that has a mix of romance, bravery , and adventures. This is one of the best novels by Ashwini Bhatt. This book is originally written in the Gujarati language and consists of 1500 pages. The price of this book is about Rs.1100. This book first Synopsis: It is the story of Vasant Gaonkar, the owner of a huge industrial empire. 

The story of the abandonment of an orphaned child near the railway tracks. The story of an officer who was fired from the police force. You can purchase the novel Aakhet by Ashwini Bhatt from these websites:

15. Vevishal

Vevishal is one of the most popular Gujarati books written by Jhaverchand Meghani which is based on history. This book is used widely to understand Gujarati literature. This book is perfect for readers who love suspense. Vevishal is originally written in the Gujarati language and consists of 292 pages. It consists of a story from 1938 and it is very forward-looking. Synopsis: When their children, Sukhlal and Sushila, reach adulthood, two small town merchant families vow to marry them. 

Sushila's family moves to 43 Mumbai and becomes wealthy before that happens. The 'patriarch' of the wealthy family, Chaak Sheth, is determined to avoid the promised alliance at all costs. Vevishaal portrays the story of the ensuing conflict between a wealthy, cruel guy and his assumed modest competitors without taking sides. At the conclusion of the story, the showdown displays all of the main characters at the pinnacle of their development. You can purchase the novel Vevishal and its sequel from these websites:

Ashwini Bhatt's Kasab is one of the best Gujarati novels which comprises every bit of drama, thrill, humor as well as romance. This novel was widely popular in Gujarat and was translated into many other languages in India. Kasab was originally written in the Gujarati language and was published in 1992 by Shakti. Consists of 120 pages and comes at a price of Rs. 118-126. Synopsis: This book is about the story of a con. A fictional story of a con who cons people for its personal gain. 

The story has drama, thrill, humor and a little romance. A dramatic con fiction story that will win your hearts. You can purchase the novel Kasab from these websites:

These Gujarati books are widely popular and include many inspiring and historical stories. Many Gujarati books have been written in different genres by well-known writers.  You can purchase the best Gujarati books or novels from the given links above. These novels are rich in literature and history. Many spiritual novels by K.M Munshi are also given above.  To know more and gain more information about some of the Best Gujarati Books To Read be sure to conduct a thorough research online.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs) 

1. who is the best author in gujarati.

There are many well-known Gujarati writers such as K.M Munshi, Pannalal Patel, Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi, and Ashwini Bhatt.

2. Which book is best for reading in Gujarati?

There are many Gujarati books that are best for reading such as SaraswatiChandra, The Five brothers, Othaar, Nirja Bhargav, Aakhet and many more.

3. How do you say a book in Gujarati?

In Gujarati book is said as : પુસ્તક.

Here are the Best Books For Gujarati books to read

• Saraswatichandra
• The Five Brothers
• Himalayano Pravas
• Manvini bhavai
• Satya Na paryogo
• Nirja bhargav
• Malela Jeev
• Jai Somnath
• Shailaji Sagar
• The Book Of Yudhishthira

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About the Author

Currently working as an Editor in Chief with Ankuraggarwal.in, he is managing all the ins and outs of the content management process and editorial operations. Having an experience of 8 years in the publishing/ e-solution industry, he manages a small freelancing team of fellow editors and has worked with several domains including academics, healthcare, lifestyle and technical writings. He is a stickler for accuracy and loves to read noir-fiction and binge-watch anthologies.

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Gujarati Books in Translation: An Omnibus Review

Fifty-six million people speak Gujarati, and a smaller group is able to read and write it. In Ahmedabad, my hometown and the largest city in Gujarat, with a population of eight million, big bookstores—all three of them—primarily use their Gujarati sections for books translated from English, religious texts, self-help books, second-rate nonfiction, and a few established masters. When I explore the city’s Gujarati-specific, smaller, and more local bookstores, they also fail to yield any exciting young talent. In terms of translation from Gujarati to English, there is, among other shortages, a lack of poetry collections, commercial/genre fiction, writers who are women, and diaspora writers. Languages like Bengali and Hindi dominate the North Indian market for writing from Bhasha. Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu are equally popular in the South. Primary and secondary school Gujarati textbooks are filled solely with folktales, moral classics, and ancient poetry. For me, a twenty-something writer and aspirant translator, finding contemporary Gujarati stories to translate, especially those written by women, requires either monumental effort or knowledge of ongoing Gujarati periodicals and magazines that are circulated largely among those over the age of forty. Recently, though, an anthology titled The Greatest Gujarati Stories Ever Told was published. The volume’s discovery of contemporary Gujarati writers is exciting and refreshing. While the collection is mostly focused on caste as theme, which I find important but also fatigued as a topic, it was pure joy for me to read three stories out of twenty-three that were inclusive of gender, sexuality, and economic class, and even more joy to discover that they were written by younger writers. However, there were no formally experimental stories in the collection; it is possible that none have been published in Gujarati in the past decade. I believe there is an urgent need to cultivate and embolden experimental and inclusive Gujarati literature, because our culture is worth celebrating in all of its rich traditions and contemporaneity.

Speaking of traditions, the three books featured below, all written and translated by men and the only novels translated from Gujarati to English in India in 2022, were published and are set more than five decades ago. In the case of Lilavati: A Life , its original publication date was more than a century ago. Regardless, the works are engaging and relevant, comprised of beautifully distinct voices and styles that burst with authority. A repentant father writing about his daughter; a rural caste-based murder victim; a young soldier who is inquisitive about the world—these are some of the characters that populate these Gujarati books in translation.

Vultures by Dalpat Chauhan, tr. by Hemang Ashwinkumar

Dalpat Chauhan is a well-established Dalit writer whose energetic prose is filled with nuance that elevates his writing to literary iconoclasm. Hemang Ashwinkumar’s translation of Vultures is vivid and stark, leaving a sour taste in the mouth, courtesy of ingenious descriptions of carrion and fields that took me right back to my father’s native village. The result is a story laced with hierarchical, complex subtexts between indentured laborers and landlords, the animals and the ecosystem, and questions of who gets to love whom. In his translator’s note, Ashwinkumar emphasizes that Dalits are frozen in the despair of their own collective memories, a concept that Chauhan attempts to subvert in the plot. The tale is as relevant today as it was fifty years ago. Though the unfulfilled attraction between our protagonist, Dalit Iso, and the upper-caste Diwali results in a predictable, lurid murder, the terror of the story is not in its bloody details. The inability of the narrator to extricate himself from trauma, the virulent hatred expressed in segregated geographies and untouchability practices, and the unflinching callousness of the ecosystem that surrounds the characters all make for a horrifying reading experience. Interpolated verses passed down in Gujarati’s rich oral traditions lend a cultural texture that resonates throughout the oppressed characters’ melancholies. A loud, resilient community of residents alleviate the heaviness of the subject matter. In its portrayal of caste-based violence, Vultures tells a story that is as shamefully human as it is demonic, as valiant as it is pitiful.

Lilavati: A Life by Govardhanram Tripathi, tr. by Tridip Suhrud

Govardhanram Tripathi is a giant of Gujarati literature, notable for his Saraswatichandra tetralogy, which is widely considered to be a masterpiece. His personal life and fictional plots frequently intersected, as evidenced by the notebooks, which he called scrapbooks, that were discovered after his passing. Life was a convoluted imitation of art for Tripathi, who, according to his own words and those of translator Tridip Suhrud, went about “raising” his wife and daughter according to self-generated ideals for familial behavior and women’s education. Lilavati: A Life is an elegiac biography of his daughter Lilavati as recounted by a prideful, repentant, and, more often than not, disastrously inflexible father. Tripathi has broken up the book into three parts, with traditional, poetic, and epistolary styles, with himself as an unreliable narrator who, in his own preface, “[has included] only these aspects of [Lilavati’s] life which were considered worthy of being enshrined in the hearts of the people [ . . . ].” Suhrud’s introduction to the book is almost brutally honest about its intrigue, opacity, and shortcomings. The translator warns the reader not to judge Tripathi’s morals based on contemporary ideas and labels. It is lamentable, nevertheless, that the biography reveals more about the writer than its subject. Which is to say: Tripathi can be described as an egregious, erratic parental figure who destroyed his family’s lives, leading to the untimely deaths of his wife and daughter. And still, the pages kept turning. Lilavati’s life, so influenced by her father since infancy, is shown in detail with instances of homeschooling, filial piety, and, above all, self-sacrifice. Obsessed as he was with virtuosity and the philosophy of consumption, Tripathi’s writing is both a memoria and a warning of the dangers of trying to live beyond one’s sustainable capacities. Lilavati could not live a long or painless life, but as far as freedoms go, it can be said that she exercised her will to the utmost within the limitations of her upbringing.

The First World War Adventures of Nariman Karkaria: A Memoir by Nariman Karkaria, tr. by Murali Ranganathan

Nariman Karkaria was a young Parsi man from Gujarat who served in World War I, World War II, and the Balkan Wars. He traveled much of the world during the volatile socioeconomic environment of the 1910s and the decades that followed. His writings are full of vigor and humor as well as characteristic vulnerability regarding his existence in the world. His translator Murali Ranganathan’s dazzling research flows through the sentences and descriptions of Karkaria’s travelogue, which is full of dire and dirty circumstances, like watching his fellow soldiers split apart because of bombs. The book is a smooth ride across bumpy terrains, keeping the reader engaged and skeptical, with liberal exclamation points and keen observations. Delight, wonder, terror; Karkaria’s emotions guide his writing but his extreme curiosity comes across as his most vital characteristic. The Parsis, an ethno-religious group that fled Iran to escape the Islamic persecution of Zoroastrian people and settled in India, are known nationally for their entrepreneurship, charity, and ingenuity. Karkaria’s insistence in comparing seemingly every human in every nation on Earth on a scale of Parsiness to non-Parsiness is roaringly funny, but his genuine interest in Persian history and Iranian conquests, as well as his nostalgia for his home in Navsari, keeps the prose from being irredeemably comical. While some of his views are obviously outdated, like his opinions on “muscular” women and “cheap” Asian citizens, Karkaria has the ability to find some good anywhere he goes, as he embraces diverse eating, drinking, and clothing customs as the natural order of the world. With hilariously titled sections such as “The End of Fashion” and “Expression of Martial Enthusiasm Within Me,” Karkaria’s unique memoir of the wars as an Indian man is unmissable.

Vultures by Dalpat Chauhan, translated from the Gujarati by Hemang Ashwinkumar (Penguin Random House India, 2022).

Lilavati: A Life by Govardhanram Tripathi, translated from the Gujarati by Tridip Suhrud (Penguin Random House India, 2022).

The First World War Adventures of Nariman Karkaria: A Memoir by Nariman Karkaria translated from the Gujarati by Murali Ranganathan (HarperCollins India, 2022)

© 2022 by Shalvi Shah. All rights reserved.

Shalvi Jaxay Shah

Shalvi Jaxay is a writer, aspiring translator, and critic living between Ahmedabad and New York City.

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પુસ્તક સમીક્ષા એટલે શું અને પુસ્તક સમીક્ષા કેવી રીતે લખી શકાય what is book review and how to write book review in gujarati..

• શું તમે વાંચો છો અને પોતાને એક સારા લેખક માનો છો? તમને પુસ્તક સમીક્ષાઓ લખવાનું શીખવામાં રસ હોઈ શકે એ સાચું જ છે. 
• તમારે પુસ્તક સમીક્ષા કરતા પહેલા થોડું સંશોધન કરવાની અને અન્ય પુસ્તક સમીક્ષાઓ વાંચવાની જરૂર છે.
• પુસ્તક સમીક્ષા કરવા માંગો છો તે શૈલીમાં કોઈ પુસ્તક પસંદ કરો. બેસ્ટસેલર્સથી દૂર રહેવું શ્રેષ્ઠ છે.
• પુસ્તક વાંચતી વખતે નોંધો લેશો. તમે શૈલી, પાત્રો અને પાત્ર વિકાસ અને પુસ્તક વિશે તમને શું ગમતું અથવા નાપસંદ કરવું છે તેની નોંધ લેવી છે.
• તમે પહેલા તમામ તથ્યોની સૂચિબદ્ધ કરો જેમકે શીર્ષક, લેખક, પ્રકાશનની તારીખ, પૃષ્ઠ, પુસ્તકની શૈલી. 
• તમારા પુસ્તક વિશે તમે શું વિચાર્યું છે તે તમારા વાચકોને કહો પરંતુ પ્રથમ વ્યક્તિ તરીકે તમારી સાથે નહીં.
• તમારી સમીક્ષાની સમીક્ષા કરો, ખાતરી કરો કે તમારી સમીક્ષા દ્વારા તમારી પાસે કોઈ ભૂલ નથી અને તમારા કામની સાબિતી કરો, તમારા કાર્ય પર કોઈ બીજાને વાંચવું શ્રેષ્ઠ છે.

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Words Without Borders: Gujarati Literature in Translation (guest-edited)

I’m honored to guest-edit the first-ever Gujarati literature in translation feature at Words Without Borders . Prior to this, they had featured one other South Asian language in a similar manner: Tamil (guest-edited by the late, great Lakshmi Holmström.) My huge gratitude to all the authors and translators who contributed to this first-ever collection in the US. And my thanks, also, to the WWB team: Eric Becker, Susan Harris, and Isabella Corletto, for all their editorial help and guidance.

We featured fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literary criticism, and translator interviews over five months. Please see the links below and click to read on the Words Without Borders website.

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Translating Gujarat: A Literary Intervention

Crossroad (novel excerpt) by Varsha Adalja (tr. Jenny Bhatt)

Varsha Adalja is one of the foremost contemporary Gujarati writers in India. A novelist and a playwright, she has published forty books, including twenty novels and seven story collections. Some of her works have been adapted for television and stage. She has also written several essay collections and travelogues. Her works have won many literary awards.  Crossroad , her most recent novel, was published in 2016 and is being translated into English by Jenny Bhatt. It is a magnum opus historical novel spanning three generations and five decades.

Translator: Jenny Bhatt ( details here .)

To Loved Ones (poetry) by Jayesh Jeevibahen Solanki (tr. Gopika Jadeja)

Jayesh Jeevibahen Solanki was a poet, theater artist, and Dalit rights activist. He was one of the prominent faces associated with the Una Dalit Movement in Gujarat, India. Coming from very modest means, he had tried to make a living by teaching theater workshops and doing factory work. The pandemic worsened his financial struggles and, given his ongoing depression, he committed suicide in October 2020. Several of his poems have been translated by both professional translators and friends. A collection, titled  વળાંક  ( A Bend in the Road ), was published posthumously in December 2020.

Translator: Gopika Jadeja is a bilingual poet and translator writing in English and Gujarati. She is the Editor-at-Large (Singapore) for  Wasafiri , an editor at  PR&TA , and an editor for the performance-publishing project “Five Issues.” A recipient of the Charles Wallace Scholarship for Creative Writing, Gopika’s poetry and translations have been published in many international venues.

The Garage and Rahemat Khan (memoir excerpt) by Hasmukh Shah (tr. Mira Desai)

Hasmukh Shah had an extraordinary life and career in government, the public sector, and as a private citizen. He was joint secretary for three consecutive prime minister’s offices, was involved with multiple conservation and higher learning institutions and organizations, and personally witnessed several historical events—from being in the Prime Minister’s plane that crashed in Jorhat in 1978 to the Tiananmen Square protests and more—which he captured in his Gujarati memoir,  Dithu Mai… . The English edition of From the Margins of History is forthcoming.

Translator: Mira Desai is a translator from Gujarati, currently working on her eighth book. Her translations have been published in  Indian Literature ,  Words without Borders ,  91 st  Meridian ,  The Massachusetts Review , etc. She previously spent a lifetime in pharmaceuticals. She now volunteers with underprivileged children, paints, and travels.

Ahmedabad (poetry) by Bharat Trivedi (tr. Mira Desai)

Bharat Trivedi is an Indian-born poet, author, essayist, and lecturer. He has poetry, prose, and essays published in numerous literary magazines and journals in India and on creative poetry boards in the US. He has published five novels and ten collections of poems; including  Love Poems to the Tigress , his first collection of poems written for an English-reading audience. He was raised and educated in India and migrated to the United States in 1977. Bharat lives in Tavares, Florida, with his wife Medha.

Writing in Mother Tongue and an Other Tongue (essay) by Pratishtha Pandya

Dr. Pratishtha Pandya is a bilingual poet and translator working across Gujarati and English. The first collection of her Gujarati poems  ળળળ…  has been published by Navjeevan Samprat. She currently works as an editor and writer with People’s Archive of Rural India.

On the Evolution and Craft of Gujarati Literature in Translation: An Interview with Dr. Rita Kothari by Jenny Bhatt

Dr. Rita Kothari is a professor of English and the director of the master’s program in English at Ashoka University in India. A multilingual scholar and translator, her work spans the disciplines of literature, anthropology, history, sociology, linguistics, and more. While her focus is on the western Indian subcontinent, specifically the Gujarat, Kutch, and Sindh regions, she is also looked upon as a thought leader in the discipline of linguistic and cultural translation and language politics, especially with respect to marginalized communities, across the country. Translation is the prism through which she sees the Indian context, whether it is with respect to the Partition, Bollywood, or the various intersecting hierarchies of religion, caste, class, gender, and sexuality.

Gujarati Books in Translation: An Omnibus Review by Shalvi Jaxay Shah

Shalvi Jaxay Shah is a writer, aspiring translator, and critic living between Ahmedabad and New York City. She has been a recipient of the Teaching Fellowship at Columbia University’s School of the Arts, where she got her MFA in fiction and translation. Her fiction, nonfiction, and criticism can be found in or is forthcoming from  Epiphany ,  Wasafiri ,  Columbia Journal , the  Desi Books  platform, the  New York Times , and elsewhere. 

On Gandhi, Translation, and the Gujarati Intellectual Tradition: An Interview with Dr. Tridip Suhrud by Jenny Bhatt

It would be no exaggeration to call Dr. Tridip Suhrud one of our greatest living Gujarati scholars and translators. Based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, he has dedicated a good part of his career to interpreting and translating works by or related to Mahatma Gandhi during tenures at various educational and heritage institutions. It is largely due to his scholarship and leadership that we have a vast digitized archive of these works and a more nuanced understanding of Gandhi, who remains a complex, often polarizing, international figure. Suhrud has also translated the longest and most influential canonical work of Gujarati literature: the nineteenth-century classic,  Sarasvatichandra , by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi (G. M. T.).

All It Seems (ghazal excerpt) by ‘Befaam’ (tr. Meena Desai)

Barkat Ali Ghulam Husain Virani , known by his pen name Befaam, was born on November 25, 1923 in Ghanghali village in the Bhavnagar district. He was interested in literature from the age of fourteen, when he wrote his first ghazal. He was taught poetry by Qismat Qureshi and left his studies to participate in the 1942 Quit India Movement. In 1945, he moved to Mumbai upon the suggestion of  Shayda , who has been called “Ghazal Samrat” for his dedication to the genre in Gujarati, and married his oldest daughter Ruqaiyya in 1952. He died in Mumbai in 1994. His ghazal books include  Mansar  (1960),  Ghata  (1970),  Pyas  (1980), and  Parab  (1997). He also wrote short stories, scripts, and a novel, and was associated with Gujarati cinema. He appeared in the Gujarati film  Mangalfera  (1949) and wrote lyrics for several songs that appeared in films.

Translator: Meena Desai has translated Gujarati poetry since the 1980s. Her doctoral research examined communication in British drama, she worked in the telecommunications industry, and she still pursues communication across cultures. She has translated over seventy Gujarati  ghazals  to highlight little-known but excellent contributions to the genre. She also focuses on translating the multifaceted lyrics of Narasinh Mehta, a fifteenth-century Bhakti poet, celebrating joy in the eternal human-divine intercourse by blending the spiritual and the physical into a higher realm. Her work is featured in  Two Lines: Counterfeits  and  Eating God: A Book of Bhakti Poetry.

Into English: Sachin Ketkar on Bilingual Translation: An Interview with Dr. Sachin C. Ketkar by Jenny Bhatt

Within the Gujarati literary translation ecosystem, we have a handful of multilingual writers and translators who have worked for decades to bring marginalized literature into the mainstream. Sachin C. Ketkar is an English professor at the Faculty of Arts of the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, Gujarat. He is also a scholar of Gujarati and Marathi literature, particularly poetry. In addition to having multiple poetry collections published in both Marathi and English, he has published many critical works on literature from both of those languages. He also translates from Gujarati into English and from Marathi into English.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Ketkar discusses his literary journeys across languages and cultures while dealing with the challenges of subtractive bilingualism. We also dive deep into the current state of Gujarati literature, particularly in translation. And we explore how industry gatekeeping further marginalizes the already-marginalized Gujarati authors and their translators. Along the way, Dr. Ketkar generously references many contemporary and classic Gujarati and Marathi writers, who deserve to be way more well-known and well-read.

I particularly appreciated Dr. Ketkar’s point about how multilingual creative writers in India who take on literary translation work are working to overcome the predicament of subtractive bilingualism. In the process, they are expanding the archive of Indian writing in English in radical ways. As this insightful conversation shows, Dr. Ketkar has also been doing exactly that with his many contributions across genres, languages, and cultures. Listen/read here .

Translating Gujarat: On Raising Visibility and Sharing Literary Wealth: Closing Essay by Jenny Bhatt

This is my closing essay for the Gujarati literature in translation collection that I’ve had the honor of guest-editing at Words Without Borders . I share the journey of Gujarati literature from its renaissance period, as I see it, just before India’s independence to now. Along the way, I thread the individual translations and translator interviews we have featured in this diverse collection. And I close with some personal thoughts:

“For any literary culture to thrive, its readership must grow within its own societies and beyond with more translations into and from the language. This first-ever collection at  Words Without Borders  is a cultural intervention to bring these works to a wider readership, and to also help raise visibility within Gujarati society, especially the global diaspora. For translators from under-represented languages like ours, the act of translation can also be a mode of recovery and reclamation. Together, this small sample reveals rich glimpses of the diverse, complex, and ever-evolving literary traditions of Gujarat. It is an effort to share some of our literary wealth and celebrate our Gujarati ways of being.”

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HFCN #09: Reading Historical Novels from Around the World II

WAAT #68: On Approaching Multiple Translations

HFCN #08: Reading Historical Novels from Around the World I

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• Other / Culture
• Home > Other > Top Gujarati Books that you must read

Top Gujarati Books that you must read

by Bhavi Parikh · April 6, 2020

April 6, 2020

Here is a list of best Gujarati books written by famous writers that you must read.

1. Manvini Bhavai

Novel by Pannalal Patel

Written in 1947, this book is regarding the story of a farmer and his struggle to survive during famine. This book would give you a picture of the atrocities faced by many people. It received many awards and was later translated in the English language as well.

2. Satya na prayogo

Autobiography by Gandhiji

Mahatma Gandhi has faced many hardships in his life so that we could live in an independent India. His entire struggle, stories of bravery would give you some new insights about your own self and your life. A journey towards truth and non- violence is what he would always preach and you will be able to see how that would be effective by reading this book.

Novel by Ashwini Bhatt

A book that would take you on a very beautiful adventure that describes the details of the location in a very amusing way. A build-up which is so good that it would bind you to read the second part of the book as well in order to know the suspense. The book describes the freedom fighters and their journey against the British Raj.

4. Saraswatichandra

Novel by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripathi

This book can be called as the masterpiece of the Gujarati Literature. It has been very well acclaimed by many critics and many readers. This book was later adapted into a movie, plays as well as a TV series. It talks about love, family politics and a spiritual journey. It is a story of Saraswatichandra and Kumudsundari’s love, sacrifice and self realizations.

A beautiful piece of work that is still renowned. It explains Buddhidhan and the family maze of Gunasundari very precisely.

5. Nirja Bhargav

A book first published in the year 1979 is full of thriller and suspense. It includes every bit of entertainment such as Mafia, drugs, murder and a story of a girl trying to figure all this out. An amazing storyline and suspense that would surely win the heart of every reader and keeps you captivated.

6. Malela Jeev

It is a beautiful romantic novel that was published in the 1940s. It talks about the difficulties in love between different castes and shows the real picture of the society. It was well acclaimed by the readers as well as the critics. There were many adaptations from this book as well and was translated in many languages also.

7. Amirali thag ni pila rumal ni gath

Novel by Harkishan Mehta

This book was first published in the year 1970 and is based on Amirali Thag. It is a thriller and a suspense novel about the ‘thag’ community that used to prevail during the British rule. The way it has described the emotions and the suspense is very detailed. You would surely love the character and his looting style.

8. Vevishal

Novel by Zaverchand Meghani

This is a history novel written by Jhaverchand Meghani who is a very well known writer, poet and a freedom fighter from Gujarat. His many books have received great appreciation from all and are well-known in the field of Gujarati literature. Vevishal means Engagement; this book has 19 short stories that are full of suspense and will surely keep you engaged. Definitely a good read for the suspense lovers.

Tags: literature

Bhavi Parikh

A Traveller and a writer trying to paint the world with creativity.

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Children’s Literature in Gujarati

To comment on the current status of literature in Gujarati, overall and on contemporary literary trends, would be a contentious matter. It would be pertinent, thus, to limit the scope of this write-up to sharing some contemplations on the current status of Children’s Literature (CL), based on our experiences and engagement.

The scenario in Gujarati CL is not encouraging. There is no new publication in the genre to mention. When we were approached by the Eklavya team for this write-up, this was the prompt response that we had to offer. Realizing that it could be out of our scanty knowledge, we connected with our friend, who is closely involved in the Gujarati textbook development team and is in closer touch with all new publications. The response was the same. Their answer echoed what we had felt—no new arrivals!

It is difficult to name an event or a publication that could be considered a remarkable development in Children’s Literature in Gujarati. There are indeed the celebrated works, from what could be referred to as the golden era, the literary gifts received from Gijubhai Badheka, Hariprasad Vyas, Ramanlal Soni, Jivram Joshi and others. But it has been three decades since! There was also a time, in the70s when some quality literature from foreign languages was translated into Gujarati. Neither those stories, nor any new additions are anywhere to be seen now. The only additions since then have been the Panchatantra, Aesop’s Fables , stories from the Upanishads, Akbar-Birbal , Dadima ki Kahaniyan and fairy-tales from the West.  It is mostly the moral stories, fairy-tales and re-prints of old books with ‘so-called’ better illustrations, that have been trending in the recent past.

To make Children’s Literature more relatable, new songs and stories now have words like ‘chocolate’, ‘ice cream’ and vocabulary that is ‘traditionally’ deemed fit for children’s world. In the last couple of decades, the definition and quality of CL have evolved rapidly. The quality of CL in many regional languages has improved but Gujarati CL is still frozen in the old times. The most published and sold children’s books are still the same as they were many decades ago. Many of them have lost relevance. Most of them are still recreated with  very inferior quality material in terms of the look and feel of the book and also in terms of visuals and language. Children don’t find them attractive. The love for the bodhkathas and moral stories has grown manifold. A picture book narrating one single story independently is still a distant dream.

English medium schools have created a massive difference in the choice of language for CL. Parents are now preferring English CL. The only contemporary CL available is from government publishers such as the National Book Trust or by voluntary groups like Pratham Books, and ARCH (which has been publishing translations from Eklavya, Bhopal). The for-profit publishers, instead of dipping their toes into something new, are simply surviving by reprinting old books.

The most urgent need is CL for early readers, age group 3 to 10. We can safely say there is no CL available for this age group in Gujarati. We don’t have simple stories which can support literacy programmes in the interior where Gujarati is a second language for  children and the medium of teaching-learning in schools. Poem posters and reading cards are direly needed but seem like a long goal for us. We have not seen any new poem and rhymes being written that children can relate to and enjoy in recent times.

We seek original stories in Gujarati to read for the sheer joy of reading, stories that reflect day-to-day life incidents and observations; stories that connect children with their world and their feelings that are complex to recognize, acknowledge and accept. We seek stories that affirm the truth that children are in fact equally capable of thinking, questioning, bringing solutions and much more. Equally needed are stories that can address gender issues and break irrational societal norms and stereotypes. We seek Jodknas (rhymes) to experience the play of words, and poems to plunge into the world of imagination.

The challenges are many: most writers think that writing about a child or an animal story with some lesson to be learnt qualifies as children’s literature. The biggest challenge and need in such a situation is to bring about a change in how we see children’s literature. Another crucial need is to find and encourage young writers and artists with fresh ideas. At the same time, we need some experts who understand this and can help us in promoting such CL. What would also help greatly is a network of organizations that are working with children on a large scale. There is a dire need of co-creation, exchange and wider dissemination of knowledge about Children’s Literature and of literature itself.

Currently, ARCH has brought out 25 books translated in Gujarati, originally published in Hindi/ English by Eklavya, Bhopal. We work in the community and we need such CL to work with children. We are promoting quality CL through Pitara (a one stop bookstore setup by Eklavya, Bhopal). Many affordable and quality books from CBT, NBT, Pratham, Eklavya, Ektara, Jyotsna are a part of the collection there; for browsing and for sale. We also help institutions and schools in setting up and running libraries. In the last two years, we have seen a notable difference in the demand for quality Children’s Literature.

This survey of the status of CL in Gujarati language leads one to ponder over possible next and actionable steps for ARCH. Acquisition and publication of titles would require an independent team, a fresh team and additional resources. These efforts would also require a fair understanding of publishing, disseminating and promotional processes. In fact, the immediate assistance needed is to build connect with authors and illustrators, who would be interested to contribute.

Nrupesh Patel has worked in Library Program for grades 1 to 5 in rural tribal schools. He is part of Pitara (Books Store) in Gujarat, run by ARCH.

Bhaval Dawda has been in the field of education since the last 15+ years, working in international schools as well as tribal schools in rural areas. She enjoys learning how children learn, especially languages, and fondly observes and documents these processes.

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Book Review: A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There By Krishna Sobti

Reading Krishna Sobti’s ‘ A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There ’ is like a garland of mixed flowers, a pricey necklace that you like to admire but not wear. In Daisy Rockwell’s apt and timely translation of Krishna Sobti’s work the texture and flavour of Sobti’s writing is reinvigorated. She imbues the original work with a warm, tender insight into the lives of the ruling class, and peeks into the lives of the women and children in the royal family. She is like an aunt, in all our families who doesn’t mince any of her words. 

A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There Author : Krishna Sobti Translator : Daisy Rockwell Publisher : Penguin Random House India Genre : Historical Fiction

What is best about her book, is that her writing reflects the fluidity of the time, a passage here interweaving memories from a past, of a life in Gujarat, Pakistan to a passage here describing her efforts and encounters as she starts a new life in Sirohi in Gujarat, India.

What is best about her book, is that her writing reflects the fluidity of the time, a passage here interweaving memories from a past, of a life in Gujarat, Pakistan to a passage here describing her efforts and encounters as she starts a new life in Sirohi in Gujarat, India. As a refugee, she encounters and scoffs at several situations and people in this princely state. For instance, when she is asked to declare her refugee status in a government form to have access to free blankets and food.

You are shaken by the jump cut style of her writing because she isn’t trying to molly coddle you. The transitions in her writing are symbolic of the jump starts of her life after leaving home, moving to a refugee camp and later getting a job as a governess in the royal family in Gujarat. These transitions mirror her own mixed feelings, joys and novelty of this new life and sadness of never being able to relive the life she left behind in Pakistan.

She often reins in her mind, saying, “ Go over there, dreams, scram! What’s the point of peeking over there, now that you’ve changed your disguise to fit in here? I no longer owe anyone anything “

Also read: Book Review: The Last Queen By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Her writing shows her constant yearning for the past, and desire to create a new life are at constant loggerheads, when she writes, “ Ancient teachings for ancient times. Do our pathways change when we ourselves change? I could never have imagined that one day I would look with my own eyes on this landscape of bygone days. The country is moving forward after -Independence – and these princely states are trying their hardest to carry on with the old ways. Ancient schemes. Ancient customs. “

She writes about long train journeys, and the turmoils in Gujarat-Rajasthan over the statehood of Abu in Sirohi. This township hosts the Amba temple, deeply revered by Gujarati community, which ended up being part of Rajasthan.

“ When you uproot a tribe, it scatters with the destructive power of an earthquake. Everything goes topsy-turvy. Up is down, and down is up, ” she writes.

She contrasts her journeys in erstwhile Pakistan and now in India: while travelling by Frontier Mail one could walk into the pantry to get tea, while the train in Gujarat had a vendor who would come at his convenience to serve tea. This is how she admonished her own mind for being too reminiscent of her past.

Krishna Sobti’s memoir is still relevant to our times. How we have set up borders that divide us instead of unifying, in a more polarised world, how we are lost in ambiguity, and silences of the ones who have no voice, or are responsible equally for the silences we encounter.

Sobti also unabashedly but righteously logs incidences of injustices and women reproducing patriarchal values in her descriptions of the royal family. How the Maharaja’s first wife who couldn’t conceive a royal heir finds another wife for her husband to bear them a child and ends up adopting him to be successor. Sobti is hired to be the interim governess of this child, who is already wise and intelligent as an adult, maybe too intelligent in Sobti’s own words.

In their first encounter he forewarns her that the reason he has been throwing up on the driver every morning since she had started was of her own volition, and she will be reprimanded the next day. Although he is advised by the Queen not to reveal this, he kindly states to her that he has been eating his medicines after having breakfast which is upsetting his stomach. A minor detail Sobti in her amateur way had overlooked but the Prince in his wisdom brings up to prevent any annoying follow ups. Clearly, he has taken a liking to her.

Also read: Book Review: Dewaji—Making Of An Ambedkarite Family By Dipankar Kamble

We don’t find any other instances where he is shown to have any emotions or feelings. He is treated like a toy prince who has to learn the tricks, ways and customs of the royalty. Sobti doesn’t easily give into these ancient customs, which is why, we are told she knows this is not a permanent job for her, and she will move on eventually.

A similar personal incident, where in a letter from her father there is an incident of Sushma, fondly called Sushi. Sushi comes first in an essay competition with Hindustan Times-New York Herald Tribune, where the winner gets the chance to go to a foreign country. But because she is a girl, this opportunity goes to a boy. Sobti has a keen eye to such injustices around her and minces no words to put them across to her readers.

Even having left her home, in the twilight of Partition, she observes a world where the powerful still continue to retain their titles, squabble to keep their power, and establish their superiority by drawing people along caste lines. Sobti has a darling encounter with the young prince who must not have been more than five years old, when Sobti must have been the governess. Tej Singh asks her what caste she belongs to, he may still not know how it divides, but wants to know whether she is a Baniya, or Brahmin. Initially she desists giving a response, but then ends up narrating her family lineage, the satraps who followed Alexander, and families who responded to the call of arms by Guru Gobind Singh.

Krishna Sobti’s memoir is still relevant to our times. Mentioning how we have set up borders that divide us instead of unifying, in a more polarised world, how we are lost in ambiguity, and silences of the ones who have no voice, or are responsible equally for the silences we encounter, Sobti writes, “ She closed her attached case, checked her luggage and began looking out of the window. The vastness of the Indian terrain! How large our country is. Rajasthan’s borders reach out to Gujarat. Sometimes settlements and people must also be pushed across borders. “

As a reader, you take this journey with Sobti and know that she, like us, has transformed. 

Also read: Book Review: Why I Am Not A Hindu Woman By Wandana Sonalkar

Featured Image Source: Cover page of ‘A Gujarat Here, A Gujarat There’ (L), Krishna Sobti (file pic: Wikipedia)

Dr. Sneha Krishnan is trained to be a researcher in the interstices of development, health and disasters. One day she grew tired of the world of research that converted people’s life stories into data and evidence, and instead dived deep into the world of telling stories with prose, poetry and photographs. Her poetry, essays and stories have been published in The Conversation, Helter Skelter, Belongg, Medium and The Wire. She also organises the Indian Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IFFB) and Indian Documentary Film Festival of Bhubaneswar (IDFFB). She has a PhD in Environment Engineering from University College London and Professor of Environmental Studies at Jindal Global University. She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Gujarati literature

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7 Must-Read Translated Gujarati Fiction for your TBR

For a multilingual country such as ours, translation is as much a political act as a cultural one; in reading about the different cultures and peoples each language encompasses, we invariably find our shared nationhood.

As Gujarati author, poet and professor Panna Trivedi said in an earlier interview, “ Each community (and) culture has its own sentiment, and their own set of local and global questions – all of which is reflected in their literature “. 

To celebrate the culture of Gujarat, here’s a list of fiction works translated from the language.

Agnipariksha: An Ordeal Remembered by Hamid Kureshi

Translated from Gujarati by Rita Kothari

Published by Orient Blackswan, this translation by author, translator and cultural historian Rita Kothari makes a rare document of a period, a city and inter-faith relationships accessible to a wider readership for the first time.

In Agnipariksha , Kureshi provides the landscape of a violence-ridden city, as also a glimpse into the many lives associated with the Gandhi ashram. In an atmosphere of terrible fear and uncertainty, he recounts how his family’s struggles for self-preservation were buoyed by the constant welding presence, concern and affection of Hindu friends and neighbours, and the ashram community. 

Ratno Dholi: The Best Stories of Dhumketu by Jenny Bhatt

Translated from Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi or Dhumketu’s works

Dhumketu was the pen name of Gaurishankar Govardhanram Joshi, one of the foremost writers in Gujarati and a pioneer of the short story form. 

When Dhumketu’s first collection of short stories, Tankha , came out in 1926, it revolutionized the genre in India. Ratno Dholi brings together the first substantial collection of Dhumketu’s work to be available in English. 

On that note, one can also check out the conversation between Ayushi Mona and Jenny Bhatt for India Booked, or her interview with us , where Bhatt describes, through brilliant metaphors, how a short story differs from a novel and why it is unfair to expect authors with different skillsets to master both, and about the commercial pressures on writers in the publishing industry.

Karan Ghelo : Gujarat’s Last Rajput King by Nandshankar Mehta

Translated by Tulsi Vatsal and Aban Mukherji 

Translated to English in 2015, Karan Ghelo is a historical novel filled with passion, revenge and love. As the blurb tells us, “Rich in psychological insight and imbued with a poetic vision, Nandshankar Mehta’s Karan Ghelo tells the spellbinding tale of a man who tragically failed his land and its people.”

Saraswatichandra by Govardhanram Madhavaram Tripath

Translated to English by Tridip Suhrud

Govardhanram Madhavram Tripathi was an Indian Gujarati language novelist of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for his four-volume novel Saraswatichandra, whose first part was translated to the elation of the Indian literary community by Tridip Suhrud.

He is known for his four volume novel, Saraswatichandra.

Set in the two fictional towns of Suvarnapur and Ratnanagari, it is the saga of the titular protagonist on his journey – from a broken marriage, his escape from his hometown and his eventual return.

Manvini Bhavai by Pannalal Patel (translated from Gujarati by V.Y. Kantak)

Literally meaning ‘Man’s Drama’, Manvini Bhavai brings to fore the basic and universal strife for survival. Writing from his maize farm, Pannalal Patel chronicles the plight of farmers during ‘ Chhapaniyo Dukal ’, the famine of the early 1900s. It is set against the backdrop of the love between Kalu and Raju, who are betrothed to different people.

A master articulator of nuanced reflections on society, Patel gives us a peek into the rural Gujarat of yore, and the influence of colonization on Indian culture.

Even without completing formal education, Patel went on to become one of the most revered Gujarati writers. Manvini Bhavai won him the Jnanpith Award in 1985, and the book’s Gujarati movie adaptation won the National Film Award in 1993.

Patan Trilogy by K. M. Munshi

Translated from Gujarati by Rita and Abhijit Kothari

K. M. Munshi was a lawyer turned politician and educator, best known for founding Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan. However, as a writer, very little of his work is read outside Gujarat, even though his fiction was instrumental in shaping Gujarat’s social memory and history.

The Patan trilogy comprising the novels Patan Nee Pratbhuta, Gujarat No Nath, and Rajadhiraj, narrates the rise of the Solanki dynasty’s ruler, Siddharaja Jayasimha.

The historical fiction series is a gripping saga set in the 12 th century with sharp dialogues and vivid descriptions. Fast-paced with unexpected plot twists, the books keep the readers at the edge of their seats. Every new book of the trilogy was looked forward to with feverish anticipation, making K. M. Munshi a household name in Gujarat for his literary prowess.

Akhepatar by Bindu Bhatt

Translated into Hindi by Virendra Narayan Sinh

Set in 1980s Saurashtra, this story of a Brahmin family follows Kanchan’s life from the pre-independent social mileu to post-partition reality as her own roles change from girl, to wife, to mother.

It is the narrative of communal strife, the refugee crisis of the Partition, and the development era that followed, spanning four-generations of a clan, and the changes within the family against the backdrop of a changing nation. “The whole novel contains dialects, proverbs and the folk tongue of Jhalawad, of Karachi and in general of Saurashtra at different times of history.”

Agantuk by Dhiruben Patel

Translated into English by Raj Supe

The novella follows an ex-monk or sanyaasi Ishan, who leaves his life, gives up his saffron robe and returns to civilization. It reveals the new dynamics of a family he has been away from, with occasional philosophical ponderings on the nature of the family, the human mind and emotions, and the lesson that, as one reviewer on Goodreads puts it, “just like wearing an ascetic’s clothes doesn’t make you one, shedding that attire does not guarantee civilization either”.

Vaad by Ila Arab Mehta

Translated into English as ‘Fence’ by Rita Kothari

“ Fence  by Ila Arab Mehta translated from Gujrati by Rita Kothari follows the journey of Fateema Lokhandwala from her formative years as the daughter of a scrap metal seller (hence the surname) to her role as a professor. Fateema dreams of owning a home for her family which remains the highlight in her life with its own share of hardships, made more difficult by her status as a Muslim women in India.” (from our review of the novel)

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Thanks for this lovely list !

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