Chandrakant Sheth | |
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 Sheth in 2019 | |
| Born | Chandrakant Trikamlal Sheth (1938-02-03)3 February 1938 |
| Died | 2 August 2024(2024-08-02) (aged 86) |
| Pen name | Aryaputra, Nand Samavedi, Baalchandra, Daksh Prajapati |
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| Language | Gujarati |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Ph.D |
| Alma mater | |
| Notable works | Dhoolmani Paglio (1984) |
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Chandrakant Sheth (3 February 1938 – 2 August 2024) was an IndianGujarati poet, essayist, critic, translator and editor fromGujarat. His pen names include Aryaputra, Nand Samavedi, Balchadra and Daksh Prajapati. He won theSahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 1986 for his bookDhoolmani Paglio.[1][2]
In January 2025, Sheth was honored with thePadma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, by theGovernment of India.[3][4]
Sheth was born on 3 February 1938 inKalol, a village inPanchmahal district to Trikamlal. His family is native to Thasra village ofKheda. Hematriculated in 1954, completedBA in 1958, andMA in 1961 fromGujarat University with Gujarati andSanskrit as his core subjects. He completed his Ph.D. in 1979 fromGujarat Vidyapith with a research thesis onUmashankar Joshi.[5]
He served as a part-time lecturer atSt. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad in 1961–62. He served as a professor at different colleges in Gujarat including Kapadvanj College (1962–63),Gujarat Vidyapith (1963–1966), Bhakta Vallabh Dhola College (1966–1972) and again Gujarat Vidyapith (1972–1979). From 1979 to 1984, he served as the manager of K. L. Swadhyay Mandir, run byGujarati Sahitya Parishad, and also worked as a co-editor ofGujarati Sahityakosh. He again joined Gujarat Vidyapith and retired as the head of Gujarati Department. He served as an honorary at Gujarati Vishwkosh Trust, Ahmedabad.[5][1]
Sheth died inAhmedabad on 2 August 2024, at the age of 86.[6]
Sheth published several poetry collections,Pavan Rooperi (1972) andUghadati Diwalo (1974) are his early collections of poetry.Padagha ni Pele Par (1948) andGagan Kholati Bari (1990) are his collections ofsongs,Ek Tahuko Pandma (1986) is collection ofghazals whileChandaliya ni Gadi (1980) andHu To Chalu Mari Jem! (2001) are his collections ofchildren's poetry. His other collections areShaksharata Geeto (1990),Shage Ek Zalhalie (1999),Undanmathi Ave, Unchanma Lai Jay (2004) andJal Vadal Ane Veej (2005). Ramesh M. Trivedi has edited selected poems asChandrakant Sheth na Kavyo (2001).[5][7]
Sheth was a prolific essayist. HisNand Samvedi (1980, 2001) is a collection of modernist essays;Chehra Bhitar Chehra (1986) is a collection of 21 biographical essays;Het ane Halvash (1980) andVahal ane Vinod (1995) have 33 and 24 essays respectively with light humour;Vaninu Sat, Vanini Shakti (1997) is a collection of short essays on words ofVeda andUpnishad whileGun ane Garima (1997) is a collection of 31 essays.Labhshankar Thakar edited and published selected essays asAa-nand Parva (2002). His other collections of humorous essays areHalavi Kalamna Ful (2005) andChandrakant Shethni Pratinidhi Hasyarachnao (2007).[5]
Dhoolmani Pagalio (1984) is his autobiographical work about his childhood;Dharatina Chand, Dharatina Sooraj (1996,1997) is a collection of biographical essays;America Bhas Abhas (2001) is a travelogue;Swapnapinjar (1983) is a collection of one-act plays;E Balconyvali Chhokari Ane... (1995) is a collection of stories whileE Ane Hu (1991) is a humour story.[5]
His works of criticism includeKavyapratyaksh (1976),Arthantar (1978),Ramnarayan V. Pathak (1979),Irony nu Swarup ane Sahityama Teno Viniyog (1984),Kavitani Trijyama (1986),Kant (1990),Sahitya: Pran ane Pravartan (1998),Swami Anand (1998) andShabda Deshno, Shabda Videshno (2002). His other works areSwaminarayan Santkavita: Aswad ane Avbodh (1984),Gujaratima Viramchihno (with Mohanbhai Patel, 1973),Mahadev Desai: Satva ane Sadhana (1994),Gujarati Gamnam-suchi (1996),Umashankar Joshi: Zalak ane Zankhi (2003),Umashankar no Vagvaibhav (2008) andSahitya- Prabhav ane Prati-bhav (2006).[5]
Sheth translated and adapted many works which includePandit Bhatkhande (1967),Malayalam Sahityani Rooprekha (1978),Athamni Rat (1994),Anu Naam Zindagi (1995) andLakhmi (1995). He editedBrihad Gujarati Kavya Parichay Part I and II (1973, 1995),Brihad Gujarati Gadya Parichay Part I and II (1973, 1995) andBhasha Sahitya Dwara Rashtriy Ekta (1977) with Mohanbhai Patel. He also editedPriyakant Maniar na Kavyo (1998),Chunteli Kavita: Sundaram (2000),Manhariyat (2000) andAmargeeto (2000). He edited, with others,Dampatyamangal (1979),Matrudarshan (1981),Pushtidarshan (1986),Hemchandracharya (1989),Yugdrashta Umashankar Joshi (1995),Adhit: Pramukhiy Pravachano (1997),Pratyayan: Swatantrya Suvarna Jayanti Visheshank (1998),Gurjar Adyatan Kavya Sanchay (1998),Gurjar Pranay Kavya Sanchay (1998),Gurjar Geet Sanchay (1998),Gurjar Gazal Sangrah (1998) andGurjar Kavya Vaibhav (2005).Sankhya Nirdeshak Shabda Sangnyao (1983) is also his work.[5]
Sheth wonKumar Chandrak in 1964,Narmad Suvarna Chandrak in 1964,Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1985,Narsinh Mehta Award in 2005 andSahitya Gaurav Puraskar in 2006. His bookDhoolmani Paglio (1984) was awarded theUma-Snehrashmi Prize (1984–85) andSahitya Akademi Award (1986). In 1986, he receivedDhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak which he shared withRajendra Shah, a Gujarati poet. He has also received the Chandrashekhar Thakkur Prize (1973), Ramprasad Bakshi Prize (1998), Anantrai Raval Vivechan Award (2000) and Natwarlal Malvi Prize (2001).[5][8] In 2018, theSahitya Akademi awarded himBal Sahitya Puraskar for his contribution inGujarati children's literature.[9]
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