Kishorlal Mashruwala | |
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| Born | (1890-10-05)5 October 1890 |
| Died | 9 September 1952(1952-09-09) (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Political activist, writer |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Education | BA, LLB |
| Alma mater | Wilson College, Bombay |
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Kishorlal Ghanshyamlal Mashruwala (5 October 1890 – 9 September 1952) was an Indian independence activist as well as biographer, essayist and translator. Educated in Bombay and Agra, he completed BA and LLB. He was an associate ofMahatma Gandhi and was deeply influenced by him. He extensively wrote on education, religion and philosophy as well as translated some works inGujarati.
Mashruwala was born on 5 October 1890 inBombay (now Mumbai) in Mashruwala family. His family belonged toSurat. He was influenced bySwaminarayan Sampraday due to his father. He started his primary education inMarathi language inAkola. His mother died when he was eight so he was raised by her aunt in Bombay where he studied inGujarati. Followingplague in Bombay, he moved toAgra for school education where he also studiedHindi andUrdu.[1]
He receivedBA with elective subjects ofMaterial Science andChemistry in 1909 fromWilson College, Bombay. He completedLLB in 1913 and practised law for three years. He married Gomatiben in 1907.[1]
Mashruwala had briefly served as a secretary ofMahatma Gandhi.[2] He taught at the National School in hisSabarmati Ashram from 1917 to 1919. He served as the first Registrar ofGujarat Vidyapith which was founded by him. During this period, he was introduced to Kedarnathji byKaka Kalelkar. He was influenced bySahajanand Swami, Mahatma Gandhi and Kedarnathji. He participated in theIndian independence movement in 1930-32 and was imprisoned for two years by theBritish authorities. He served as the president of Gandhi Sewa Sangh from 1934 to 1938. Following arrest of Gandhi during the 1942Quit India Movement, he managed Gandhi's periodicalHarijan. He was again imprisoned for sometime. Following 1946, he editedHarijan till his death.[1]
He died on 9 September 1952 followingasthmatic attack. He was cremated the next day at Gopuri inWardha next toJamnalal Bajaj's memorial.[1][3]
Mashruwala has highlighted the human elements in his biographies which includeRam Ane Krishna (Rama andKrishna, 1923),Ishu Khrist (Jesus Christ, 1925),Buddha Ane Mahavir (Buddha andMahavira, 1926) andSahajanand Swami (Sahajanand Swami, 1926).[4] These are written in a simple and impacting language.[5]
Mashruwala had written some works on education such asKelavanina Paya (1925),Kelavani Vivek (1949),Kelavani Vikas (1950). He had suggested several changes and ideas in education. His works reflect Mahatma Gandhi's basic education schemeNai Talim.[1][5]
His biggest contribution in literature belongs to his essays on religion and philosophy.Jivan Shodhan (1929) has six sections focusing on changing perspective of life.Gandhivichardohan (1932) is his work onGandhian philosophy.Geetamanthan (1933) is a commentary onBhagavad Gita.Streepurush Maryada (1937) collects his essays written over span of a decade and has influences ofSwaminarayan Sampraday.Kagadani Najare (1947) is his satirical essays on followers of Gandhi. HisSamuli Kranti (1948) includes his original thoughts and commentaries on religion, society, economics, politics and education. His two volumes ofSansar Ane Dharma (1948) include his critical views on religion.[1]Gandhi Ane Samyavad (Gandhi and Communism/Gandhi and Marx, 1951) is a collection of series of essays published inHarijan which comparesGandhism andCommunism.[1][6] HisAhimsavivechan (1942) includes his articles on non-violence which has some differences of ideas from Gandhi.[1]
Mashruwala has translated several works in Gujarati includingKahlil Gibran'sThe Prophet asVidayni Velae (1935),John Morley'sOn Compromise asSatyamay Jivan (1933),Leo Tolstoy'sThe Light Shines in the Darkness asTimirma Prabha (1936),Maurice Maeterlinck'sThe Life of the White Ant asUdhainu Jivan (1940). He has also poetically translatedBhagavad Gita in Gujarati asGitadhwani (1933). During his imprisonment in 1942, he co-translatedPerry Burgess'Who Walk Alone asManavi Khandiyero (1946) withKaka Kalelkar.[1][5]
His associateNarhari Parikh has written his biographyShreyarthini Sadhana (1953).[1]
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