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L i f e : 1896 - 1922 |
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Rajkot
Memoirs
No place was perhaps dearer to his heart than Rajkot !
He arrived
here as a Two-year Toddler and stayed on for the next
Six years,
which saw him blossom into an Eight-year Bonny Boy.
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Policelines
at Sadar
Bazaar
where he stayed
with his policeman father
Family of ten lived on his father's monthly salary of
rupees 15
|
courtesy Lang Library, Rajkot
Connaught
Hall
often visited with his family |
Artist Jagdeep
Smart
Governer's
Convoy
went with
his teachers to watch |
courtesy European Gymkhana, Rajkot
European
Gymkhana
loved to watch the Royals playing cricket |
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Meghani recollects
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School Years
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First School Attended
:
1901
Taluka School, Sadar, Rajkot
( now : Raashtreeya Shaayar Jhaverchand
Meghani Primary School No. 8 ) |
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Rajkot School Register |
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Datha |
Paliyad |
Jhinjhuwada |
Primary Education
continued at
Datha,
Paliyad, Jhinjhuwada, Wadhwan
Camp,
Lakhapadar,
Bagasara
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Wadhwan Camp
(now
Surendranagar) |
Lakhapadar |
Bagasara |
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Middle School
Bagasara |
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Matriculation
:
1912
Government High School, Amreli
( now : TP and MT Gandhi Girls
School ) |
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Was a bright
student who always topped the class. |
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Loved to read.
Read mainly Kalapi and
Nhanalal. |
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Nhanalal Kavi
(1877-1946) |
Jaya-Jayant
one of his
better-known works |
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Wrote poems
which he would sing in his vibrant voice. |
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Jain
Paathshaalaa,
Bagasara |
First Poem at the age of 12
A philanthropist,
Chimanaji Velaji,
visiting the Jain
Paathshaalaa
(study centre) at Bagasara
took out
a donation.
The
Jain
Muni Manekchandji
there announced --
"this Jhavabhai of ours will now thank
the donor in his own way".
And the boy Jhaver, without delay or fuss whatsoever, burst into a
spontaneously
composed four-line thanks-giving verse.
The donor, in appreciation, gave a
prize of Rupees 25.
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'Vilapi' was one of the pseudonyms he
used. |
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Baal Mitra Mandal |
Formed
Baal Mitra Mandal,
a
group
of school friends
at
Bagasara,
and carried out various social and cultural activities under its banner.
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Friends
at Bagasara School |
Girdharlal Kalidas
Desai
(1898-1956) |
Gulabchand Moolji Vakhariya
(1893-1980) |
Lalchand Jaichand Vora
(1896-1989) |
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and their
homes where he was a regular visitor |
Girdharlal
Desai
Upaashray Sheri |
Gulabchand
Vakhariya
Vakhariya Sheri, Naani Bazaar |
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Gulabchand Vakhariya
(Brain), Girdharlal
Desai (Hand), Meghani
(Heart)
were the core members of the group.
The group
performed historical and social dramas
on the Annual Social Gathering
which were enjoyed and appreciated by people from all walks of life. |
Rana Pratap |
Julius Caesar |
Sikandar |
Hamlet |
Shahjahan |
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Meghani was associated
with all aspects of the drama : selecting the theme, writing the script,
picking up the cast, designing costumes and stage, directing and even acting. |
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Khetani Jain Boarding, Amreli |
Morning Prayer
Composed by
him which continued to be sung
at the
Boarding School at Amreli
even after he left it. |
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On
passing his Matriculation examination,
he was presented with a
Maan-Patra (citation) at a function
organised by his friends of
Baal Mitra Mandal
on the terrace of
Darbargadh of Bagasara.
He thanked his friends quoting Sanskrit verses. |
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College Years
Samaldas College,
Bhavnagar |
Bahauddin College,
Junagadh |
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1913 |
Previous |
Samaldas College,
Bhavnagar |
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1914 |
Inter Arts |
Samaldas College, Bhavnagar |
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1915 |
Junior B A
- 1st term |
Bahauddin College, Junagadh |
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1915 |
Junior B A
- 2nd term |
Samaldas College, Bhavnagar |
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1917 |
B A
( English and Sanskrit ) |
Samaldas College, Bhavnagar |
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Samaldas College, Bhavnagar |
On
passing his Matriculation examination
from Government High School,
Amreli in 1912,
he joined
Samaldas College, Bhavnagar in
1913. |
He was more inclined
towards Literature and Language.
Took active part in
College Debates and
Social gatherings. |
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He lived a simple life. |
A white long
coat,
a
dhoti
reaching well down the knees and a
turban typically
tied around his head
was his regular attire
in the college. |
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His
simple and sober nature prompted his college mates to call him
Raja Janak |
He washed his own clothes and took bath with cold water even in chilly winter mornings.
He didnot take anything between the two regular meals -- not even tea. |
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Samaldas College
Hostels, Bhavnagar
where he stayed |
Old Residency
behind Jasonath Mahadev Temple |
New Residency
near Samaldas College |
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Jasonath Mahadev
Temple, Bhavnagar |
Every
Poonam
(full moon)
night
the students organised a gathering on the premises of Jasonath Mahadev Temple.
He sang, in his sweet melodious voice, poems of Kalapi and Nhanalal. |
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Close Friend at Samaldas College, Bhavnagar |
Kapilbhai Parmanand Thakkar
'Majnu'
(1892-1959)
Poet, Writer, Critic, Columnist
and
nephew of
Thakkar Bapa
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Ghanti
-
a pair of grinding stones
Meghani used to help
Kapilbhai's
wife Ujamben
and sister Kanchanben |
Kapilbhai's
house
in Vasani Faliyu, Danapeeth |
Dagger
which Meghani gifted to Kapilbhai |
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Close to the
entire family, he often visited them.
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Thakkar
Brothers
left to right
Ramubhai, Kapilbhai, Anantbhai |
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First
Performance in Public
Singing
1914 |
Sir Bhavsinhji Gohil
Maharaja of
Bhavnagar |
Aradeshar
Khabardar
Noted Gujarati Poet |
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Meghani sang
Khabardar's
popular song
`Amaaree Gunavantee
Gujarat'
during an Annual Social Gathering of Samaldas College with emotion
which held spellbound the entire audience including the chief guest, Maharaja of Bhavnagar. |
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1941 issue |
Poem |
Prose
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Contributed to The
Samaldas College
Magazine under the pseudonym of
`M'. |
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He had started taking interest in the game of Tennis
and was invariably to be spotted on the court,
dot on time, racket in hand, whenever it was the turn of his group to take to the
court.
He soon excelled at the game, and in one of the tournaments even reached the semi-final
stage !
As for Cricket, he enjoyed watching good, interesting matches. |
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Bahauddin College, Junagadh |
Bahauddin College, he felt, would be a better place for the study of
Sanskrit,
and he therefore moved over there
in 1915, only to return to Samaldas College after just
one term. |
Gaurishankar Joshi `Dhoomketu'
(1892-1965)
who was later to sparkle in the firmament of Gujarati literature
was his
classmate at
Bahauddin College, Junagadh. |
Hostels at Junagadh
where he stayed |
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Dasha Shrimaali Vanik
Vidhaarthi Bhavan |
Register of
Vanik
Vidhaarthi Bhavan |
Bahauddin
College Residency |
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Sanatan Dharma
High School, Bhavnagar |
Audichya Brahmin
Boarding, Bhavnagar |
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While teaching at
Sanatan Dharma High School
at Bhavnagar he read
for
M A.
and also worked as Rector at Audichya
Brahmin
Boarding.
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1918 - 1921 :
Calcutta
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On getting the news of the
ill-health of his elder brother
Lalchandbhai
who had settled at Calcutta
(now Kolkota)
rushed there, leaving mid-way everything on hand
at Bhavnagar.
Learned, and perfected
in no time, Bangla
by . . .
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Chowranghee |
Burra
Bazaar |
BBD
Bagh |
... trying and deciphering
Street Signboards
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Dwijendralal
Roy
(1863 - 1913) |
Star
Theatre |
Raja Ram Mohan
Roy
(1774 - 1833) |
Brahmo
Samaj |
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... reading and watching
Bengali Theatre and
Drama |
...
attending
Sunday Weekly Meetings of
Brahmo Samaj |
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Rabindranath
Tagore
(1861-1941) |
Bankim Chandra
Chattopadhay
(1838 - 1894)
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Dakshinaranjan
Mitra Majumdar
(1877 - 1957) |
Dinesh Chandra
Sen
(1866 - 1939) |
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... reading
Bengali Poetry |
... reading
Bengali Novels |
... studying
Bengali Folklore |
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... and thus slowly soaked himself in
Bengali literature
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First
Song
he composed during his stay at Calcutta
1918
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He joined Jeevanlal and Co. in
1918 as Personal Assistant of the
owner Jeevanlal Shah.
He was the
first graduate to join the company. |
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Mehta Building,
55,Canning Street
Office of the Company |
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The company carried out all its business operations in English with a refreshing modern outlook.
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He was soon promoted as the Manager of the
company's factory at Belur,
Crown Aluminium,
which
had a workforce of over 500 people.
Fondly called Paghadee
Babu
by his colleagues
and workers alike,
he was loved by one and all for his simple, unassuming nature.
"I am,"
he would often say,
"but a glorified labourer."
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Armenian Ghat
Rising early,
every morning, he would get ready within no time.
Dressed in his
traditional
attire of a
dhoti
and a
coat
with a
turban typically tied around his head
in a style all his own,
he would set off on his bicycle for the Armenian Ghat on the eastern bank of the river Hoogly.
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Ferry
From there he would
embark a ferry
along with his bicycle for which too he had a
monthly pre-paid pass !
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Belur Ghat
On reaching the Belur Ghat on the western bank
across the river he would disembark --
yes,
along with his bicycle, which he would then ride again to reach the factory
nearby. |
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picture from the passport |
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Visited
England
with the owner of
the company
1919 |
Oxford University |
Westminster Palace, London |
Cambridge University |
Visited
London, Oxford University,
Cambridge University and other places of interest |
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Lalchand Kalidas
Meghani
Meghani's Eldest Brother |
In
1917 Lalchandbhai started a firm called
'Upayogi Vastu Bhandar'
at
14, Amartala Street
which manufactured and
sold essential things.
It later came to be known as 'L K Meghanee'. |
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1921
Written from Calcutta to his close childhood
friend
Gulabchand Vakhariya during a moment of rare inspiration.
September 18, 1921
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Yes Kathiawaar; I Love you |
The heart inside was restless. It was as if
Kathiawaar was calling him.
The friends were sarcastic : what exactly were the prospects there for one looking forward to live in
Kathiawaar
then --
and on pen at that --
which encouraged him to leave his present bread-giving job ?
The call however proved irresistable and, voluntarily foregoing a prospective career,
he returned to
his native place Bagasara in Kathiawaar
in November, 1921
Incidentally, the entire staff of the
company was there at the railway station to see him off
as he left Calcutta for Kathiawaar.
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Glimpses of Bagasara
his native place |
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Saatallee
River |
Bageshwar Mahadev |
Ra' Mandalik's
Memorial |
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Meghani's
Mentor
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Friend, Philosopher, Guide and, finally, a
Fan of Jhaverchand Meghani |
Meghani greatly respected his insights in subjects like History
and Culture, Literature and Folklore,
Philosophy and Religion,
calling him the 'Fountainhead
of Sorathee Folklore'. |
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Thinker, Social Reformist , an able Administrator -- and a knowledgeable Musician too ! |
Theosophist
Started a centre of
Theosophical Society at Hadala.
Successed in persuading Dr.
Annie Besant to
visit the then almost unknown Hadala as early as in 1902. |
Gradually leaned towards Gandhian ideas.
Brought
Mahatma
Gandhi,
along with his followers, all
the way to Bagasara in 1925. |
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Bagasara - Darbargadh
work-place |
Darbargadh |
Main Gate |
Darbar Hall |
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Guest House
where Meghani stayed |
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Hadala
home |
Darbargadh |
Temple which
Vajsurvala built |
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river
Hadala |
Guest House
on the bank of river Hadala
where Meghani stayed |
Banglawaadi
Meghani loved this cool spot |
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Meghani remembers
Darbar
Vajsurvala
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Vadia-Devali
Guest House of
Darbar Vajsurvala ... |
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... where
Meghani stayed whenever he visited Vadia along with
Darbar Vajsurvala |
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Meghani's Kathi friends at Vadia-Devali |
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Darbar Bawavala Jivanavala
(1874-1930)
a close friend of
Kalapi and Darbar Vajsurvala |
Darbar
Suragvala Bawavala
(1904-1950)
Vadia estate |
Vadia Palace |
It was Darbar Vajsurvala who
introduced Meghani to Darbar Suragvala,
a
thinker and social reformist having deep interest in literature and folklore. |
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his wife Amarba |
Hathibhai Rambhai Vank
Administrator of Vadia estate |
his house at Vadia |
The couple
opened up a treasure trove of
Kathi marriage-songs before Meghani
who included these in
Chu(n)dadee,
Volume 2,
a collection of marriage songs from various castes and communities
first published in 1929. |
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1922
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Married
Damyantiben
daughter of
Shah
Manilal Manekchand Khara and Diwalibai
August 18, 1922
... fulfilling the last wish of his terminally-ill sister, Labhuben.
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People flocked the
streets
of Bagasara to watch the
marriage procession
of the first graduate of the town
which was taken out in a
Buggy
(chariot) pulled by two horses. |
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The song
believed to have been
composed
by him specially for the occasion
and full-throatedly rendered aloud,
at the instance of the friends there, right in the presence of Damyantiben,
the newly-wed bride being welcome at her Sasuraal
(house of in-laws). |
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Incidentally, the bride was prevailed upon to enter her new home with her face uncovered
-- something most unusual in those days. |
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Shah
Manilal Manekchand Khara
Damyantiben's father
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Shivlal Gosaliya
Maasaa (maternal uncle) |
Jam
Ranjit Sinh
(1872 - 1933) |
Damyantiben was staying at
Jetpur with her
Maasaa
(maternal uncle)
-- Shivlal Gosaliya,
who was the Diwaan
of Bilkha state and
who is fondly remembered even today
as perhaps the only bowler in cricket to have taken the wicket of the
legendary
Jam
Ranjit Singh,
the fiery batsman feared by bowlers the world over,
with the very first ball he ever bowled to him.
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Bilkhaa-no
Utaaro, Jetpur
the house of Shivlal
Gosaliya and the venue of the marriage |
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Meghani
remembers
Shivlal Gosaliya
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Damyantiben's
handwriting |
Sankalibai Gosaliya
Maasee
(maternal aunt) |
Damyantiben took down
the poem recited by her
Maasee (maternal aunt),
Sankalibai Shivlal Gosaliya |
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