Jhaverchand
Kalidas Meghani (1896-1947) was a distinguished and
legendary
Poet, Writer, Folklorist, Researcher, Freedom-fighter,
Journalist, Social-reformer, Thinker, Orator and Singer
from Gujarat. |
He authored
more than 100 books during a short span of 25 years.
His range of work included a wide spectrum of literature
:
Poetry, Novel, Short stories, Drama, Biography, History,
Travelogue, Folk-songs, Folk-tales, Folklore research
and criticism. |
As a
sensitive nationalist Poet, he inspired generations with
his soul-stirring patriotic songs.
His songs kindled nationalistic spirit among people,
especially the youth, during the freedom movement.
His poems voiced sufferings, anguish, struggle and
aspirations of the common man -- the downtrodden,
oppressed and afflicted. |
He touched
millions of hearts by singing in his gifted vibrant and
expressive voice. |
As a
pioneering Folklorist and Researcher, he painstakingly
excavated lost treasures of folklore of Gujarat.
His wanderlust took him to far-flung and extremely
remote villages, mountains, rivers, ravines and deserts
on foot, horses, camels, bullock-carts and ships.
Given his deep knowledge and insights into folklore and
literature, he single-handedly documented and revived
various dimensions of folk-literature,
which had, by then, almost perished and were anecdotally
preserved mainly in oral form. |
He was the
Editor of
Phulchhab,
one of the most reputed newspapers of Gujarat during
those days.
As a fearless and fair Journalist, his contribution to
the major newspapers of his time such as
Saurashtra, Phulchhab
and
Janmabhoomi
was
tremendous and spanned over a period of 23 years.
|
He became a
legend in his life time ! |
|