Narmadashankar Lalshankar Dave (pronounced [nÉ™r.mÉ™.d̪aË
ʃəŋ.kÉ™r laË l.ʃəŋ.kÉ™r d̪ə.Ê‹e]) (24 August 1833 â€" 26
February 1886), popularly known as Narmad, was an Indian
Gujarati-language poet, playwright, essayist, orator, lexicographer
and reformer under the British Raj. He is considered to be the founder
of modern Gujarati literature.[1] After studying in Bombay, he stopped
serving as a teacher to live by writing. During his prolific career,
he introduced many literary forms in Gujarati. He faced economic
struggles but proved himself as a dedicated reformer, speaking loudly
against religious and social orthodoxy. His essays, poems, plays and
prose were published in several collections. His Mari Hakikat, the
first autobiography in Gujarati,[A] was published posthumously.[B] His
poem Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat is now the state anthem of Gujarat state
of India.[4][5]Narmad was born in Surat, Gujarat on 24 August 1833 to
Lalshankar and Navdurga.[6] His family home in Amliran, Surat was
destroyed in the great fire of 1837 but was later rebuilt. He
commenced schooling with Nana Mehta in Bhuleshwar, Bombay at age five.
He later joined Fakir Mehta and Ichchha Mehta's school in Surat and
moved to Bombay where he attended the Government Gujarati school of
Balgovind Mehta at Pydhonie. He returned to Surat where he attended
the school of Durgaram Mehta and Pranshankar Mehta. He was initiated
in Upanayan at age eight. He started studying at the English School,
Elphinstone Institute, Bombay on 6 January 1845, beginning college in
June 1850. He delivered his first public speech Mandali Malvathi Thata
Labh (The Advantages of Forming An Associations) that same year.[7]
His mother died on 23 November 1850 and he left college.[3][1][8]He
was appointed as a teacher at the school of Rander on 1 May 1851. He
again recited his early essay in Swadesh Hitechchhu Mandali and
started Gyansagar magazine in July 1851. He was transferred to a
school in Nanpara in March 1853. After the death of his wife Gulab, he
left this position and went to Bombay, in January 1854. He returned to
college on the suggestion of his friend Jhaverilal Umiyashankar and
joined Buddhi Vardhak Sabha, a literary group in June 1854. He started
learning Siddhant Kaumudi.
ʃəŋ.kÉ™r laË l.ʃəŋ.kÉ™r d̪ə.Ê‹e]) (24 August 1833 â€" 26
February 1886), popularly known as Narmad, was an Indian
Gujarati-language poet, playwright, essayist, orator, lexicographer
and reformer under the British Raj. He is considered to be the founder
of modern Gujarati literature.[1] After studying in Bombay, he stopped
serving as a teacher to live by writing. During his prolific career,
he introduced many literary forms in Gujarati. He faced economic
struggles but proved himself as a dedicated reformer, speaking loudly
against religious and social orthodoxy. His essays, poems, plays and
prose were published in several collections. His Mari Hakikat, the
first autobiography in Gujarati,[A] was published posthumously.[B] His
poem Jai Jai Garavi Gujarat is now the state anthem of Gujarat state
of India.[4][5]Narmad was born in Surat, Gujarat on 24 August 1833 to
Lalshankar and Navdurga.[6] His family home in Amliran, Surat was
destroyed in the great fire of 1837 but was later rebuilt. He
commenced schooling with Nana Mehta in Bhuleshwar, Bombay at age five.
He later joined Fakir Mehta and Ichchha Mehta's school in Surat and
moved to Bombay where he attended the Government Gujarati school of
Balgovind Mehta at Pydhonie. He returned to Surat where he attended
the school of Durgaram Mehta and Pranshankar Mehta. He was initiated
in Upanayan at age eight. He started studying at the English School,
Elphinstone Institute, Bombay on 6 January 1845, beginning college in
June 1850. He delivered his first public speech Mandali Malvathi Thata
Labh (The Advantages of Forming An Associations) that same year.[7]
His mother died on 23 November 1850 and he left college.[3][1][8]He
was appointed as a teacher at the school of Rander on 1 May 1851. He
again recited his early essay in Swadesh Hitechchhu Mandali and
started Gyansagar magazine in July 1851. He was transferred to a
school in Nanpara in March 1853. After the death of his wife Gulab, he
left this position and went to Bombay, in January 1854. He returned to
college on the suggestion of his friend Jhaverilal Umiyashankar and
joined Buddhi Vardhak Sabha, a literary group in June 1854. He started
learning Siddhant Kaumudi.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.