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{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox writer 
| name=Chandrakant Bakshi
| image= Chandrakant Bakshi.jpg
| img_capt=
| caption= Bakshi at [[Kolkata]], 2003
| birth_date={{birth date|df=yes|1932|8|20}}
| birth_place=[[Palanpur]], Gujarat
| death_date={{death date and age|df=yes|2006|3|25|1932|8|20}}
| death_place=[[Ahmedabad]], Gujarat
| occupation= Author
| language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| spouse=Bakula Bakshi
| children = Reeva
| period=
| nationality=Indian
| influenced=
| notableworks = [[Paralysis (novel)|Paralysis]] (1967)
| signature=Chandrakant Bakshi Signature.svg
| awards=
}}
'''Chandrakant Keshavlal Bakshi''' ({{lang-gu|ચંદ્રકાંત કેશવલાલ બક્ષી}}) was a [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] author from [[Gujarat]], India and a former [[Sheriff of Mumbai]]. He was known for his bold and new concepts in writing during his time in [[Gujarati literature]]. He is also addressed as '''Bakshi''' or '''Bakshibabu'''. Born in [[Palanpur]], he completed higher education and had a business in [[Calcutta]]. He started writing there and later moved to [[Mumbai]] for his teaching career. He wrote 178 books, and wrote extensively in newspaper columns.

==Life==
[[File:Home of Chandrakant Baxi.jpg|100px|thumb|Bakshi's home in Palanpur where he was born|left]]
Chnadrakant Bakshi was born on 20 August 1932 at [[Palanpur]] (now in [[Banaskantha district]], Gujarat).<ref name="one" /> He was second child of Keshavlal Bakshi and Chanchalben, a Gujarati [[Jain]] family. He completed his primary education in Palanpur. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 from St. Xavier's College, [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai). He moved to [[Calcutta]] (now Kolkata) where he studied for an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]] in 1956 and an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in History in 1963.<ref name="AGSI">{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ|last=Brahmabhatt|first=Prasad|publisher=Parshwa Publication|year=2010|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7|location=Ahmedabad|pages=163–170|language=gu|trans-title=History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era}}</ref>

He was in the textile business for twelve years and had a garment shop in Culcutta. He wrote his first short story ''Makan Nu Bhut'' (Ghost of the House) at this shop. He published his first book ''Padgha Doobi Gaya'' (Sunken Echoes) in 1957.<ref name="dna" /> In 1969, he moved to Mumbai and settled there and started teaching history at Raheja College. He joined [[Mithibai College]] as a professor of history and politics from 1970 to 1980. He also taught post-graduate students at the [[University of Mumbai|University of Bombay]] and was its senate member. He was the principal of L. S. Rajani Arts and Commerce College from 1980 to 1982 and retired from there. Later he accepted writing and journalism as his career. He wrote columns for several dailies and magazines. He also served as an adviser to ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'' daily.<ref name="one" /><ref name="AGSI"/>

He was appointed to the ceremonial post of [[Sheriff of Mumbai]] in 1999 by the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="dna">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-ex-sheriff-chandrakant-bakshi-no-more-1019979|title=Ex-sheriff Chandrakant Bakshi no more|date=25 March 2006|access-date =27 March 2014|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> He died on 25 March 2006 in [[Ahmedabad]] following a heart attack.<ref name=one>{{cite news|title=Former Mumbai Sherrif Chandrakant Bakshi dead|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2006/03/25/former-mumbai-sherrif-chandrakant-bakshi-dead-1143295494.html|date=25 March 2006|access-date =26 March 2014|work=One India News}}</ref><ref name="red">{{cite news|url=http://m.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/25baxi.htm|title=Well-known Gujarati writer Chandrakant Bakshi dead|date=26 March 2006|work=Rediff News|access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=cb>{{cite book |last= Datta|first= Amaresh|year= 1987|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|volume=1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA331&dq=chandrakant+bakshi&hl=en&sa=X&ei=UHo0U8nsEoOJrQfmjoGoDQ&ved=0CDgQ6AEwAw|publisher=Sahitya Akademi |pages= 331|isbn= 9788126018031|access-date=28 March 2014 }}</ref>

==Writing==

=== Style ===
Bakshi prepared only one draft for his writings. His language was a mix-up of Gujarati and Urdu words. His novels and stories had impact of [[existentialism]], his characters are suffering and frustrated yet surviving. ''Ekra'' (1963) is one such example. In his novels, the story was a chief element. He rejected social and literary taboos in his novels but his works were concerned for readers. He freely borrowed words and phrases from Hindi, Urdu and English in his works.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA141|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|page=141}}</ref> He wrote historical fiction like ''Atitvan'' and ''Ayanvritta''. His short stories have themes like complexities of urban life, emotional outbursts, and the atmosphere of war. He wrote extensively on history and culture. According to ''Rediff'', his writing was 'sharp and brutal' when he criticised people he disliked. His biography ''Bakshinama'' was partially published in serialised form in Gujarati daily ''Samkalin''. Some parts were not published due to its violent imagery like urinating on the dead body of his enemy.<ref name="red" /><ref name="cb" />

===Works===
{{Prose|section|date=March 2017}}
He is best known for his sixth novel ''[[Paralysis (novel)|Paralysis]]'' published in 1967, which revolves around protagonist Professor Shah who becomes paralyzed and reminisces about his past life events in hospital. The novel is translated in [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[English language|English]] and [[Russian language|Russian]]. Another well known non-fiction books he authored is મહાજાતિ ગુજરાતી (Gujarati - A great race), a book on the traditions, characteristics and behavior of the various castes of Gujarat.

He authored 178 books, including 17 books on history and culture, 26 novels, 15 collections of [[short story|short stories]], six books on politics, eight [[Travel literature|travelogues]], two plays and 25 books on varied subjects, besides his autobiography ''Bakshinama''.<ref name="one" /><ref name="cb" />

He has also written in extensively in newspapers and 15 of his books have been translated into [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], English and other languages.<ref name="one" /><ref name="red" /><ref name="cb" />

His works are as follows:<ref name="cb" /><ref name="S">Introduction of Samkal(Novel)</ref>

===Short stories===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:left;" border="1"
! Name || Year || English meaning
|-
|Pyar
|1958
|Love
|-
|Ek sanjh ni mulaquat
|1961
|Meeting at one evening
|-
|Mira
|1965
|
|-
|Mashal
|1968
|[[Oil lamp|Lamp]]
|-
|Kramashaha
|1971
|[[To be continued]]
|-
|Ketlic American vartao
|1972
|Some American stories
|-
|Bakshini ketlic vartao
|1972
|Some stories by Bakshi
|-
|Pashchim
|1976
|West
|-
|Aajni soviet vartao
|1977
|Soviet stories of today
|-
|Chandrakant bakshi ni shreshth vartao
|1977
|Greatest stories by Chandrakant Bakshi
|-
|139 vartao-1
|1987
|139 stories-First part
|-
|139 vartao-2
|1987
|139 stories-Second part
|-
|Chandrakant bakshi : Sadabahar vartao
|2002
|Chandrakant Bakshi : Evergreen stories
|-
|Bakshi ni vartao(Akademi)
|has not been published
|Stories of Bakshi(Academy)
|-
|Kutti
|
|Bitch (female dog)
|}

===Novels===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%; text-align:left;" border="1"
! Name || Year || English meaning
|-
|Padgha dubi gaya
|1957
|Sunken Echoes
|-
|Roma
|1959
|Roma
|-
|Ekaltana kinara
|1959
|Shores of Solitude
|-
|Aakar
|1963
|[[Shapes]]
|-
|Ek ane Ek
|1965
|One and one
|-
|[[Paralysis (novel)|Paralysis]]
|1967
|[[Paralysis]]
|-
|Jatakkatha
|1969
|Jataka Tales
|-
|Honeymoon
|1971
|Honeymoon
|-
|Ayanvrutt
|1972
|The Equator, Transition of events from Prehistoric to Historic era spanning over 10,000 years narrated in fictional style
|-
|Atitavan
|1973
|In the Timberland of Ancient Time, a sequel to Ayanvrutt, yet another novel blending fiction and historical account
|-
|Lagnani aagli rate
|1973
|On the night prior to marriage
|-
|Zindani
|1974
|The prison
|-
|Surkhab
|1974
|[[Pelican]]
|-
|Aakashe kahyu
|1975
|Sky told
|-
|Reef Marina
|1976
|Reef Marina
|-
|Yatra no ant (translated)
|1976
|End of the tour
|-
|Dishatarang
|1979
|Wave of the direction
|-
|Baki raat
|1979
|Remaining night
|-
|Hatheli par Badbaki
|1981
|Deduction on palm
|-
|Hu, Konarak Shah
|1983
|I, Konarak Shah
|-
|Lili nasoma Pankhar
|1984
|Translated as "Lost Illusions", literally meaning Autumn in every leaf, translated as पतझड हर पत्ते में in Hindi
|-
|Vansh
|1986
|Descent
|-
|Priy Nikki
|1987
|Dear Nikki
|-
|Chorus
|1991
|
|-
|Maru naam taru naam
|1995
|My name Your name
|-
|Samkaal
|1998
|Contemporaneous
|}

====Columns====
He wrote weekly columns in several Gujarati newspapers and magazines including ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'', ''[[Gujarat Samachar]]'', ''[[Sandesh (newspaper)|Sandesh]]'', ''[[Mid-Day]]'', ''[[Chitralekha (weekly)|Chitralekha]]''.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

====Adaptations====
His popular short story 'એક સાંજની મુલાકાત ... ' (One evening visit) was adapted into a telefilm "Ek Shaam Ki Mulakaat" by [[Tigmanshu Dhulia]]. It was the first episode of acclaimed Indian television series [[Star Bestsellers]], aired on [[Star Plus]] in 1999–2000. The main leads were played by [[Irrfan Khan]] and [[Tisca Chopra]].

==Controversies==
His short story ''Kutti'' was banned by the [[Government of Gujarat]] and an arrest warrant was issued against him; so he fought a court case against the government. They later withdrew all charges against him.<ref name="dna" /><ref name="red" /><ref name="cb" />

He criticised Indian politician, [[Bal Thackeray]] in his column and was asked to apologise by Thackeray's party members. He refused and never did.<ref name="red" />

==In popular culture==
His autobiography ''Bakshinama'' was adapted into a Gujarati play, ''[[Hu Chandrakant Bakshi]]'', by Shishir Ramavat. It was directed by [[Manoj Shah]] and starred [[Pratik Gandhi]] in the lead role.<ref name="Seta 2013">{{cite web | last=Seta | first=Keyur | title=Review: Hu Chandrakant Bakshi – Meet the bold and rebellious author | website=My Theatre Cafe | date=1 October 2013 | url=http://mytheatrecafe.com/reviews/hu-chandrakant-bakshi-gujarati-play-review-manoj-shah/ | access-date=9 August 2015}}</ref>

==Personal life==
He married Bakula, who died in 2002. Their unmarried daughter Reeva Bakshi lives in Ahmedabad.<ref name="one" /><ref name="red" /> His elder brother Lalit and younger brother Bakul, a retired [[Indian Administrative Services|I. A. S.]] officer, are also columnists.

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bakshi, Chandrakant}}
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Sheriffs of Mumbai]]
[[Category:People from Banaskantha district]]
[[Category:Novelists from Gujarat]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Indian travel writers]]
[[Category:Indian political writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Indian autobiographers]]

Chandrakant Bakshi - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:59, 2 January 2022