>Chris the speller at 04:20, 26 May 2021

2021-05-26T04:20:16Z

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{{Infobox writer
| name = Gunvant Shah
| image = Gunvant Shah.jpg
| imagesize =
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| caption = Shah at his residence in [[Vadodara]]
| pseudonym =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1937|03|12}}
| birth_place = [[Rander]], [[Surat]], Gujarat, India
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
* Writer
* essayist
* professor
}}
| nationality = Indian
| ethnicity =
| citizenship =
| education =
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| notableworks =
| spouse = Avantika Shah
| children = Manisha, Amisha, Vivek
| relatives =
| influences =
| influenced =
| awards = {{plainlist|
*[[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] (1997)
*[[Padma Shri]] (2015)}}
| signature =
| website =
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}}
'''Gunvant Shah''' is an essayist, educationist, columnist and philosophy writer and critic from [[Gujarat]], India. He taught at various universities and participated in various education oriented events and organisations. His large number of essays, including philosophical essays, are published as books. He received [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] in 1997 and [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.<ref name=pdma/> In 2019, he was awarded a [[D.Lit.]] by [[Gujarat University]]

==Life==
Gunvant Shah was born on 12 March 1937 in [[Rander]] village near [[Surat]], [[Gujarat]] to Bhushanlal. He completed his primary education from Rander and secondary education from Jain high school, Surat. He completed B.Sc. in Chemistry in 1957. He received his B.Ed. from [[Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda|M. S. University]], [[Vadodara]] in 1959. He continued at the university to finish his M.Ed. and PhD in 1961 and 1964 respectively.<ref name=AGSI>{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era)|first=Prasad|last=Brahmabhatt |publisher=Parshwa Publication|location=Ahmedabad|year=2010|pages=295–298|language=gu|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7}}</ref><ref name=basic>{{cite web | title=About the Author - Dr. Gunvant B. Shah | website=Desh Videsh e-magazine | date=12 March 2016 | url=http://www.deshvidesh.com/community-news/about-the-author-dr-gunvant-b-shah/ | access-date=22 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="Tahuko 2008"/><ref>[http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=193098 Famed Gujarati author Gunwant Shah and his daughter Amisha were..] [[Indian Express]], 17 July 2006. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060722040140/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=193098 |date=22 July 2006 }}</ref>

He served as Lecturer and [[Reader (academic rank)|Reader]] in the M. S. University from 1961 to 1972. He also served as a Visiting Professor to the [[University of Michigan]], [[Ann Arbor]], US in 1967–68 and the Visiting Professor in [[Arizona State University]], Tempe, US in 1985. He also served a Professor and Head, Department of Education, Technical Teachers' Training Institute, [[Madras]] in 1972–73; Professor of Education, [[SNDT Women's University]], [[Mumbai]] in 1973–74; Professor and Head, Department of Education, [[South Gujarat University]], Surat. He edited ''Nutan Shikshan'' magazine. He had founded ''Panchasheel'', a youth movement in Gujarat.He was the Chancellor of Gujarat state unit of International Association of Educators for World Peace. He was the President of Indian Association for Education Technology.<ref name=AGSI/>

He was the Vice-President of the Study Group on Economics of Media Technology sponsored by UNESCO to visit Paris in 1974. He represented India at the UNESCO Seminar in [[Leipzig]], East Germany in 1979. He was a consultant to [[Asian Development Bank]], [[Manila]] for education in [[Bangladesh]] during 1984–85. In 1975, he attended International Seminar on Microteachin at [[University of Lancaster]], UK. He was a member of the Delegation to East Germany sent by the [[University Grants Commission (India)|University Grants Commission]] in 1979. He served as a Resource Person in the Twelfth World Conference of International Council of Correspondence Education Vancouver, Canada in 1982.<ref name="Tahuko 2008">{{cite web | title=Dr. Gunvant B. Shah - Official Blog | website=Tahuko | date=2008-11-05 | url=https://gunvantshah.wordpress.com/about/ | access-date=2016-12-22}}</ref>

Since retirement from his teaching career, he writes weekly columns in ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'' daily, ''[[Chitralekha (weekly)|Chitralekha]]'' weekly and ''Navneet Samarpan'' monthly. In 2019, he was bestowed an Honorary D.Lit from [[Gujarat University]]. He lives at his residence Tahuko in [[Vadodara]].<ref name="Tahuko 2008"/>

==Works==
Gunvant Shah is chiefly an essayist.<ref name="Datta1988">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1216|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|page=1216}}</ref> His collections of essays are ''Cardiogram'' (1997), ''Ran To Lilachham'' (1978), ''Vagda Ne Taras Tahukani'' (1979), ''Vicharo Na Vrundavanma'' (1981), ''Manna Meghdhanush'' (1985), ''Dhai Akshar Prem Ka'' (1993), ''Gandhini Ghadiyal'', ''Silence Zone'' (1984), ''Gandhini Champal'', ''Batrise Kothe Diva'' (1988), ''Sambhavami Yuge Yuge'' (1994), ''Akantna Akashma'' (1996), ''Kabir Khada Bazar Me'' (2004), ''Parodhiye Kalrav'', ''Vrukshmandirni Chhayama'' (2008), ''Kokarvarno Tadako'', ''Nirkhine Gaganma'', ''Cactus Flower'', ''Viratne Hindole'', ''Maro Tya Sudhi Jivo'', ''Zakal Bhina Parijat'', ''Ekant Na Akash Ma'', ''Prabhuna Ladakvaya'', ''Nikhalas Vato'', ''Mahabharat: Manavatanu Mahakavya'', ''Ekaltana Everest Par'', ''Gandhini Lakdi'', ''Patangiyani Anandyatra'', ''Prem Etle...'' and ''Kan Daine Sanbhalajo''.<ref name=AGSI/>

He wrote several books on philosophy including ''Krishnanu Jivansangeet'' (Symphony of [[Krishna]], 1984), ''Astitvano Utsav'' (1990), ''Patangiya Ni Avkashyatra'' (1998), ''Ghare Ghare Geetamrut'' (1989), ''Mahant, Mullah, Padri'' (1999),<ref name="The Hindu 2007">{{cite web | title=Article on Jinnah creates controversy | website=[[The Hindu]] | date=2007-07-08 | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Article-on-Jinnah-creates-controversy/article14790249.ece | access-date=2016-12-22}}</ref> ''Ishavasyam'', ''Ramayan: Manvatanu Mahakavya'' (2003), ''Bhagavananee Tapal'' (2006), ''Tahuko'', ''Guftagu'', ''Puchhta Nar Pandit'', ''Sex Mari Drashtie'', ''Ishwar Allah Tero Naam'', ''Sabko Sanmati De Bhagwan'', ''Sathe Shabde Shabde Setubandh'', ''Patangiya Ni Amrutyatra'', ''Sambhavami Kshane Kshane'', ''E-mail'', ''Secular Murabbo'', ''Secular Mijaj'', ''Secular Agenda'', ''Secular Idiot'', ''Krishna Mari Drashtie'', ''Krishnam Sharnam Gachhami'', ''Krishnaleela Madhur Madhur''.<ref name=AGSI/>

His biographical books are ''Ma'', ''Gandhi: Navi Pedhini Najare'', '' Mahamanav Mahavir'' (1986), ''Karunamurti Buddha'' (1983), ''Sardar Etle Sardar'' (1994), ''Shakyata Na Shilpi Shri Arvind'' and ''Gandhina Chashma''.<ref name=AGSI/>

''Columbusna Hindustanma'' (1966) and ''Apane Pravasi Paravarna'' are his travelogues. ''Vismayanu Parodh'' (1980) is a collection of prose poetry. ''Motel'' (1986), ''Rajkan Suraj Thavane Shamane'' (1986) and ''Pavan Nu Ghar'' (1995) are his novels.<ref name=AGSI/>

''Billo Tillo Tach'' (1997) and ''Jat Bhanee Ni Jatra'' are his autobiographical works.

''The Boss'' is his book on management. His other books are ''Shikshanni Vartaman Philsufio'' (1964) and ''Savdhan, Ekvisami Sadi Avi Rahi Chhe'' (1987). The quotes collected from his books are published as ''Telegram'', ''Telex'' and ''Fax''. His books are translated in other languages also. He has published five books in English and six in Hindi.<ref name=AGSI/>

==Awards and recognition==
He has won several prizes of [[Gujarati Sahitya Parishad]] and Gujarati Sahitya Akademi. He was awarded Pravinkant Reshamwala Smriti Award in 1992. He is the recipient of [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] in 1997, the highest literary award in [[Gujarati literature]]. He was awarded Swami Sachchidanand Sanman in 2001.<ref name=AGSI/><ref name=basic/> He was awarded [[Padma Shri]], the fourth highest civilian award of India, in 2015.<ref name=pdma>{{cite web|title=Padma Awards 2015|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6VrWjEuo3?url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=114952|publisher=Press Information Bureau|access-date=25 January 2015|archive-date=26 January 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In 2016, [[Gujarat Sahitya Akademi]] awarded him the [[Sahityaratna Award]].<ref name="Gujarat State Portal">{{cite web | title=Gujarat CM confers ‘Sahitya Ratna’ award to eminent litterateur Shri Gunvant Shah | website=Gujarat State Portal | url=http://www.gujaratindia.com/printpreview.aspx?id=163&lg=en&NewsID=nHUAjDzjhPpqbJYDEwqqfg== | access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref> In 2019, he was awarded a [[D.Lit.]] by [[Gujarat University]].<ref name="The Times of India 2019">{{cite news|title=Seven honorary DLitt degrees to be awarded|newspaper=The Times of India|date=13 February 2019|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/seven-honorary-dlitt-degrees-to-be-awarded/articleshow/67967158.cms|access-date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | last=Shah | first=Amisha | title=Guftagoo, Gunvant Shah Sathe : Vishwama Vasela Gujaratio Sathe e-Samvad (Conversation with Gunvant Shah)| publisher=R.R. Sheth and Co. | location=Mumbai | year=2007 | isbn=81-89919-15-6 | language=gu}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://gunvantshah.wordpress.com/ Tahuko - Official Blog]

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shah, Gunvant}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Surat]]
[[Category:Writers from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Indian columnists]]
[[Category:Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda faculty]]
[[Category:University of Michigan faculty]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda alumni]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Gunvant Shah - Revision history

>Chris the speller at 04:20, 26 May 2021