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{{Infobox writer
|name = Harji Lavji Damani
|image =Poet Harji Lavji Damani Shayda.jpg
|caption =
|native_name = હરજી લવજી દામાણી
|native_name_lang = gu
|pseudonym = Shayda
|birth_name = Harji Lavji Damani
|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1892|10|24}}
|birth_place = Pipali, [[Dhandhuka]], [[Gujarat]], India
|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1962|5|31|1892|10|24}}
|death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
|resting_place =
|occupation = poet, story writer, novelis, playwright, editor
|language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
|nationality = Indian
|education = Standard 4
|period =
|notableworks = {{plainlist|* ''Gulzare-Shayari-Shayda'' (1961)
* ''Dipakna Phool'' (1965)
* ''Chita'' (1968)}}
|spouse =
|children =
|relatives =
|signature =
|years_active = 1912 - 1962
}}

'''Harji Lavji Damani''', better known by his pen name '''Shayda''', was a [[Gujarati language]] poet, novelist, short-story writer and playwright from [[Gujarat]], India. He is known as ''Ghazal Samrat'',<ref name="Division2016">{{cite book|title=Indian Drama|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9qk-DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT58|date=10 September 2016|publisher=Publications Division Ministry of Information & Broadcasting|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-230-2635-0|page=58}}</ref> the king of [[ghazal]] poetry, as he established the Gujarati ghazal form in [[Gujarati literature]].

==Biography==
Damani was born on 24 October 1892<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=ગુજરાતી રંગભૂમિ: રિદ્ધિ અને રોનક (Gujarati Rangbhoomi: Riddhi Ane Ronak)|publisher=Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust|year=2004|editor-last=Choksi|editor-first=Mahesh|location=Ahmedabad|pages=124, 219–223|trans-title=Compilation of Information regarding professional theatre of Gujarat|editor-last2=Somani|editor-first2=Dhirendra}}</ref> in Pipli, a village near [[Dhandhuka]], Gujarat to Lavjibhai and Santokbahen. His family belonged to the [[Khoja]] [[Shia]] Ishna Asheri community. He studied until the fourth year. In 1912, one of his poems appeared in print for the first time in ''[[Bombay Samachar]]''. Subsequently, he started writing ghazals (traditional songs), novels, short stories and plays, including ''Kumali Kali'', which be both wrote and directed. He was the founding editor of the Gujarati weekly magazine ''Be Ghadi Moj'' (first issue, 17 August 1924<ref name=":2" />) which established Gujarati ghazal as an independent genre from Urdu ghazal. It was closed its publication in 1953.<ref name=":2" /> He also served as a subeditor of ''Ghazal'', a Gujarati poetry magazine. He died on 31 May 1962 in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{Cite book|title = Moothi Uncheran Gujaratio (A collection of biographies)|last = Vyas|first = Rajnee|publisher = Gurjar Granth Ratna Karyalay|year = 2009|isbn = 978-81-8480-286-3|location = Ahmedabad|pages = 6}}</ref><ref name="Kavilok 2006">{{cite web |title = Harji Luvji Damani Shayada Shayda- Gujarati Kavi Poet|website = Kavilok|date = 2006-12-31|url = http://www.kavilok.com/kavi_harji_luvji_damani_shayada.html|language = gu|access-date = 2016-02-24}}</ref>

== Works ==
''Shayda'' means 'mad with love' in [[Urdu]].

His works on Gujarati poetry and ghazals include ''Jay Bharati'' (1963), ''Gulzare-Shayri-Shayda'' (1961), ''Dipak Na Phool'' (1965), ''Chita'' (1968) and ''Ashru Chalya Jaay'' Che (1999). ''Jay Bharati'' is a long narrative poem, composed in [[Dalpatram]]-style.<ref name="GSK"/>

His novels include ''Maa Te Maa'' (1-2), ''Amina'', ''Chhelli Roshani'' (1-2), ''Bahadurshah Zafar'' (1-2), ''Azadini Shama'' (1-2), ''Khamma Bhaine'' (1-2), ''Dukhiyari'', ''Chandani Raat'', ''Mumataz'', ''Saundaryapuja'', ''Navo Sansar'', ''Jamaanani Zalak'', ''Layla'', ''Bhardariye'', ''Andhari Raat'' (1-2), ''Senthima Sindur'' (1-2), ''Amanat'' (1-2), ''Saabira'' (1-2), ''Moti Bhabhi'', ''Vanzari Vaav'', ''Virhaak'' (1-2), ''Jyoti Toran'', ''Betho Balavo'', ''Lakshminandan'', ''Dr.Anupam'', ''Shamshire Arab'' (1-2), ''Punit Ganga'', ''Lakheni Laaj'' (1-2), ''Jivata Soor'', ''Nani Nanadi'', ''Aag Ane Ajavala'', ''Shahzadi Kashmira'', ''Raajahans'' (1-2), ''Soorsamadhi'' (1-2), ''Dev Dulari'' (1-2), ''Hamida'', ''Mayanu Man'', ''Rajeshvari'', ''Raajaba'', ''Anavari'', ''Masooma'' and ''Doshiza''.<ref name="GSK">{{cite encyclopedia |title = Damani, Harji Lavji|encyclopedia = Gujarati Sahitya Kosh (Encyclopedia of Gujarati Literature)|year = 1990|publisher = Gujarati Sahitya Parishad|location = Ahmedabad}}</ref> His novels deal with social and historical themes. The most famous among his social novels are ''Maa Te Maa'' and ''Moti Bhabhi''. ''Maa Te Maa'' is tragic story of love and sacrifice of a mother for her children. Some of his novels dealt with typical communal problems. His well-known novel on this theme ''Amaanat'' was published posthumously. Another tragic novel ''Masuma'' described the problems of Islamic culture and religion.<ref name="Lal1992">{{cite book|author=Mohan Lal|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4005|access-date=7 March 2017|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3|page=4005}}</ref>

''Pankhadio'' (1938), ''Amizarana'', ''Kerini Mosam Ane Biji Vaato'' are his story collections.<ref name="GSK"/>

He wrote several plays: ''Sansarnauka'' (1921) and ''Karmaprabhav'' (1922) were produced by Parsi Imperial Natak Mandali; ''Vasant Veena'' (1927) produced by Deshi Natak Samaj; ''Kumali Kali'' (1926) and ''Narihriday'' (1945) produced by [[Mumbai Gujarati Natak Mandali]]. His modern play ''Amar Jyot'' (1956) was performed in [[Ahmedabad]]. His other plays include ''Pujaar'' and ''Koiknu Mindhal Koina Hathe''.<ref name="GSK"/><ref name=":2" />

His story ''Vanzari Vaav'' was adapted into the [[Gujarati cinema|Gujarati film]] ''Kariyavar'' (1977), directed by [[Chandrakant Sangani]].<ref name="GokulsingDissanayake2013">{{cite book|author1=K. Moti Gokulsing|author2=Wimal Dissanayake|title=Routledge Handbook of Indian Cinemas|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=djUFmlFbzFkC&pg=PA94|access-date=21 April 2017|date=17 April 2013|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-77284-9|page=94}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
Shayda was felicitated in Mumbai on 15 April 1957 with an award of Rs. 7000. A road in Mumbai was named after him as Shayda Road in 1968.<ref name=":2" />

In his remembrance, the [[Indian National Theater]] gives [[Shayda Award]] to a young Gujarati ghazal poet every year.

==See also==
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Damani, Harji Lavji}}
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language poets]]
[[Category:Poets from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Gujarati people]]
[[Category:Indian Ismailis]]
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1962 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian magazine editors]]
[[Category:People from Ahmedabad district]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian male poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Writers from Gujarat]]

Harji Lavji Damani - Revision history

>Monkbot at 04:17, 4 January 2021