https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Jhaverchand_MeghaniJhaverchand Meghani - Revision history2026-07-31T18:21:21ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Jhaverchand_Meghani&diff=454977&oldid=prevThereforedesignpune at 07:59, 31 December 20252025-12-31T07:59:36Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian poet, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter}}<br />
{{Lead too short|date=May 2017}}<br />
{{EngvarB|date=October 2019}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}<br />
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] --><br />
| name = Jhaverchand Meghani<br />
| image = Jhaverchand Meghani 2013-12-02 00-21.jpg<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1896|8|28}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Chotila]], [[Bombay presidency]], [[British India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1947|3|9|1896|8|28}}<br />
| death_place = [[Botad]], [[Bombay presidency]], [[British India]]<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|Poet|playwright|editor|folklorist}}<br />
| period = Pre-Independence India<br />
| children = [[Mahendra Meghani]], [[Jayant Meghani]], [[Murli Meghani]]<br />
| signature = Jhaverchand Meghani Signature.svg<br />
| awards = {{awards|[[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]|(1928)}}<br />
| website = {{official website}}<br />
}}<br />
'''Jhaverchand''' or '''Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani''' ({{Birth date |df=yes|1896|08|28}} – {{Death date |df=yes|1947|03|09}}) was an Indian poet, writer, social reformer and freedom fighter. He is a well-known name in the field of [[Gujarati literature|Gujarati]] literature. He was born in a Jain family in [[Chotila]] where the Government College has been renamed for this literary figure as Raashtreeya Shaayar Zaverchand Meghani College, Chotila.<ref>[https://www.deshgujarat.com/tag/chotila/ College renamed- Raashtreeya Shaayar Zaverchand Meghani College, Chotila ]</ref> [[Mahatma Gandhi]] spontaneously gave him the title of ''Raashtreeya Shaayar'' (National Poet).<br />
<br />
Besides this he received many awards like [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] and ''Mahida Paaritoshik'' in literature. He authored more than 100 books. His first book was a translation work of [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s called ''Kathaa-u-Kaahinee'' titled ''Kurbani Ni Katha'' (Stories of martyrdom) which was first published in 1922. He contributed widely to Gujarati folk literature. He went from village to village in search of folk-lores and published them in various volumes of ''Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar''.<ref name="Desai2007">{{cite book |author=Anjali H. Desai |title=India Guide Gujarat |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZR&pg=PA42 |year=2007 |publisher=India Guide Publications |isbn=978-0-9789517-0-2 |page=42}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He was also the Editor of [[Phulchhab|Phulchhab Newspaper]] of Janmabhoomi group (which is being published till date from [[Rajkot]]).<br />
<br />
A sample of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra has recently been published in English, with the translation done by his son Vinod Meghani. The three volumes published so far are titled ''A Noble Heritage'', ''A Shade Crimson'' and ''The Ruby Shattered''.<ref name="MeghaniBhavan2003">{{cite book|author1=Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani|author2=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan|title=A ruby shattered: a collection of love-legends in folk-balladry form of Saurashtra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n8RjAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan}}</ref><br />
<br />
His poems are taught as a part of syllabus in Gujarat Board Schools (GSEB).<br />
<br />
==Life==<br />
Jhaverchand Meghani was born in [[Chotila]], Gujarat to Kalidas and Dholima Meghani. His father Kalidas worked in the Police force and hence was often transferred to new places causing most of Jhaverchand's education to happen in [[Rajkot]]. He had two brothers Lalchand and Prabhashankar. He was married to a woman named Damyanti at the age of 24 and following the demise of his wife, he married Chitradevi at the age of 36. He had 9 children out of which 3 were girls namely Indu, Padmala and Murli, while 6 were boys, namely Mahendra, Mastan, Nanak, Vinod, Jayant and Ashok.<ref name="Kavilok">{{cite web | title=Jhaverchand Megahni, Kavi Zaverchand Meghani's Official website | website=Kavilok | url=https://www.kavilok.com/kavi_Zaverchand_meghani.htm | language=gu | access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Early life===<br />
<br />
He lived a simple and sober life and his simplicity prompted his college mates to call him ''Raja Janak''.<br />
<br />
He habitually wore a white long coat, a [[dhoti]] reaching well down the knees and a turban typically tied around his head.<br />
He finished his matriculation in 1912 and completed his BA in 1917. He started his career in [[Kolkata]] and joined [[Jeewanlal Motichand Shah|Jeevanlal and Co.]] in 1918 as Personal Assistant and was fondly called ''Paghadee Babu'' by his colleagues and workers alike. He was soon promoted as the Manager of the company's factory at Belur, Crown Aluminium. In 1919, he went to England for a four-month tour. After coming back to India, he continued to work in [[Kolkata]] for 2 and half-years. Later, he returned to Saurashtra and joined the editorial board of the weekly ''[[Saurashtra Weekly|Saurashtra]]'' at [[Rajkot]] in 1922.{{citation needed|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
===Contribution to the freedom struggle===<br />
[[File:Jhaverchand Meghani 1999 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Meghani on a 1999 stamp of India]]<br />
In 1930, he was sentenced to 2 years in jail for writing the book ''Sindhudo'' that contained songs to inspire the youth of India that was participating in the struggle for Independence against the [[British Raj]]. It is during this time that he wrote ''Kavya Triputi'' based on Gandhiji's visit to London for the Round Table conference. During this period, he also started writing short stories independently and served as editor for ''[[Phoolchaab]]'' magazine.<ref>[http://sangeetbhavantrust.com/zaverchand.html Zaverchand Meghani]. Sangeet Bhavan trust. Retrieved on 27 November 2018.</ref>{{Failed verification|date=April 2017}}<br />
<br />
==Publications==<br />
<br />
In 1926, he ventured into poetry with his book of children poems ''Veni Na Phool'' and started writing in [[Janmabhoomi (Gujarati newspaper)|Janmabhumi]] under the column ''Kalam Ane Kitaab''. He established his reputation as a critic by his independent novels. In 1936, he became the editor of ''Phoolchaab''. In 1942, he ventured into publishing with his book ''Marela Na Rudhir''. In 1945, after retiring from ''Phoolchaab'', he concentrated on personal writing. In 1946, his book ''Mansai Na Deeva'' was awarded the ''Mahida Award''. The same year, he was elected to head the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad's Sahitya Section. In 1929, he gave 6 lectures for ''Gyan Prasarak Mandali''. He also lectured at [[Santiniketan]] owing to his long association with [[Rabindranath Tagore]]. Meghani was also known as a Manbhatt poet due to his significant contribution to folk ballads.<ref name="Desai2007"/>{{Failed verification|date=April 2017}} A movie song ''Man Mor Bani Thangat Kare'' in the 2013 Hindi film [[Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela]] is written by him.<ref name="DNA 2013">{{cite web | title=Ram-Leela song Man mor bani thanghat kare: Original poet to get credit in film | website=Bollywoodlife.com | date=23 October 2013 | url=https://www.bollywoodlife.com/news-gossip/ram-leela-song-man-mor-bani-thanghat-kare-original-poet-to-get-credit-in-film/ | access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><br />
<br />
{{div col|colwidth=18em}}<br />
<br />
===Folklores===<br />
<br />
* Doshi Ni Vato<br />
* Sorathi Baharvatiya <br />
* Sorathi Baharvatiya 3–1929<br />
* Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar 1<br />
* Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar 2<br />
* Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar 3<br />
* Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar 4<br />
* Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar 5<br />
* Kankavati 1–1927<br />
* Kankavati 2–1928<br />
* Dadaji Ni Vato <br />
* Sorthi Santo-1928<br />
* Sorthi Geetkathao-1931<br />
* Puratan Jyot-1938<br />
* Rang Che Barot-1945<br />
* Loksahitya-1939<br />
* Pagandino Panth-1942<br />
* Charano Ane Charani Sahitya-1943<br />
* Dhartinu Dhavan-1944<br />
* Loksahitya Nu Samalochan-1946<br />
<br />
===Poems===<br />
* ''Veni Na Phool'' (1927)<br />
* ''Killol'' (1930)<br />
* ''Sindhudo'' (1930)<br />
* ''Yugvandana'' (1935)<br />
* ''Ektaro'' (1940)<br />
* ''Bapuna Parna'' (1943)<br />
* ''Ravindra Veena'' (1944)<br />
* ''Midnight Lace'' (1946)<br />
<br />
===Folk Songs===<br />
<br />
* Radhiyali Raat 1–1925<br />
* Radhiyali Raat 2–1925<br />
* Radhiyali Raat 3–1927<br />
* Radhiyali Raat 4–1942<br />
* Chundadi 1–1928<br />
* Chundadi 2–1929<br />
* Rutugeeto-1929<br />
* Halarda-1929<br />
* Sorthi Santvani-1947<br />
* Sorthiya Duha-1947<br />
<br />
===Drama===<br />
<br />
* Rano Pratap (Translation)-1923<br />
* Raja Rani-1924<br />
* Shah Jahan (Translation)-1927<br />
* Vanthela-1933<br />
<br />
===Travelogue===<br />
<br />
* [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtrana]] Khandaroma-1928<br />
* Sorathne Tire Tire-1933<br />
* Parkamma-1946<br />
* Chellu Prayan-1947<br />
<br />
===Short stories===<br />
<br />
* Kurbani Ni Kathao-1922<br />
* Chinta Na Angara 1–1931<br />
* Chinta Na Angara 2–1932<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2015 |orig-year=1934 |title=''Jail Office Ni Baari'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Sanskar Sahitya Mandir |isbn=978-93-83815-25-8}}<br />
* Dariyaparna Bahrvatiya-1932<br />
* Pratimao-1932<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2014 |orig-year=1935 |title=''Palkara'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Sanskar Sahitya Mandir |isbn=978-93-83815-11-1}}<br />
* Dhup Chaya-1935<br />
* Meghanini Navlikao 1 and 2–1942<br />
* Vilopan-1946<br />
* Anu nam te dhani<br />
<br />
===Novels===<br />
<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2013 |orig-year=1932 |title=''Satya Ni Shodhma'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Rajesh Book Sellers |isbn=978-93-85588-08-2}}<br />
* <nowiki>''Niranjan''</nowiki><br />
* <nowiki>''Vasundharana Vahala Davla''</nowiki><br />
* <nowiki>''Sorath, Tara Vaheta Pani''</nowiki><br />
* Samarangan-1928<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2013 |orig-year=1938 |title=''Aparadhi'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Rajesh Book Sellers |isbn=978-93-85588-15-0}}<br />
* Vevishal<br />
* <nowiki>''</nowiki>Ra Gangajaliyo<nowiki>''</nowiki>-1<br />
* <nowiki>''</nowiki>Ra Gangajaliyo<nowiki>''</nowiki> -2<br />
* <nowiki>''Bidela Dwar''</nowiki><br />
* Gujaratno Jay 1–1940<br />
* Gujaratno Jay 2–1942<br />
* Tulsi Kyaro-1940<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2013 |orig-year=1943 |title=''Prabhu Padharya'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Rajesh Book Sellers |isbn=978-93-85588-17-4}}<br />
* Kalchakra-1947<br />
* Garvi Gujarat<br />
<br />
===Biography===<br />
<br />
* Annie Besant-1927<br />
* Hungary no Taaranahaar-1927<br />
* Narvir Lalaji-1927<br />
* Satyavir Shradhdhanand-1927<br />
* Sorathee Santo-1928<br />
* Puraatan Jyot −1938<br />
* Thakkar Bapa-1939<br />
* Akbar Ni Yaadma-1942<br />
* Aapnu Ghar-1942<br />
* Panch Varas Na Pankhida-1942<br />
* Marelana Rudhir-1942<br />
* Aapna Gharni Vadhu Vato-1943<br />
* Dayanand Sarasvati-1944<br />
* {{cite book |last=Meghani |first=Jhaverchand |year=2013 |orig-year=1945 |title=''Mansaina Deeva'' |location=Ahmedabad |publisher=Rajesh Book Sellers |isbn=978-93-85588-09-9}}<br />
* Sant Deveedaas-1946<br />
* Vasant-Rajab Smaarak Granth-1947<br />
{{div col end}}<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[List of Gujarati-language writers]]<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
{{Commons category|Jhaverchand Meghani}}<br />
{{Wikisource|gu:સર્જક:ઝવેરચંદ મેઘાણી|Jhaverchand Meghani}}<br />
* {{official website}}<br />
* {{Gbooks-author|Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani}}<br />
* {{Internet Archive author |search=("Meghani Jhaverchand" OR "Meghani Zaverchand K")}}<br />
* {{Gujarati Vishwakosh}}<br />
<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meghani, Jhaverchand}}<br />
[[Category:Poets from Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male poets]]<br />
[[Category:1896 births]]<br />
[[Category:1947 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Gujarati-language Indian writers]]<br />
[[Category:Gujarati-language poets]]<br />
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]<br />
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]<br />
[[Category:People from Surendranagar district]]<br />
[[Category:People from Botad]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]<br />
[[Category:Indian historical novelists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Novelists from Gujarat]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:Translators of Rabindranath Tagore]]</div>Thereforedesignpune