 PROGRAMMES - Gujarati Saraswats
Umashankar Joshi
Umashankar Jethalal Joshi was born on 21st July, 1911 in Bamna Village in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat. He took Primary education in Bamna and Secondary education in Eedar. However he passed his metric in 1928 and graduated in B.A. from Gujarat College, in 1936 from Ahmadabad. He did his further studies in Mumbai and passed his M.A. in 1938 from Elphinston College. In 1937, he married with Jyotsnabahen, and had two daughters named Swati and Nandini.
In 1931, Umashankar Joshi went to Karachi to take part in the Congress Session. It is during this time that he started writing earnestly and published his first ever collection of poetries titled 'Vishwashanti' in 1931.
After graduating he joined a school as a teacher. In 1939, he joined Gujarat Vidyasabha as a professor.
He was a strong follower of Gandhiji and imbibed all his ideals, throughout his life. He took an active part in the Independence movement right from his young age, and had also been in jail for it.
Umashankar Joshi left his professor's job in 1946 and started working earnestly towards his writings. It was during this time that he also started translating. In 1939, he won the 'Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak' and 'Narmad Suvarna Chandrak' in 1947. In 1954, he rejoined in Gujarat University and worked actively till almost 1979. It is during this period that he won the prestigious 'Gyanpeeth' award in 1968. In the same year he was elected as president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. He was also appointed as Vice-Chancellor of Gujarat University from 1966 to 1972. In 1970, he was elected member of Rajyasabha for 6 years, and resided at Delhi, for that period.
Umashankar Joshi also won the 'Delhi Sahitya Academy' award in 1973. In 1978, he was elected as the President of 'Delhi Sahitya Academy' for 5years. During the same year he became the Editor of Gujarati Monthly 'Sanskruti'. He went to Moscow in 1978 to take part in the celebration of Leo Tolstoy's 150 th birth anniversary. He won the Soviet Land Nehru Award. He also established Gangotri Trust.During 1979 to 1981 he was appointed as the chancellor of Vishwa Bharati.
This immensely versatile writer has besides poetries, has written short stories, plays, novels, essays, criticisms, biographies, travelogues, education related books and also translations.
This great Gandhian writer expired on 19th December, 1988 in Mumbai.
Indicative List of Books by Shri Umashankar Joshi
- Vishwashanti
- Gangotri
- Nisheeth
- Pracheena
- Aatithya
- Vasant Varsha
- Maha Prasthan
- Abhigna
9. Saap Na Bhaara
10. Haveli
11. UttarRamChareet
12. Shakuntal
13. Shravani Melo
14. Veesamo
15. Paarka Janya
16. Goshti
17. Ughadi Baari
18. Shiv Sankalp
19. Purano Ma Gujarat
20. Akhaa Na Chappa
21. Aakho: Ek Adhyayan
22. SamSamvedan
23. Abheeruchi
24. Shaili Ane Swarup
25. Nireeksha
26. Kavi Ni Saadhna
27. Shree Ane Saurabh
28. Pratishabd
29. Kavi Ni Shraddha
30. Shakespere
31. Kavita Wanchwa Ni Kala
32. Kelavni No Keemiyo
33. Eeshan Bharat Ane Aandaman Ma Tahukya Mor
34. 31’Ma Dokiyun
35. SamayRang
36. GandhiKatha
37. Hriday Ma Padeli Chabeeo (1-2)
38. Shaheed
39. Samagra Kavita
40. Kavita Vivek
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