Granth Ane Granthkar Pustak 09

Here's a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Granth Ane Granthkar Pustak 09," focusing on its content and the insights it provides into Gujarati literature and its authors from 1937-1941:

Book Title: Granth Ane Granthkar Pustak 09 (Books and Authors, Volume 09) Author(s): Dhirubhai Premshankar Thakar, Indravadan Kashinath Dave Publisher: Gujarat Vernacular Society, Ahmedabad Period Covered: 1937-1941

Overall Purpose: This book is part of a larger series dedicated to cataloging and reviewing Gujarati literature and its creators. Volume 09 focuses on the literary output of the period 1937-1941, providing a critical overview of published works and biographical sketches of the authors. It also includes an important section on practical Gujarati spelling rules based on Gujarat Vidyapith's guidelines.

Key Sections and Content:

1. Introduction (Bhūmikā):

   • This section outlines the publication history of the "Granth Ane Granthkar" series, noting that eight volumes were published before 1937.
   • Volume 9 was planned to cover the years 1937-1941 and include reviews of books published during that period, along with biographical information on authors whose profiles were missed in earlier volumes.
   • The initial plan to include an essay on copyright law did not materialize due to the unavailability of the author. However, a detailed article on Gujarati spelling rules by Pandit Keshavram K. Shastri, with an appendix of approximately 10,000 words, is included as a valuable contribution.
   • The introduction acknowledges the usefulness of the series and suggests a publication cycle of every five years, which is deemed more manageable than annual publications, as it allows for more substantial author profiles.
   • It credits the late Assistant Secretary, Hiralaal Tribhuvandas Parekh, for initiating the book series, and the executive committee for its revival.

2. Literary Review (Drishtipaat): This forms the core of the book, providing a detailed analysis of Gujarati literature published between 1937 and 1941 across various genres.

   • Poetry (Kavita):

     • The review traces the evolution of Gujarati poetry, from traditional styles (Dalpat, Narmad, Kant, Narsinhrao) influenced by Parsi poetry, to the impact of English blank verse (Nanalaal), and the development of thought-rich poetry (B. K. H.)
     • It notes the continuation of older forms like padas and deshio, the blend of Dalpat-Narmad styles in simple poetry, and the vitality of Kant and Narsinhrao's styles, particularly in khandakavyas (epic poems).
     • The analysis highlights the growing trend of thought-rich poetry, warning against obscurity and excessive complexity.
     • It discusses the preference for simplicity, melody, grace, and genuine emotion in popular poetry.
     • The review covers various poets and their collections, mentioning "Sheshna Kavya" (Ramnarayan Pathak), "Parizat" (Pujalal Dalwadi), "Gorasi" (Idulal Gandhi), "Aradhana" (Mansukhlal Zaveri), "Vasudha" (Sundaram), "Indradhanushya" (Sundarji Betai), "Nishith" (Umakant Joshi), and "Janani" (Ratubhai Desai), among others, critically assessing their styles and themes.
     • Khandakavya (Epic Poems): The review points out the scarcity of new epic poems, attributing it to the lack of "sarvanubhavrasikta" (universal emotional experience) in contemporary poets. It highlights "Ratan" (Chandravadan Mehta) as a significant achievement in the genre, praising its atmospheric portrayal and character development. Other works like "Achala" (Swapnastha), "Pavan," "Madalsa," and "Aapaddharma" (Govind H. Patel) are also discussed.
     • Muktak Sangraha (Collections of Independent Poems): The review notes the tradition of these poems (subhashitas) and laments their decline. It mentions collections like "Pankhadi" (Jethalal Trivedi) and "Shatdal" (Idulal Gandhi).
     • Translations: Key translations discussed include "Kimiyā Sonnets" (Umeshankar Joshi) from Mitskievicz and "Ram Panchadhyayi" from Bhagavat.

   • Drama (Natak):

     • The section notes that while Gujarati drama might seem weak, this is largely due to plays not being fully published but kept for stage performance. The emphasis is on visual and auditory aspects rather than literary ones.
     • It points out the prevalence of one-act plays (ekanki natikao) and social/family dramas focusing on themes of humor and pathos.
     • Translations of plays are noted as being less frequent than novels.
     • Specific plays are reviewed, including "Punyakantha" (Nanalaal), "Mrugatrushna" (Khatau V. Joshi), "Ishwar nu Khoon" (Divyanand), "Anjani" (Ramanlal V. Desai), "Kalachakra" (Govindbhai Amin), "Vaishali ni Vanita" (Prahlad Chandrashekhar Diwanji), and "Rajnandini" (Keshhav H. Sheth).
     • The review also covers comedies and satires, noting the quality of dialogue and characterization in some one-act plays.

   • Novels (Navalika):

     • The period saw a significant output of novels, though the quality is noted as potentially declining year by year. Around 75 collections and some standalone stories were published.
     • The review discusses the shift from experienced writers to new ones, and the lack of a distinctly new stylistic voice.
     • It categorizes novels into realistic, idealistic, romantic, and historical, noting the trend towards realism and addressing contemporary social issues.
     • Specific novels are analyzed, including those by Dhumketu ("Mallika ane Biji Vato"), Sundaram ("Piyasi"), and Pannalal Patel ("Vandaman"), with critiques of their themes, characters, and styles.
     • Translations from Bengali (Sharad Babu), Hindi, and other languages are highlighted for their contribution to variety and quality.

   • Essays and Articles (Nibandh Tatha Lekh):

     • This section covers critical essays, collections of articles, lectures, and thought pieces, excluding purely academic or school-level texts.
     • It acknowledges the mixed quality of essay collections, some being comprehensive while others suffer from a lack of focus.
     • The overall assessment is that essay writing in Gujarati is moderate but provides valuable insights into literature, language, art, history, education, society, nation, science, and religion.
     • Notable authors and their works are mentioned, including Kaka Kalelkar ("Jivan Sanskruti," "Jivan No Anand"), Kavi Nanalaal ("Manimahotsav na Sahitya Vyakhyan"), K. M. Munshi ("Gujarat ni Asmita"), and Dhumketu ("Sarjan ane Chintan").

   • Literary Criticism (Sahitya-Vivechan):

     • This section reviews approximately thirty books of literary criticism published during the period.
     • It notes that a significant portion comprises republications rather than new works.
     • The review highlights the importance of criticism in analyzing literature, understanding its progress or decline, and setting literary standards.
     • It praises the contributions of deceased critics like Narsinhrao Divetia, K. H. Dhruv, and Anandshankar Dhruv, whose collected works form a valuable legacy.
     • The emergence of new critics whose work is deemed promising is noted, although their output is still limited. The review emphasizes the need for depth, variety, and critical rigor in contemporary criticism.
     • Specific works by Narsinhrao Divetia ("Manamukur"), K. H. Dhruv ("Sahitya ane Vivechan"), and Anandshankar Dhruv ("Kavyatattva Vichar," "Sahitya Vichar") are discussed for their scholarly approach and contribution to literary discourse. Ramnarayan V. Pathak's lectures on "Arvachin Kavya Sahityana Vahano" and Ardheshir K. Khubardar's "Gujarati Kavita ni Rachnakala" are also analyzed for their contrasting perspectives on poetry.

   • Biographies (Jivan Charitra):

     • The review notes the scarcity of genuine biographies and the prevalence of adapted life stories, memory-based accounts, and brief profiles.
     • It acknowledges that only a few original biographies were written during this period, with a greater emphasis on translated or compiled works of foreign heroes, leaders, scholars, and dignitaries.
     • The importance of accurate research, character portrayal, and psychological depth in biographies is stressed, with appreciation for the limited original works that achieved these qualities.
     • The review mentions biographies of national figures like Mahatma Gandhi ("Bapu," "Gandhiji ni Sadhana") and political leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose ("Navjavan Subhash"). It also notes biographies of Jain Acharyas like Vijaykesar Suri and historical figures like Chandragupta Maurya.

   • History and Political Science (Itihas ane Rajtantra):

     • This section observes a surge in historical research and writing, with approximately fifty books published.
     • It notes a strong focus on political history, with fewer works on social, religious, or cultural history.
     • The review highlights the tendency to rely on historical accounts from English works, with translations being common.
     • It discusses the analysis of ancient Indian history, particularly Gujarat's Rajput period ("Gujarat no Madhyakalin Rajput Itihas" by Durgashankar K. Shastri), and the more recent political history of India concerning British rule ("Bharat ma Angreji Rajya" by Pandit Sunderlal, noted for its critical analysis and governmental confiscation).
     • Works on international history, particularly concerning Russia, Germany, Japan, and China, reflecting contemporary global politics, are also mentioned.

   • Science (Vigyan):

     • The literature in this section is described as sparse, with only a few books covering specific branches of science.
     • The majority of scientific works are either translated from other languages or focus on art, health, and industry.
     • The review points out the lack of original scientific writing and the reliance of readers on English sources for specialized scientific knowledge.
     • The section touches upon works related to health, diet, hygiene, exercise, and basic knowledge of the natural world, noting that while these are increasing, original contributions are limited.

   • Children's Literature (Bal-Sahitya):

     • This section notes a significant increase in children's literature, often inspired by the "Dakshinamurti Bhavan" publication house.
     • It criticizes the trend of simplistic writing that assumes anything appealing to children is suitable, highlighting a lack of clarity in language and a deficiency in genuine literary merit among many works.
     • The review points out a shortage of true children's poetry and drama, with collections often being a mix of various genres.
     • It praises the improvement in illustrations, printing, and overall presentation across children's literature, singling out "Bal Vinod Mala" and "Ashok Bal Pustakmala" for their appeal.
     • The summary covers poetry, drama, stories (especially character-based and moralistic), general knowledge, and scientific introductions for children.

3. Gujarati Shabdonni Vyavaharu Jodani (Practical Gujarati Spelling):

   • This section, attributed to Keshavram K. Shastri, provides a detailed explanation and analysis of the Gujarat Vidyapith's spelling rules.
   • It discusses the historical context of standardizing Gujarati spelling, acknowledging the contributions of various scholars and the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi and Gujarat Vidyapith.
   • The author offers his own interpretations, suggestions for improvement, and critical analysis of the existing rules, particularly concerning the use of vowels (i/ī, u/ū), consonant clusters, and loanwords.
   • He emphasizes the importance of natural pronunciation and widespread usage in establishing spelling conventions, while also acknowledging the challenges posed by regional dialects and the need for a definitive grammatical framework.

4. Index (Anukramanika):

   • This list provides a table of contents for the book, including the "Drishtipaat" (Overview) of the five years' literature, the detailed spelling rules, and the extensive biographical directory of authors ("Granthkar Charitavali"), categorized into "Videh Granthkar" (Deceased Authors) and "Vidyaman Granthkar" (Living Authors).

Overall Significance:

• Comprehensive Literary Survey: The book offers a valuable snapshot of Gujarati literary production between 1937 and 1941, detailing various genres, prominent authors, and their works.
• Author Directory: It serves as an early biographical encyclopedia of Gujarati authors, providing birthdates, family background, education, career paths, and literary contributions, offering crucial information for literary history.
• Spelling Standardization: The inclusion of the detailed analysis of Gujarati spelling rules by Keshavram K. Shastri is a significant contribution to the ongoing efforts to standardize the language.
• Historical Context: The book implicitly provides historical context by discussing the societal influences and trends that shaped the literature of the period, such as the rise of nationalistic themes and social reform movements.

In essence, "Granth Ane Granthkar Pustak 09" is a critical academic resource for understanding the landscape of Gujarati literature and the lives of its creators during a specific period, acting as both a historical record and a guide for future literary exploration.