Madhyakalin Gujarati Sahityana Itihas Lekhannu Swarup - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the provided Jain text, "Madhyakalin Gujarati Sahityana Itihas Lekhannu Swarup" by Balwant Jani:

The book "Madhyakalin Gujarati Sahityana Itihas Lekhannu Swarup" (The Nature of Historiography of Medieval Gujarati Literature) by Balwant Jani, published by ZZ_Anusandhan, delves into the evolution and nature of writing the history of Gujarati literature during the medieval period. The author emphasizes that a literary historian must possess not only an understanding of changing literary perceptions but also evolving historical perspectives.

Key Themes and Arguments:

The Influence of New Historicism: The text begins by discussing the contemporary intellectual current of "New Historicism," which emerged in the first phase of the 21st century and has been a topic of discussion for a decade. This ideology emphasizes skepticism towards objectivity and truth, focusing on three main points:
1. Constructivism: Viewing history as a constructed imposition.
2. Deconstruction: Seeing language and narrative expression as inherently suspicious mediums.
3. Reconstruction: Reconstructing narratives based on empirical evidence. Jani stresses the importance of discerning and selectively applying insights from these approaches.
The Scope of Literary History: The author argues that the focus of New Historicism is not just history in general, but the history of literature. He notes the attention given to the ideas of Graham Bletchley, influenced by Derrida, in the context of literary history. These philosophies enrich our understanding and should be considered by scholars. Jani asserts that for a literary historian, nothing is "non-literary"; everything is interconnected, making the term "literary-connected" appropriate.
Early Efforts in Gujarati Literary Historiography: Despite the absence of some contemporary theoretical frameworks, Jani commends the existing historical works on Gujarati literature, considering them a source of pride for Indian languages. He aims to provide a brief overview of scholars' perspectives on historiography before presenting his own study and experiences.
- Govardhanram Tripathi (1894): In his book "The Influence on Society and Morals," Tripathi focused on the influence of literary works, arguing that authors, operating within societal contexts, inevitably reflect social circumstances. He analyzed the contributions of poets like Narsinh, Bhalan, Miran, Bhim, Premanand, Akho, Shambhal, and Dayaram, highlighting their historical, social, and cultural contexts. Jani considers Tripathi's perspective on literary historiography worthy of detailed analysis and observation.
- Krishnalal M. Zaveri (1914): His "Milestones in Gujarati Literature" might seem ordinary compared to Tripathi's theoretical depth. However, it introduced a significant new aspect: the necessity of incorporating geographical, historical, linguistic, and socio-cultural traditions in a history book, along with a strong emphasis on the biographical sketches of authors.
- Himmatlal Ganeshji Anjaria (1922): His "Sahitya Praveshika" is important for its methodology of understanding historiography through its periodization.
- Kanaiyalal Munshi (1922): Munshi's edited work, "Madhyakalno Sahitya Pravah" (Literary Flow of the Medieval Period), is considered highly significant. It comprises research papers by various experts and is structured with a thoughtful framework divided into nine sections. Key scholars like Hiralal Parekh, Vijayray Vaidya, Durgashankar Shastri, Mohanlal Dalichand Desai, Manjulal Majmudar, and Munshi himself contributed essays on political conditions, Sanskrit literature, Jain literature, folk literature, and devotional literature, respectively. Their views on historiography are presented, emphasizing the inclusion of diverse literary streams, traditions, and sources of inspiration. The integration of Prakrit-Apabhramsha Jain literature with medieval Gujarati Jain literature and understanding the philosophical underpinnings of knowledge-based works are highlighted as essential. Munshi's "Gujarat and Its Literature" (1935) also contributes to understanding medieval Gujarati literary historiography.
- K. K. Shastri: His "Aapna Kavio" (Our Poets), Volume 1, is significant for its emphasis on incorporating unprinted but cataloged manuscripts into historical analysis. Shastri also deemed it appropriate to discuss the history of language development for literary history, leading to his "Historical Grammar of Gujarati." He divided periods based on stylistic influences, naming eras like the "Ras Era" and "Akhyan Era." Jani notes the importance of considering stylistic influences and the chronological presentation of works, their metrical details, and changes in tradition. His dedication to collecting and analyzing ancient manuscripts is presented as a commendable example of scholarly rigor.
- Anantray Raval and Dhirubhai Thacker: Raval's work is cited as an example of historiography based on available printed material, a perspective also adopted by Dr. Dhirubhai Thacker. Jani underscores the importance of maintaining the continuity of research initiated by pioneers like Tripathi, Zaveri, Anjaria, Munshi, and K.K. Shastri. He reiterates the significance of analyzing society, culture, language, grammar, metrical patterns, and periodization with deep insight within the Indian context.
Contemporary Influences and Personal Study: Jani also references works like "Bahuvachan" journal from Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal, Namvar Singh's "Dusri Parampara Ki Khoj," Rene Wellek's "Theory of Literature," and H.A. Weiser's edited "The New Historicism." His personal study and discussions with Dr. Bhayani have shaped his thoughts on the subject.

Methodology and Key Considerations for Historiography:

Material Collection: To compile the history of medieval Gujarati literature, the author suggests collecting:
1. Catalogues of manuscript repositories (printed and unprinted).
2. Reference books, journals, and unpublished theses that evaluate medieval authors and works.
3. Comprehensive anthologies, journals, and edited works that preserve medieval authors' complete or partial works.
Categorization and Dating: Jani discusses the process of preparing author lists from various sources, including religious conversions and literature of converted communities. He proposes a system for dating works based on manuscripts, including forward and backward halves of a century and approximate century estimations, with specific argumentative methods. He also emphasizes the importance of using precise terminology, such as "Uttarbhaktiyug" instead of "modern period" when referring to medieval traditions that extend into later times.
Authenticity and Attribution: The author highlights the critical need for accuracy in attributing works. He uses the example of "Vidyavilasinī Vārta," which existed with different attributions (to Chandrodaya and Shambhal), to illustrate the importance of careful scrutiny to avoid misattributions becoming tradition. He credits discussions in "Parab" and "Bhashavimarsh" for guiding this purification process.
Categorizing Biographical Information: Biographical details of authors should be divided into three categories: documentary evidence, traditional prevalent information, and later additions to the tradition. Similarly, the presentation of literary works should distinguish between manuscript-based materials, traditionally prevalent materials, and those that entered the tradition later. He plans to undertake such a study for Narsinh's compositions, analyzing his poems from manuscript-based, oral folk tune, and oral devotional song traditions.
The Significance of Metrical Patterns (Dhal): Jani emphasizes the importance of metrical patterns (Dhal) as a basis for presentation. He refers to Dr. Harivallabh Bhayani's research on "Lost Krishna Poems," which highlights how the initial lines of Ras compositions in the 14th-15th centuries, indicating the Dhal, can reveal prevalent traditional compositions and what has been lost. These Dhal lists can be crucial for dating and should be included in historiography.
Socio-Cultural Context: The medieval socio-cultural context, including the practice of devotional singing, kirtans, religious festivals, and performances like Akhyan, Ras, Garbi, and Ghol, is vital. Jani argues that merely presenting a script doesn't convey the vibrancy of these performances. Understanding the context of recitation is essential for a complete appreciation of the work. Evaluating medieval works using modern literary standards is inappropriate.
Influences and Contributors: Identifying primary sources of inspiration, influential figures, and key works is crucial for understanding the development of literary forms. Jani stresses the importance of recognizing authors and works that established, sustained, and developed literary forms. The significant influence of compilations like "Rishtasamuccay" and "Varnakasamuccay" on medieval poets, who memorized such texts along with dictionaries of synonyms and rhyme schemes, is highlighted. The educational system, including Jain Pathshalas and teachings by scholars, played a role in shaping poetic skills. Jani suggests analyzing authors' descriptions, rhyme schemes, and meter within this context. He also points out that descriptions are often the result of compilations and that their application reflects the author's ingenuity.
Narrative Techniques and Examples: Weaving descriptive passages, narrative structures, and illustrative examples into works, and understanding the meaning they impart, is important. Jani emphasizes the need to trace the origin and evolution of stylistic diversity. This may require consulting manuscripts in some cases.
Literature of Converted Communities: The author notes that the Gujarati compositions of converted communities have not been adequately included in the history of medieval Gujarati literature. He argues that the influence of Indian culture on the literature of other religious groups should also be presented, highlighting how these communities adopted and enriched Gujarati literary forms and traditions.
The Rise of New Sects: The emergence of sects like the "Pranami Panth" and "Swaminarayan Panth," which branched off from Vaishnavism, and the underlying forces behind them, should be recognized in literary history. Poets like Pranath Swami, a multilingual poet from the Pranami sect, and the influence on Swaminarayan devotional poetry are important considerations.
Interactions with Muslim Rulers: The text mentions the significance of interactions, correspondence, debates, and counter-arguments with Muslim rulers during the medieval period. The instances involving Jain scholars like Hiravijaysuri and saints from other sects are crucial for understanding literary creation within its cultural context. The accuracy and cultural basis of this material require scrutiny and evaluation. Referential literature can unlock deeper meanings through such contexts.
Literary Trends and Driving Forces: Jani emphasizes the importance of understanding literary trends and motivating forces. He refers to instances where storytellers influenced Akhyan creation. He also points to documentary evidence like grants and manuscripts from schools and academies, mentioning the historical "Rao Lakhpat Brajvasha Pathshala" in Bhuj, which was active for 400 years and contributed to the teaching of meter, grammar, and poetic composition.
The Role of Genealogists (Vahivancha-Barot): The author highlights the significant role of Vahivancha-Barots in medieval society. Their records, containing genealogies, also included socio-cultural, historical, and political information, as well as accounts of societal events. They also composed poetry in meter and used coded language. Jani suggests that this coded material needs to be decoded and included in the history of medieval Gujarati literature.
Continuity with Ancient Indian Traditions: When considering the manuscript tradition of medieval Gujarati literature, it's important to also study the pre-existing traditions of ancient Indian narrative literature, including Agam and Jatak tales. Creators often drew upon these ancient narratives to express contemporary social realities or as allegories. Therefore, knowledge of political history is also essential for the historian.
Presentation and Evaluation: Jani concludes by listing some points to keep in mind for medieval Gujarati literary historiography based on the manuscript tradition. He acknowledges this as an ideal framework and suggests further consideration of the nature of expression and writing. A key question is whether to limit the historical account to factual biographical details and dating or to include critical analysis and evaluation or mere introductions of the works. He believes that presenting facts alone allows readers to form their own opinions. His personal study involved compiling an extensive list of authors (around 3,000) and organizing their works chronologically, aiming for a comprehensive historiographical approach. He expresses a desire to dedicate himself to this work with assistants.