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94th Birth Anniversay of Late Harilal Upadhyay
The first e-mortalized Gujarati author
(22nd January 2010)

Name of Late Harilal Upadhyay (22 Jan 1916 - 15 Jan 1994) is well famous and respected amongst the  readers, writers, poets, enthusiasts, critiques who loves to read or refer quality Gujarati literature. Well, if we go as per the statistics, Late Upadhyay have authored more than a 100 books which is an achievement in itself.

He was born in a small village of Saurashtra in a cold night. By growing up within the traditional environment, he was attracted to the traditional and folk lives. He started writing some poem about the same. One such kind of  bravery poetry was “Tanya”. It was heard by people like Mr. Amrutlal Sheth and by finding the skills in this boy “Hari”, he was called to Mumbai. He came into the touch of several writers, editors, lovers of traditional stuff and motivators; which have sharpened his skills. He have then get “JeevanChhaya” published there. He have also written “Ramkali” a story on the true base and it became popular. It was later reprinted as “RoopMangala”.

During the lifespan of almost eight decades, he made enrich the Gujarati literature with various type of literary creations and created his own special impact on his readers. His literary work can be classified into the segments like Historical novels, Social novels, Short story collections, Biographical tales, The Mahabharat series, Poems and poetries, Kids literature, Plays, News articles…etc.

Harilalbhai’s historical novels about Rajasthan and Suryavansh, popular as “Mevad Granthavali” includes “MevadNo Kesari”, “MevadNa Maharathi”, “Jay Chittod”, “ChittodNi Rangarjana”, “ShauryaPratapi Maharana Pratapsinh”, “DeshGaurav Bhamashah”. His remarkable historical novels about Chandravansh and Gujarat includes “NavanagarNa Narbanka”, “RajSattaNa Rang”, “Tatee Talvaar”, “Lakho Foolani”, “Ranmedan”, “RudheerNu RajTilak”, “Padta GadhNa Padchhaya (2 parts) and more. Though, most remarkable book possessing encyclopedic values in this segment is “ShauryaPratapi Chandravansh”, which documents the history of the Lunar Dynasty.

By gowning up in the value oriented environment, he have seen so many faces of the lives surrounded. Which developed Harilalbhai’s interest in Folklores and Folktales. By documenting the true events and researching for the ones heard (to check its authenticity); he have wrote short story collections elaborating the folk lives. It includes “Sorathi Lokvato”, “SaurashtraNee VeerGathao (5 parts)”, “Saurashtra No Vartaras”, “”Sorathi Rasgatha (2 parts)”.

He have also well documented the lifespan of “Mahadevee Khodiyar”, “Harsiddhi Mata” and “Hinglaj mata” under the segment “Shakti Parichay”. He have also shown glimpses of saints like “Mast Avdhoot Mundiya Swami”, “Sant Dharmshi Bhaga”, “Sant Dada Mekan”. He paid tribute to Rashtraveer Chhelbhai Dave with the book “ChhelNamee Saurashtra” as well.

Writing a social novel which focuses on the importance of moral, values and ethics in the manner people love to read it, was the quality of Haribhai. His social novels like “Alka”, “Sahelee”, “Ek Bhalo Saput”, “Ugyo Chandra Amase”, “Pagla Padya Kankuvarna”, “Man Doobya Mrugjal Ma” were some of his popular Social novels. By being an astrologist he was believed in life after death also. By researching the events behind a folk tale he have explored “Man Ne Lagee Maya” as a ghost tale.

“Atha Shri Mahabharat Katha” - the series of seven books containing the events of the greatest Indian Epic “The Mahabharata” in the common men’s language, became so popular.

He have received a lot of honor and awards including “K. M. Munshi Award” from Gujarat Sahitya Sangam. He was a great astrologist as well who won “JyotirVigyan Sanshodhan Award” too. In his hometown Paddhari- Saurashtra where he lived the last segment of his life; a street is named as “Late Harilal Upadhyay Road”. Long back a website named http://www.harilalupadhyay.org is started with the aim to pay “Online Tribute To The Great Gujarati Author”. Its the first official website about any Gujarati Author running in such manner. The site is being updated regularly and more details about Late Harilalbhai can be found there.

Loves Gujarat and everything about Gujarati, including Gujarati Literature

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/literature–articles/94th-birth-anniversary-of-late-shri-harilal-upadhyay-the-great-gujara-1758641.html