Ashok Chavda

Early life

Chavda was born on 23 August 1978 in Bhavnagar, Gujarat to Pitambarbhai and Hansabahen. His family is native of Mandasar, village near Than-Chotila of Surendranagar district. He completed S.S.C (Science) in 1993 and H.S.C (Commerce) in 1995 from Navsanskar High School, Ahmedabad. He has also completed certificate courses for Hindi (1991) and Urdu (1997) languages from Gujarat Vidyapith. He completed Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy) in 1998 from C.U Shah Commerce College, Ahmedabad and Bachelor of Arts (English literature) in 2001 from H.K Arts College, Ahmedabad. In 2003, he earned M.D.C (Master of Development Communication) from Gujarat University. The subject of his research for M.D.C was Gujarati Dalit Kavitano Udabhav Ane Vikas: 1975-85 (Growth and Development of Gujarati Dalit Poetry: 1975-85). In 2011, he obtained his Ph.D degree under Chandrakant Mehta, in Journalism and Mass Media from the same university for his research Gujarati Dalit Samayik Patrakaratva Ni Vikasyatra (Growth and Development of Gujarati Dalit Periodicals). He has cleared UGC NET Examination of UGC, New Delhi in 2012 in Mass Communication and Journalism. Then he completed LL.B in 2014 from K.P Shah Law College, Jamnagar and also got mastered in Gandhian Thought and Social Science from Gujarat Vidyapith in 2016. He has also started and edited Pamaraat (a hand written magazine) in his college-days.

Career

Chavda started his career as a personal tutor of his own classes ‘Saraswati Study Center’ in 1995. From 2003 to 2004, he served as a co-editor of Kavilok and from 2004 to 2006, he served as a co-editor of Kumar. He has also served as a co-editor of Uddesh, a Gujarati literary magazine, from 2007 to 2008. He gave lectures on creative writings as a visiting lecturer in 2007-2008 at Department of Communication and Journalism, Gujarat University. He also served as a visiting lecturer at SPIPA and many other competitive institutions of Ahmedabad. He joined Gujarat Ayurveda University as Information Officer in 2008 and is working as an assistant registrar at academic section of the university now.

Literary career and activities

Chavda started his writing in 1993 during his school days. In July 1997, he joined Budh Sabha, a literary workshop for discussion of poetry, where he came in a contact of other Gujarati poets including Nalin Pandya, Barin Mehta, Pravin Pandya and Labhshankar Thakar. It was 1998 when his poem came out for first time in Kavilok, a biomonthly Gujarati poetry journal. Subsequently, his poem got published in other Gujarati magazines including Kavita, Kumar, Shabdasrishti, Gazalvishwa, Uddesh, Navneet Samarpan, Tadarthya, Dhabak, Parab and Dalitchetna. In 2007, his ghazals have appeared in Vis Pancha (twenty into five), a compilation of ghazals of young Gujarati poets including Anil Chavda, Bhavesh Bhatt, Hardwar Goswami and Chandresh Makvana. He has served as a member for Directional committee of Gujarat Lekhak Mandal (Writer Association of Gujarat). In a present year, he is serving as a member to Advisory Board of Gujarati language at Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi since 2013. Along with this, he is a member of Executive committee of Gujarat Dalit Sahitya Pratishthan, Ahmedabad since 2015. In March 2015, he has gave an important lecture on ‘Anuvad: Siddhant Aur Vivechan’ (Translation: Theory and Practice) at Kendriy Sahitya Sansthan, Agra. Before that, he was invited by Sahitya Akademi for giving a lecture on ‘Why do I write’ in March 2013.

Works

Bedil means 'Sad', 'Heartless', 'Desireless' in Urdu.
He published his first ghazals collection Pagla Talaavm in 2003, followed by Pagrav Talaavma (2012) and critically acclaimed by Chinu Modi, Rajesh Vyas 'Miskin' and Ramesh Parekh. Deep anxiety, intensity of pain and unfathomable disappointment are the prime subjects of this ghazal. Some ghazals, composed on the subjects of Mother, Father and Home, are notable in Gujarati literature. Dalkhi Thi Saav Chhutan (2012) is a collection of committed poetry by which he has left his mark on postmodern Gujarati committed poetry. Pityo Ashko (2012) is a collection of humorous poetry which was written during his college days. The lyrical poem from Pityo Ashko, entitled Millennium Radha nu Geet, have got published in Kavita (September 1999) by Suresh Dalal and considered to be the best in whole book. Tu Kahu Ke Tame (2012) is a collection of songs (lyrical poem). The song of this book have composed in various and distinctive subjects including Song of Your Absence, Song of The Girl Who Have Got Married During Childhood and Song of Widow on The Festival of Holi. He has also written competitive and inspirational books on various examinations for the benefit of students. He has written one act plays on social issues and documentaries too. Recently he has penned lyrics for Paghadi, Gujarati Film.
Chavda has come out as a consummate critic by his book Shabdoday (2012) which was critically acclaimed by Dhiru Parikh, a Gujarati writer and former president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. Consist of 25 critical essay and 7 book review, this book mainly evaluate contemporary Gujarati writings. Ghazalistan (2012) is his translated work, in which the translated ghazals of Indian and Pakistani poets have antholized.

Compilations

Recognition

He received Yuva Gaurav Award (2012) and Dasi Jivan Award (2013-14) instituted by Gujarat Sahitya Akadami and Government of Gujarat. His book Dalkhi Thi Saav Chhutan was awarded The Yuva Puraskar (2013) by Sahitya Akademi. In 2014, he got Vishesh Sanman by South Gujarat Professor's Association. His book Pityo Ashko and Pagrav Talaavma has won Best Book Prize (2012) instituted by Gujarat Sahitya Akadami for Humorous and Poetry section.

Personal life

Chavda married to Madhu on 14 December 2004 and they have a daughter and a son, Maitree and Harshil.