Ravji Patel

Life

He was born in Bhatpur village (now in Anand district, Gujarat) on 15 November 1939. His family was a native of Vallavpura village in Kheda district. He completed his primary education from his village, Vallavpura and moved to Ahmedabad for further education. He completed his S.S.C from Navchetan High School, Ahmedabad. Then he joined City Arts College, but he could only study up to the second year of college and dropped out owing to financial difficulties. He worked briefly at various places like mills, libraries, newspapers and universities. After staying in Amirgadh and Anand for few months, he died in Ahmedabad on 8 August 1968 at the age of 29 due to tuberculosis and mental disorder.

He married Mahalakshmi in 1960 and they had a daughter, Apeksha.

Works

He co-edited poetry journal Shabda with Mukund Parikh.

His only collection Angat (1970) was published posthumously which includes fourteen songs. One of his song, Mari Aankhe Kankuna Suraj Athamya is considered as the landmark in Gujarati literature. The song flags a great change in the trends and styles of writing in Gujarati literature, bringing it into what is now known as the modern Gujarati literary trend.

Ashrughar (1966) is his novel about a person suffering from tuberculosis. Jhanza (1967) is his another novel. Vrutti ane Varta (1977) includes his incomplete story Vrutti. Rakh Pan Bole Chhe is his one-act play published in third issue of Kriti magazine. His some letters to fellow authors are published in Ravji Patel by Mafat Oza.

Recognition

He received Uma-Snehrashmi Prize for the year 1966-67. Gujarati film Kashino Dikro includes his famous song Mari Aankhe Kankuna Suraj Athamya.