Latest news with #Narmad
The Wire
5 days ago
- General
- The Wire
An Account of 19th-Century Western India in Narmadashankar Dave's Autobiography
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now books An Account of 19th-Century Western India in Narmadashankar Dave's Autobiography Digvijay Nikam 6 minutes ago Originally titled 'Mari Hakikat', Narmad's autobiography was written in 1866 and is often considered the first autobiography written in Gujarati. A new English translation provides a riveting portrait of 19th-century western India. Narmadashankar Dave. Photo: Public domain Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now The 18th-century philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau, knowing that he is no monarch nor an aristocrat nor saint, begins his pioneering autobiographical account Confessions with an announcement: 'I have resolved on an enterprise which has no precedent.' With a new class of the public beginning to narrativise itself, providing a satisfying rationale for its existence became a staple of the modern autobiography. In 19th century western India, Narmadashankar Dave's equally seminal autobiography begins with a hesitation: 'That someone like me should write his own account and then publish it during his lifetime may seem inappropriate to others – I am neither pandit, nor warrior, nor religious leader, nor dhoti-clad merchant-prince.' To exonerate himself of any charges of vanity, Narmad already has a list of objectives in place for his book – but like Rousseau, his first objective is: 'It is not a practice to write about oneself. I want to start this practice.' Originally titled Mari Hakikat, Narmad's autobiography – an account of the first 33 years of his life – was written in 1866 and is often considered the first autobiography written in Gujarati. Though, given his wish, the first complete edition of the book was not published until 1933, almost five decades after his death. Abhijit Kothari's excellent translation of the book published under the 'Chronicles' series of non-fiction translations by the Ashoka Centre for Translation and Penguin breathes new life into this portrait of a 19th-century intellectual from Gujarat. The making of an intellectual in 19th-century western India Born in 1833 in Surat, Narmad belonged to a Nagar Brahmin family. Over his lifetime he donned many hats including that of a poet, essayist, literary critic, reformer, lexicographer and historian. In the popular public imagination, he is celebrated as 'Kavi Narmad' for having written Jay Jay Garvi Gujarat (Hail to Thee, Glorious Gujarat), a poem delineating the sacred geography of Gujarat. The poem is now used as the state's anthem. On the other hand, for the Gujarati literary community, he is seen as the architect of modern Gujarati literature, not only for his remarkable role in shaping modern Gujarati language but also for enriching Gujarati prose by introducing genres like the essay and autobiography. My Truth is then a critical account for understanding how such a figure comes into being. Narmadashankar Dave, translated by Abhijit Kothari My Truth Penguin Random House India and Ashoka Centre for Translation, 2025 Narmad writes the book in the form of notes. Each chapter, which he calls a ' Viram ' (halt), consists of a series of notes that read like diary entries. Often, they do not follow a narrative logic. Surprisingly, the first 'Viram' gives an extensive account of his Nagar Brahminical lineage which Narmad argues is not to assert any pride but to educate his fellow caste members who are often ignorant of the community's history. A large part of the book following this is dedicated to Narmad's life in the education system both as a student and a teacher. In his introduction to the book, Kothari notes two important developments of 19th-century western India that constitute the intellectual environment for Narmad. The first is the advent of a new system of education that brought together vernacular and English language teaching. The second is the proliferation of a vernacular print culture with newspapers, periodicals, magazines and books, especially school textbooks, getting produced in Gujarati and finding circulation within an emerging reading culture consisting primarily of upper-caste Gujarati Brahmins and Parsi elites. Narmad's autobiography in many ways provides a window to the everyday life of this world of vernacular print culture. We come to know about issues of Buddhiprakash being read in his house or him submitting material to Rast Goftar and Samsherbahadur or controversies like the Maharaj Libel Case unfolding in the local newspapers. Unmaking the 'myth' of Narmad In public discourse, historical figures like Narmad are quickly turned into larger-than-life characters (novelist Saroj Pathak once called Narmad 'divine'). However, My Truth is a record that undoes the myth of Narmad. We learn about his nightmares as a superstitious child, his financial difficulties, his anxieties that drive him to be a poet, his failures but also his contradictions. For instance, the well-known episode of Narmad's turn to writing when he quit his job at Elphinstone School declaring: 'I came home and with tearful eyes, looked at my pen and said, 'Henceforth, I seek refuge in your lap.'' is preceded by a long period of depression at the death of his first wife and child. In another chapter we learn that the reformer Narmad who regularly writes and speaks about avoiding adultery and intoxicants is himself not distant from these practices. The honesty in revealing these details to the public provides a blueprint for later figures like Gandhi who also interestingly titled his autobiography My Experiments with Truth. One of the most engaging sections of the book is where we encounter Narmad's constant banters with his senior contemporary, the poet Dalpatram. On one hand, their difficult relationship is a reflection of the transformations underway in Gujarati poetry and its modes of patronage; and on the other, it is a story of aspiration and envy between two generations of writers. It is here that we witness Kothari's strength as a translator. He retains the simplicity and the informal quality of Narmad's prose. As readers we soon get used to the rhythm of the autobiography despite its absence of a narrative form. Yet it is essential to remember that My Truth is only a partial account of Narmad's life which was to take severe turns going forward. The reader would not know that the reformer (or ' sudharak ' as they say in Gujarati) who had advocated for a 'radical' transformation of Hindu society through 'reason' and 'justice' was to turn conservative by the end of his life, becoming an enthusiast of traditional caste and religious practices. For that we would need another translation, perhaps from Kothari – that of the Uttar Narmad Charitra, a compilation of Narmad's letters and notes from the last two decades of his life that was done by Natwarlal Desai in 1939. But that can wait. For now, we can immerse ourselves in this riveting portrait of 19th-century western India that Kothari's translation has made possible. Digvijay Nikam is a PhD student at the Centre for English Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University. His work deals with modernist print culture from western India. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o: The Kenyan Icon Who Wrote For Freedom Till the Very End 'More Important Than Ever to Speak Truth to Power': Stephen Sackur on BBC Exit and His New Book Their Shrines Demolished, Muslims in Gujarat's Gir Somnath Have Nowhere to Look for Hope Entries Invited For Third Edition of Rainbow Awards for Literature and Journalism Leaders' Silence Questioned After Gujarat Dalit Man Allegedly Killed Over Addressing Teen as 'Beta' The Politics of 'Heart Lamp' Is Profound, Urgent and Reflects the Lived Reality of Millions Interview | Tracing Maithili Writer Shivashankar Shrinivas's Literary Journey The Gujarat Evictions and the Weaponisation of National Security 'Gujarat Samachar' Co-Owner Bahubali Shah's Arrest and Bail: Here's What Happened View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
How Narmad wrote Gujarat's state song 156 years ago
Surat: Gujarat as a state came into existence in 1960, but the poem that defined the Gujarati spirit and its regions was written nearly 87 years earlier. Narmadashankar Dave , popularly known as Narmad , wrote the song " Jay Jay Garvi Gujarat " in 1873. Even 152 years later, it remains popular as the state song of Gujarat, both here and abroad. Many songs were written in honour of the state and its people, but none could replace it. The popular phrase 'Garvi Gujarat — the Pride of Gujarat' became well-known through this song. Gujarati literature experts say Narmad was a creator and litterateur who could think a century ahead. The song also advocates education for future generations. "It is the first such patriotic poem written for Gujarat in Gujarati. Narmad inspired us through this poem about patriotism; he inspired us to take pride in our motherland," said Satish Vyas, former professor and head of the Gujarati department at Gujarat University. "Not only does he take pride in the people of Gujarat, but he also tells people to educate their next generation for development and wealth. 'Garvi Gujarat' was popularized by Narmad through this poem," Vyas told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Highest Earning College Majors—2025 Edition Best Paying Degrees | Search Ads Learn More Undo Literary scholars take inspiration from "Jay Jay Garvi Gujarat " as an example of how Narmad wrote poetry for a region that became a state later. "When Narmad wrote this, the state did not exist; he wrote it 87 years earlier. Several small states existed within Gujarat then, but he thought of a united Gujarat. He mentioned all the important parts of the state in the poem," said Ravindra Parekh, a writer and poet. "I consider it the state song of Gujarat. Many songs have been written, but none became as popular as this," added Parekh. "For his passion in writing, he was called Veer (brave) Narmad. In this poem, we can see the same enthusiasm and love for the state and its people. He was a reformist, and his temperament was such that he could write about the glory of the state one and a half centuries ago," said Sandhya Bhatt, associate professor at the Arts and Commerce College in Bardoli.
Scroll.in
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Narmadashankar Dave
Stories written by From the autobiography: 'Narmad', a pioneer of modern Gujarati literature, recounts his childhood An excerpt from 'My Truth: Autobiography of Narmadashankar Dave.' Translated from the Gujarati by Abhijit Kothari. Narmadashankar Dave & Abhijit Kothari · 10 minutes ago How the Gujarati poet Narmadashankar Dave went from promiscuity to religiousness An excerpt from 'Relating to Dahigauri', a translation of Narmadashankar Dave's diary, and a journey through his life, by Tulsi Vatsal and Aban Mukherji. Narmadashankar Dave , Tulsi Vatsal & Aban Mukherji · Oct 01, 2021 · 08:30 am
Scroll.in
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Scroll.in
Abhijit Kothari
Stories written by From the autobiography: 'Narmad', a pioneer of modern Gujarati literature, recounts his childhood An excerpt from 'My Truth: Autobiography of Narmadashankar Dave.' Translated from the Gujarati by Abhijit Kothari. Narmadashankar Dave & Abhijit Kothari · 10 minutes ago KM Munshi's philosophy of Gujarati 'asmita' and a revised version of history is a familiar one today 'For Munshi, it was crucial that historians refer to Hindu sources and local sources to get a proper understanding of history.' Rita Kothari & Abhijit Kothari · Sep 05, 2018 · 08:30 am
