Indian Classics Gujarati

One of the important roles literature performs is the change of heart and mind of the people. Our creative writers from all over the country have conveyed richness and depth of society they had experienced and have translated them into words of their own regional languages. Indian Classis -Gujarati is a compilation of fifteen titles written over a time span of 150 years. Originally in Gujarati language this has been and translated into English to communicate ideas moods and sentiments from one part of the country to the other.

Dr. Chandrakant Mehta is a well-known author critic and translator. He has command over Bengali Marathi Sanskrit English and Gujarati languages. He has translated many Bengali novels in Gujarati.

Bharat is a multilingual country and a person having knowledge of one language is hardly aware of the great works from other languages. In order to create the awareness in a reader, the publications. Division of ministry of information and Broadcasting Government of India planned to publish brief compilations of fictions of distinction form different languages and translate them in various Indian languages. I was allotted the work to complete selected literary creations from Gujarati language.

I have selected 15 novels, which include a play titled "Koi EK Phool Nu Naam To Lo" (Do take Name of a flower) which was selected and produced among other players of Indian language on Delhi Doordarshan.

Here I have selected only fifteen out of the distinct creations after all the best cannot be too many. The fiction's selection is done after viewing form different angles, e. g. Saraswatichandra is a social novel written during the end part of 19th century and while Paralysis represents later period of 20th century and gives us the glimpse of the modern society. There are historical novels like Gujarat No Naath" (The Ruler of Gujarat) Janamteep (life Imprisonment) are included here while existentialist story like Amruta is also there. The fictions from novelists like kundanika Kapadia and Minal Dikshit too have found place. Shivakumar Joshi's sonal Chaaya (Golden Shadow) is based on a diary with a style of its own is selected. Thus the variety along with the view to give representation to last two eras is kept in mind. I have included even a novel based on mythological subject Madhava Kyaanya Nathi (Madhava is to be found no where).

I am extremely thankful to the officers and especially to Ms. Kalpana Palkhiwala of the Publications Division for entrusting this compilation work to me.