Dhirubhai Premshankar Thaker (27 June 1918 – 22 January 2014) was an Indian Gujarati writer, who was best known for creating the Gujarati Vishwakosh, a 25-volume encyclopedia of the Gujarati language.[1]
Thaker was born on 27 June 1918 in Kodinar, a city now in Gir Somnath District, Gujarat, India to his father Premshankar Thaker, and mother, Gomtibahen. His father was a Talati (village development officer) and was fond of reading literature. Thaker was a native of Viramgam, a town in Ahmedabad district.[2]
He completed his primary education from Kodinar and Chanasma while secondary education from Chanasma and Siddhpur. He completed matriculation in 1934 from L. S. High School, Siddhapur with Sanskrit and Science subjects. He received a BA from Elphinstone College in 1939 with Gujarati (Honours) and Sanskrit, and a MA in 1941 from the same college with Gujarati. In 1938, Mumbai University awarded him the M. M. Paramanand Prize for his research work. Oganisami Sadini Pashchim Bharatni Dharmik Chalavalo (Religious Activities of 19th Century India).[2]
He was a professor at Gujarat College until 1960. In 1956, he received PhD under Ramnarayan V. Pathak from Gujarat College for his thesis Manilal Nabhubhai: Sahitya Sadhana, a research work on the life and works of Manilal Dwivedi. He joined Modasa College in 1960. He retired from there later. He also served as a president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad from 1999 to 2001. He died on 24 January 2014 at Ahmedabad.[1][3]
He was a lecturer by profession. He wrote criticism, essays, research and plays.[1]
He had written ten works on criticism, seven collections of essays, two research works, three biographies including his autobiography. He had also written one biographical play, two children's plays, one travelogue and two translations. He had edited four study works, sixteen literary works, nine collections (with others) and history of Gujarati literature.[3] He wrote a biography of Manilal Dwivedi entitled Manilal Nabhubhai: Jeevanrang.[5] He wrote a biographical play, Uncho Parvat, Undi Khin (1993, 'Lofty Mountain, Cavernous Valley'), based on the life of Manilal Dwivedi. It was awarded a prize by Batubhai Umarvadia Centre for being the best play.[6] He translated Pablo Neruda's Memoirs as Satyani Mukhomukha : Pablo Nerudana 'Memoirs'no Anuvāda (2010).[7]
He assembled 1700 subject experts to work on Gujarati Vishwakosh, a 25-volume encyclopedia of the Gujarati language which contains 25,000 pages and 23,000 entries.[1]
^ abcde"Pioneer behind Gujarati Vishwakosh passes away at 96". The Times of India. 25 January 2014. from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
^ abcDarji, Pravin (October 2006). "ધીરુભાઈ પ્રેમશંકર ઠાકર 'સવ્યસાચી'". In Dave, Ramesh R. (ed.). Gujarātī Sāhityano Itihāsa Gāndhīyugīna-anugāndhīyugīna Gadyasarjako : 1985thī 1935 ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઇતિહાસ (૧૮૯૫થી ૧૯૩૫) : ગાંધીયુગીન-અનુગાંધીયુગીન ગદ્યસર્જકો [History of Gujarati Literature (1895 to 1935) : Prose Writers of Gandhian Era and Post-Gandhan Era] (in Gujarati). Vol. 6 (1st ed.). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. pp. 441–445. OCLC 52268627.
^ ab. Gujarat Vishvakosh Trust (in Gujarati). Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
^"K G Subramanyan awarded Savyasachi Award". The Times of India. 28 June 2015. from the original on 9 February 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
^Stanley Schab; George Simson (1997). Life Writing from the Pacific Rim: Essays from Japan, China, Indonesia, India, and Siam, With a Psychological Overview. Hawai'i: University of Hawaii Press. p. 54. ISBN978-0-8248-1970-5. from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
^Patel, Rajendra (May 2021). અંતિમ શ્વાસ સુધી સજ્જ [Active Till The Last Breath]. Vishwavihar (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. p. 16. ISSN 2321-6999.
^"Narmad award for nonagenarian Dhirubhai Thakar". dnaindia.com. 9 September 2012. from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
^PTI (25 January 2014). "List of Padma awardees". The Hindu. from the original on 22 September 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
^"7 Gujaratis in Padma awards list". The Times of India. 26 January 2014. from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
dhirubhai, thaker, dhirubhai, premshankar, thaker, june, 1918, january, 2014, indian, gujarati, writer, best, known, creating, gujarati, vishwakosh, volume, encyclopedia, gujarati, language, thaker, september, 2012, gujarat, vishwakosh, trustborn, 1918, june, . Dhirubhai Premshankar Thaker 27 June 1918 22 January 2014 was an Indian Gujarati writer who was best known for creating the Gujarati Vishwakosh a 25 volume encyclopedia of the Gujarati language 1 Dhirubhai ThakerThaker in September 2012 at Gujarat Vishwakosh TrustBorn 1918 06 27 27 June 1918Kodinar Gujarat IndiaDied22 January 2014 2014 01 22 aged 95 Ahmedabad GujaratOccupationAuthorLanguageGujaratiNationalityIndianAlma materElphinstone College 1936 1939 BA Notable awardsRanjitram Suvarna Chandrak 1994 Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar 1998 Narmad Suvarna Chandrak 2012 Padma Bhushan 2014 SignatureAcademic backgroundThesis Manilal Nabhubhai Sahitya Sadhana 1956 Doctoral advisorRamnarayan V PathakAcademic workDoctoral studentsKumarpal Desai Pravin Darji Manilal H Patel Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Awards 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksLife editThaker was born on 27 June 1918 in Kodinar a city now in Gir Somnath District Gujarat India to his father Premshankar Thaker and mother Gomtibahen His father was a Talati village development officer and was fond of reading literature Thaker was a native of Viramgam a town in Ahmedabad district 2 He completed his primary education from Kodinar and Chanasma while secondary education from Chanasma and Siddhpur He completed matriculation in 1934 from L S High School Siddhapur with Sanskrit and Science subjects He received a BA from Elphinstone College in 1939 with Gujarati Honours and Sanskrit and a MA in 1941 from the same college with Gujarati In 1938 Mumbai University awarded him the M M Paramanand Prize for his research work Oganisami Sadini Pashchim Bharatni Dharmik Chalavalo Religious Activities of 19th Century India 2 He was a professor at Gujarat College until 1960 In 1956 he received PhD under Ramnarayan V Pathak from Gujarat College for his thesis Manilal Nabhubhai Sahitya Sadhana a research work on the life and works of Manilal Dwivedi He joined Modasa College in 1960 He retired from there later He also served as a president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad from 1999 to 2001 He died on 24 January 2014 at Ahmedabad 1 3 In his honour the Dhirubhai Thakar Savyasachi Saraswat Award has been awarded annually by Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust Ahmedabad since 2013 4 Works editHe was a lecturer by profession He wrote criticism essays research and plays 1 He had written ten works on criticism seven collections of essays two research works three biographies including his autobiography He had also written one biographical play two children s plays one travelogue and two translations He had edited four study works sixteen literary works nine collections with others and history of Gujarati literature 3 He wrote a biography of Manilal Dwivedi entitled Manilal Nabhubhai Jeevanrang 5 He wrote a biographical play Uncho Parvat Undi Khin 1993 Lofty Mountain Cavernous Valley based on the life of Manilal Dwivedi It was awarded a prize by Batubhai Umarvadia Centre for being the best play 6 He translated Pablo Neruda s Memoirs as Satyani Mukhomukha Pablo Nerudana Memoirs no Anuvada 2010 7 He assembled 1700 subject experts to work on Gujarati Vishwakosh a 25 volume encyclopedia of the Gujarati language which contains 25 000 pages and 23 000 entries 1 Awards editHe was the recipient of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak the highest literary award in Gujarati language in 1994 and the Narmad Suvarna Chandrak in 2012 1 8 He had received Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar in 1998 2 He was awarded Padma Bhushan on 25 January 2014 for his contribution in field of literature and education 9 10 See also editList of Gujarati language writersReferences edit a b c d e Pioneer behind Gujarati Vishwakosh passes away at 96 The Times of India 25 January 2014 Archived from the original on 23 June 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2018 a b c Darji Pravin October 2006 ધ ર ભ ઈ પ ર મશ કર ઠ કર સવ યસ ચ In Dave Ramesh R ed Gujarati Sahityano Itihasa Gandhiyugina anugandhiyugina Gadyasarjako 1985thi 1935 ગ જર ત સ હ ત યન ઇત હ સ ૧૮૯૫થ ૧૯૩૫ ગ ધ ય ગ ન અન ગ ધ ય ગ ન ગદ યસર જક History of Gujarati Literature 1895 to 1935 Prose Writers of Gandhian Era and Post Gandhan Era in Gujarati Vol 6 1st ed Ahmedabad Gujarati Sahitya Parishad pp 441 445 OCLC 52268627 a b મ ખ ય સ શ ધક ડ ધ ર ભ ઈ ઠ કર Gujarat Vishvakosh Trust in Gujarati Archived from the original on 15 November 2016 Retrieved 15 November 2016 K G Subramanyan awarded Savyasachi Award The Times of India 28 June 2015 Archived from the original on 9 February 2016 Retrieved 15 July 2010 Stanley Schab George Simson 1997 Life Writing from the Pacific Rim Essays from Japan China Indonesia India and Siam With a Psychological Overview Hawai i University of Hawaii Press p 54 ISBN 978 0 8248 1970 5 Archived from the original on 21 May 2021 Retrieved 17 October 2018 Desai S D December 2002 More Happenings Gujarati Theatre Today 1990 1999 Gandhinagar Gujarat Sahitya Academy p 69 ISBN 81 7227 113 1 OCLC 53840078 Patel Rajendra May 2021 અ ત મ શ વ સ સ ધ સજ જ Active Till The Last Breath Vishwavihar in Gujarati Ahmedabad Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust p 16 ISSN 2321 6999 Narmad award for nonagenarian Dhirubhai Thakar dnaindia com 9 September 2012 Archived from the original on 2 February 2014 Retrieved 25 January 2014 PTI 25 January 2014 List of Padma awardees The Hindu Archived from the original on 22 September 2018 Retrieved 15 June 2018 7 Gujaratis in Padma awards list The Times of India 26 January 2014 Archived from the original on 24 April 2014 Retrieved 1 May 2014 Further reading editDarji Pravin 2018 Sikshaṇavida Dhirubhai Ṭhakara શ ક ષણવ દ ધ ર ભ ઈ ઠ કર Educationist Dhirubhai Thaker in Gujarati Ahmedabad Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust OCLC 1089523336 External links edit nbsp Gujarati Wikisource has original text related to this article ધ ર ભ ઈ ઠ કર nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dhirubhai Thaker Dhirubhai Thaker in Gujarati Vishwakosh Works by Dhirubhai P Thakar at Google Books Works by or about Dhirubhai Thaker at Internet Archive Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dhirubhai Thaker amp oldid 1220617037, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
