Manubhai Jodhani | |
Birth Name: | Manubhai Jodhani |
Birth Date: | 1902 10, df=y |
Birth Place: | Barwala, British India |
Occupation: | Writer, folklorist, ornithologist, botanist, editor |
Manubhai Lallubhai Jodhani (28 October 1902 – 29 December 1979) was a Gujarati writer, folklorist, ornithologist, botanist and editor from Gujarat, India. He had published more than 15 books.[1]
Jodhani was born on 28 October 1902, in Barwala (now in Botad district, Gujarat, India).[2] He received his primary school education at Limbdi. He became a school teacher in Barwala in 1920. In 1930, he resigned to join the Indian Independence Movement.[3] Following Mahatma Gandhi's Salt Satyagraha, an independence activist Amrutlal Sheth decided to hold Satyagraha at Dholera. Jodhani played a leading role in Dholera Salt Satyagraha and the British Police had issued an arrest warrant for Jodhani.[4]
Later he joined the Jivanlal Amarshi Booksellers. He also worked with various magazines including Stribodh as a sub editor as well as Strijivan as an editor for 39 years. He was a member of a committee formed by the Government of Gujarat to promote folk literature.[5]
He died on 29 December 1979.[6] His son Vasantkumar Jodhai was also a writer who published works on science and animals.[7]
Jodhani has contributed considerably in the field of folk literature.[8] He was an ornithologist and botanist.[9] He pioneered story writings on flora and fauna of Gujarat.[10] [11]
His works on folk literature include Sorathi Javahir (1930), Sorathi Vibhuto (1964), Randalna Geeto, Gujarati Loksahitya Mala (cowritten with Manjula Majmudar, Bachubhai Raval) and Janpad (1940, 1944, 1955; sketches).[12]
His short stories include Shilvati (1928) and Sundariona Shangar. Nagmati (1932) is his only novel. Khatimithi Balavato and Kumaroni Pravaskatha are works of children's literature.
Padarni Vanaspati I-II (1954–55), Anganana Pankhi I-II (1955–56), Padarna Pankhi (1956) are his works on botany and ornithology.
He translated Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's Bindur Chhele as Bindu (1939).[13]
He helped to publish Manuben Gandhi's memoir, Last Glimpses of Bapu.
There is a road named after him in Paldi, Ahmedabad.