Neerav Patel
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Neerav Patel | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 December 1950[1] Bhuvaldi, Daskroi Taluka, Gujarat, India |
| Died | 15 May 2019 (aged 68) Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | Poet, translator, editor |
| Language | Gujarati, English |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Ph.D. |
| Genre | Free verse |
| Literary movement | Dalit literature in Gujarati |
| Notable works |
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| Signature | |
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| Academic background | |
| Thesis | Gujarati Dalit Poetry 1978 to 2003: A study |
| Doctoral advisor | D. S. Mishra |
Neerav Patel (2 December 1950 – 15 May 2019) was a Gujarati and English language poet, translator and editor; primarily known for his contribution in Gujarati Dalit literature such as Burning From Both The Ends (1980, English poems), What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987, English poems) and Bahishkrut Phulo (2006, Gujarati). He edited Swaman, a journal of Dalit writings in Gujarati.[2]
Biography[edit]
Neerav Patel was born in Bhuvaldi, a village in Daskroi Taluka of Ahmedabad district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. His birth name was Somo Hiro Chamar.[3] He changed his name to Neerav Patel because he faced atrocities due to casteism.[3] He earned a PhD in English literature. He served as a Bank Officer. After his retirement, he devoted his time to Dalit literature.[1]
He started writing poetry in college, in 1967.[4] He wrote only Dalit poetry based on Dalit people who are suffering atrocities, exploitation, discrimination and segregation.[4]
He pioneered the movement of Gujarati Dalit literature, publishing the first ever Gujarati Dalit literary magazine Akrosh in 1978 under the auspices of the Dalit Panther of Gujarat. He edited short-lived Gujarati magazines with others namely Kalo Suraj, Sarvanam, Swaman and Vacha.[5]
He died on 15 May 2019 at Ahmedabad following cancer.[6][7]
Works[edit]
Patel explored Dalit sensibility in his poems.[8][9] He published two poetry collections in English, Burning From Both The Ends (1980) and What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987). He published an anthology of Gujarati poems Bahishkrut Phulo in 2006.[2] His other works are Severed Tongue Speaks Out (2014) and Wanted Poets (2019, posthumous).
Recognition[edit]
He received the Mahendra Bhagat Prize (2004–2005) from Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, and the Sant Kabir Dalit Sahitya Award (2005) from the Government of Gujarat.[10]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Welcome to Muse India". Welcome to Muse India. 1950-10-02. Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
- ^ a b Agarwal, Beena; Patel, Neerav (July 2009). "Conversing With Neerav Patel". Impressions (A bi-Annual Refereed e-Journal English Studies). III (II). ISSN 0974-892X. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ a b "Inequity of inequality: A lament in Gujarati". Firstpost. 2017-01-30. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
- ^ "Poets translating Poets". Poets - Goethe-Institut (in Latin). Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ Maitreya, Yogesh (21 May 2019). "Neerav Patel, poet and pioneer of Dalit literature in Gujarat, passes away; but power of his verses lives on". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
- ^ Kothari, Rita (1 June 2019). "Farewell, Neeravbhai". Economic and Political Weekly. 54 (22). Mumbai: 70–71. eISSN 2349-8846. ISSN 0012-9976. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019 – via Economic and Political Weekly.
- ^ "Welcome to Muse India". Welcome to Muse India. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
- ^ Amar Nath Prasad; M. B. Gaijan (1 January 2007). Dalit Literature: A Critical Exploration. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. p. 156. ISBN 978-81-7625-817-3. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ Parmar, Manoj (October 2017). Pratiti. Ahmedabad: Rannade Prakashan. p. 276. ISBN 978-93-86685-28-5.
External links[edit]
- Translated poems of Neerav Patel on Firstpost
- In Conversation with Neerav Patel (Interview of Neerav Patel in 'Le Simplegadi')
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