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{{about|1921 Gujarati novel|other uses|Prithvi Vallabh (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|1921 Gujarati novel by Kanaiyalal Munshi}}
{{Infobox book
| italic title = 
| name = Prithivivallabh
| image = Prithivivallabh by K M Munshi.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Cover (1966 Edition)
| author = [[Kanaiyalal Munshi]]
| audio_read_by =
| title_orig = પૃથિવીવલ્લભ
| orig_lang_code = gu
| title_working =
| translator =
| illustrator =
| cover_artist =
| country = India
| language = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]
| series =
| release_number =
| subject =
| genre = [[Historical fiction]]
| set_in = [[Medieval India]]
| publisher = The Sahityaprakashak Co. Ltd. (1921)
| publisher2 = [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]] (1966)
| pub_date = 1921
| english_pub_date =
| published =
| media_type =
| pages = 161 (1966)
| awards =
| isbn =
| isbn_note =
| oclc = 11179581
| dewey = 891.473
| congress = MLCSA 90/03341
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| native_wikisource =
| wikisource =
| notes =
| exclude_cover =
| website =
}}
'''''Prithivivallabh''''' ({{IPA-gu|pru.tʰi.vi.vəl.ləbʰ|pron|}}) is a 1921 [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] [[Historical fiction|historical novel]] by [[Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi|Kanaiyalal Munshi]]. The novel depicts the rivalry between [[Vakpati Munja|Munj]], the ruler of [[Dharanagar]]i and [[Tailapa II|Tailap]] as well as the romance between Munj and Mrinal. The novel draws historical information from various medieval works. It was well received by readers and critics. It was adapted into films and a television series.

== Plot ==
Prithivivallabh is based on the history of [[Malwa]] region of India. The novel depicts the rivalry between [[Vakpati Munja|Munj]], the ruler of [[Dharanagar]]i and [[Tailapa II|Tailap]] as well as the romance between Munj and Mrinal. Munj had defeated [[Tailapa II|Tailap]] several times but Tailap captures Munj with help of his feudatory [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadava]] king Bhillamraj. In captivity, Munj falls in love with Mrinal, Tailap's widow sister. Celibate Mrinal too falls in his love but in the end, Tailap gets Munj killed under the feet of an elephant. The love story of Bhoj, a poet; and Vilas, daughter of Bhillamraj engaged with [[Satyashraya]], son of Tailap; runs in parallel.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gujaratisahityaparishad.com/prakashan/sarjako/savishesh/Savishesh-KM-Munshi.html|title=સવિશેષ પરિચય: કનૈયાલાલ મુનશી, ગુજરાતી સાહિત્ય પરિષદ|website=Gujarati sahitya parishad|language=gu|trans-title=K M Munshi - Gujarati Sahitya Parishad|access-date=2018-01-21}}</ref>

== Origin ==
Munshi was interested in the medieval history of India and was attracted to Munj's depiction in works of that era. Munshi has mentioned the works of several poets of that time who have praised Munj in their works such as Dhanajaya's ''Dasarupaka'', Dhanika's ''Avaloka'' based on ''Dasarupaka'', Dhanpala's son Sarvadeva's ''Paiya Lachchhi'' and ''Rishabhapanchashika'' in the preface of the book. He has also mentioned ''[[Nava-sahasanka-charita]]'' by Padmagupta written during the reign of [[Sindhuraja]], the successor of Munja. Munshi was interested in his love of poetry and his military endeavors. He also studied Tailapa's history. Munshi mentioned that all characters he used in the novel are historical like Tailapa's son Akalakacharita or [[Satyashraya]]; Bhillam [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Yadava of Seunadesha]], his wife Lakshmi who was the daughter of the [[Rashtrakuta]] king Zanza of [[Thane|Thana]] as well as Mrinalvati. Munshi confesses in the preface that he was attracted to Munja as other novelists. He had the idea to write a novella on him for years and finally started its writing when his friend and publisher [[Haji Mohammed Allarakha Shivji|Haji Mohammed Allarakha]] insisted. Haji had died before Munshi completed the novella.<ref name="IA">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.517457|title=Prithivi Vallabh.|last=Munshi|first=Kanaiyalal Maneklal|publisher=The Sahitya Prakashak Company Limited|year=1920|location=Mumbai|pages=2–5|via=Gujarat Vidyapith Library|language=gu}}</ref>

== Reception ==
''Prithivivallabh'' was well received by the readers as well as critics. The book had its second edition in 1924.<ref name="IA"/> The book has several editions and has been translated in Hindi. [[Chandrakant Topiwala]] lauds depiction of the period, speedy episodes, dramatic presentation, characterization and language. He also lauds lack of complexity in the novel. He adds that even though novel is less historical and more fiction it juxtaposes celibate Mrinal and romantic Munj very well. Prashad Brahmbhatt equates Munj with [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]'s ''[[Übermensch]]'' (Superman).<ref name=":0" /><ref name="AGSI2">{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ (ગાંધીયુગ અને અનુગાંધી યુગ)|script-title=gu:Arvachin Gujarati Sahityano Itihas (Gandhiyug Ane Anugandhi Yug)|last=Brahmabhatt|first=Prasad|publisher=Parshwa Publication|year=2007|isbn=|location=Ahmedabad|pages=70|language=gu|trans-title=History of Modern Gujarati Literature (Gandhi Era & Post-Gandhi Era)}}</ref> The lack of [[moral values]] in the novel raised controversy.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|last=Mehta|first=Deepak B.|editor-last=George|editor-first=K. M.|editor-link=K. M. George (writer)|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and Poems|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|page=130|chapter=Modern Gujarati Literature|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA130}}</ref> It was criticised for its "uninhibited presentation of sensuous life bordering to [[hedonism]] and irreverent attitude to the [[Tapas (Indian religions)|Hindu ideals of austerity]] and abstinence".<ref name="Das2005">{{cite book|last=Das|first=Sisir Kumar|author-link=Sisir Kumar Das|title=History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA105|year=2005|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7201-798-9|page=105}}</ref>

==Adaptations==
The novel was adapted into a silent film in 1924 by Manilal Joshi which was criticized by [[Mahatma Gandhi]] for its content. ''[[Prithvi Vallabh]]'' is 1943 Hindi film directed by [[Sohrab Modi]] based on the script written by Munshi which was adapted from the book. ''[[Prithvi Vallabh - Itihaas Bhi, Rahasya Bhi]]'' is 2018 Indian historical drama broadcast by [[Sony Entertainment Television]], also took inspiration from the book.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/articles/2018/jan/28/10604/75-years-of-prithvi-vallabh-in-love-and-war-with-sohrab-modi-durga-khote|title=75 years of Prithvi Vallabh: In love and war with Sohrab Modi, Durga Khote|last=Pandya|first=Sonal|website=Cinestaan|access-date=2018-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/peep-into-jahanara-kajjan-a-forgotten-actor-and-a-singing-star-of-the-1930s/article8025934.ece|title=A gem called Jahanara Kajjan|last=Neville|first=Pran|date=2015-12-24|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-01-24|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.indiantelevision.com/television/tv-channels/gecs/prithvi-vallabh-is-20-history-80-mystery-anirudh-pathak-180111|title='Prithvi Vallabh' is 20% history, 80% mystery: Anirudh Pathak|date=2018-01-11|work=Indian Television|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Internet Archive|in.ernet.dli.2015.517457}} (Gujarati)
* {{Internet Archive|id=in.ernet.dli.2015.201603}} (English translation)
* {{Internet Archive|id=in.ernet.dli.2015.539189}} (Hindi translation)
* {{Google books|id=yYO6s6P5ICkC}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category: Indian historical novels]]
[[Category:1921 novels]]
[[Category:Indian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language novels]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novels]]
[[Category:Indian novels adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Third-person narrative novels]]

Prithivivallabh - Revision history

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