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{{short description|Indian Gujarati language writer}}
{{EngvarB|date=December 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Ramanlal Desai
| image = Ramanlal V. Desai.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = gu
| birth_name = Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=y|1892|5|12}}
| birth_place = [[Sinor, Gujarat|Sinor]], [[Vadodara district|Vadodara]], [[Gujarat]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|1954|9|20|1892|5|12}}
| death_place =
| spouse = {{marriage|Kailasvati |1912 |1927|end=her death}}
| children = 2 including ([[Akshay Ramanlal Desai|Akshay Desai]])
| relatives =
| awards = [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] (1932)
}}

'''Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai''' (12 May 1892 – 20 September 1954) was an Indian Gujarati language writer. He is considered as an important figure of the [[Gujarati literature]] as well as Gujarati novel writing. He wrote 27 novels, among which, ''Bharelo Agni'' and ''Gramalakshmi'' are considered to be his [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]]. His other notable and massive work is ''Apsara'', essays divided in five volumes which is based on the life of prostitutes. He was awarded [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] in 1932.

== Life ==
Desai was born on 12 May 1892 in [[Sinor, Gujarat|Sinor]], a village located on the bank of [[Narmada River|Narmada]] river to Vasantlal and Manibai. His family was a native of [[Kalol (Panchmahal)|Kalol]] of [[Panchmahal district]]. His father Vasantlal was [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] in nature while his mother Manibai was [[Vaishnavism|vaishanva]] and religious. Vasantlal ran a Gujarati magazine, ''Deshbhakta''<ref name="Kachot2014">{{cite book|author=Dr. Sanjay Kachot|title=19 Mi Sadinu Gujarati Patrakaratva Pravaho ane Prabhav|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mkwjDQAAQBAJ&pg=PT38|access-date=18 September 2017|date=14 May 2014|publisher=RED'SHINE Publication. Inc|language=gu|isbn=978-93-84190-11-8|page=38}}</ref> (Lit. The Patriot). Beside the printing house of his father Vasantlal, there was a book shop which provided him books for reading during his school life. Desai studied until sixth standard at his uncle's home in Shinor and then moved to [[Vadodara]] in 1902 and was admitted in the Branch School. He was engaged to Kailasvati at age of eight and they married in 1912.<ref name=mehta>{{cite book|last=Mehta|first=Dipak|title=Ramanlal V. Desai|series=ગુજરાતી ગ્રંથકાર શ્રેણી [Gujarati Men of Letters Series]|editor-last=Joshi|editor-first=Ramanlal|editor-link=Ramanlal Joshi|date=1980|publisher=Kumkum Publication|location=Ahmedabad |pages=10–13}}</ref>

He matriculated in 1908 and shifted to Vadodara college where he failed in Mathematics both in the first year and inter year exams. He used to discuss with friends about topics like Socialism, Communism and marriage and delivered lectures on these topics. His poem ''Shu Karu?'' (Lit. What should I do?) was published in a college magazine and later published in his poetry collection ''Niharika''. He passed B.A. in 1914 with the first rank and was selected as a fellow. He wrote a play entitled ''Samyukta'' which was staged at [[Gujarati Sahitya Parishad]] held at [[Surat]] in 1915. He completed Master of Arts in 1916 with English and Gujarati literature. He could not get second rank and thus he could not fulfill his dream to be a professor. He joined Shri Sayaji High School as a teacher, and few months later, in November 1916, he was appointed the head clerk in the [[Baroda State]], where he later held various positions before retiring in 1948. He died on 20 September 1954 due to [[heart failure]].<ref name=mehta/>

Desai was the president of Pragatishil Sahitya Mandal and also of the Baroda Sahitya Sabha in 1937.<ref name=Gazetteer>{{cite book|editor-last=Patel|editor-first=G. D.|title=Gazetteer of India, Gujarat State (Panchmahals District)|chapter=XV: Education and Culture|year=1972|publisher=Government of India|location=Ahmedabad|pages=689}}</ref>

His son, [[Akshay Ramanlal Desai|Akshay Desai]], was a renowned Indian sociologist.<ref name="Kaumudi Munshi">{{cite web | title=About Kaumudi Munshi | website=The Life and Art of Kaumudi Munshi | url=http://www.kaumudimunshi.com/about.html | access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref><ref name="Sociologyguide.com 1915">{{cite web | title=A.R Desai Sociology, Indian Thinkers | website=Sociologyguide.com | url=http://www.sociologyguide.com/indian-thinkers/a.r_desai.php | access-date=18 September 2017}}</ref>

== Works ==
[[File:Ramanlal V Desai1.jpg|thumb|Bust of Ramanlal Desai in [[Vadodara]]]]
Desai was the contemporary of Gujarati novelists [[K M Munshi]] and [[Dhumketu (writer)|Dhumketu]]. Desai is mostly known for his novels depicting the Gujarati middle class life and characters. He has also written short stories, plays, poems, character-sketches, travelogues, historical essays, literary criticism and autobiography.

''Samyukta'', a play, was the first literary writing of Desai. His first novel ''Thaug'' (1924-1925) was serialised in ''Navagujarat'', a Gujarati magazine.<ref name="Datta1987">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&pg=PA927|access-date=19 September 2017|year=1987|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-260-1803-1|page=927}}</ref>

;Novels
Desai had written 27 novels.

''Jayanta'' was his first novel to be published in book form. His last novel ''Aankh ane Anjan'' was published posthumously in 1960. All of his novels can be divided in three groups. The first group, contains 8 novels, is based on historical and mythological themes. The second group of 12 novels deals with the social life of Gujarat and the ideas and activities of [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. The third group, consists of 7 novels published after 1941, influenced by Marxist ideology.<ref name="Datta1987"/>
He serialised all his novels in periodicals. After [[Govardhanram Tripathi|G. M. Tripathi]], Desai was the first Gujarati novelist who wrote his novels with historical events that shaped the contemporary milieu. He deeply studied about particular historical era before writing these novels and he also visited some places, which is depicted in these novels, so that he could write an authentic description of the places. Desai's novels reflect the ideas and thoughts of [[Mahatma Gandhi]], though he had never met Gandhi. He depicted the spirit of the days of [[Indian independence movement|freedom struggle of India]].<ref name=bhatt>{{cite thesis|last=Bhatt|first=Avnessh|title=R V Desai's Bharelo Agni: English Translation of the Gujarati Text with a Critical Introduction|date=2015|publisher=[[Saurashtra University]]|place=Rajkot|type=PhD|chapter=Chapter 1|hdl=10603/128943}}</ref>

His novels, which have historical or mythical themes, include ''Bharelo Agni'' (1935), ''Kshitij'' Vol. 1‐2 (1938, 1941), ''Thug'' (1938), ''Pahadna Pushpo'' Vol. 1‐2 (1943, 1949), ''Kalbhoj'' (1950), ''Shauryatarpan'' (1951), ''Balajogan'' (1952) and ''Shachi Pulomi'' (1954), among which ''Bharelo Agni'', is considered to be Desai's [[Masterpiece|magnum opus]], dealing with the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].<ref name="George1992"/>

''Sirisha'' (1927), ''Kokila'' (1928), ''Divyachakshu'' (1932) and ''Gramalakshmi'' (Vol. 1-4, 1933-1937) are considered as his major novels which deal with Gandhian themes like Indian freedom movement, the removal of untouchability, the uplift of woman, the reconstruction of rural India, the ''Swadeshi Movement'', non-violent resistance and other things which Gandhi had preached and practised.<ref name="George1992"/>
But Desai is also acclaimed for his social novels, which are characterised by human emotions like love, hate, compassion, revenge, tolerance and impatience with the social, economic and political problems of his days. Through his social novel, Desai suggests that these problems can be solved by following the Gandhian ideals. His novel ''Divyachakshu'' (1932) presents the documentary picture of the days of freedom struggle with the backdrop of triangular love story. ''Purnima'' (1932) is a story of young girl who was driven to prostitution by her elders and the circumstances. ''Gramalakshmi'' Vol. 1-4 (1933-1937) is considered as his most expensive as well as the most idealistic novel. Consisting of 1233 pages, it deals with almost every conceivable ill of the rural society. His other social novels are Sirisha (1927), Hridayanatha (1930), Bamsari (1933), Patralalasa (1934), Snehayajna (1931), Sobhana (1939) and Hridayavibhuti (1940).<ref name="Datta1987"/>

During the later years of his life, Desai moved towards [[Marxism]] and wrote novels based on it like ''Chhayanat'' (1941), ''Jhanjhavat'' Vol. 1‐2 (1948, 1949), ''Pralay'' (1950) ''Saundaryajyot'' (1951), ''Snehasrishti'' (1953), ''Trishanku'' (1955) and ''Aankh ane Anjan'' (1960).<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|last=George|first=K. M.|author-link=K. M. George (writer)|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&pg=PA135|access-date=18 September 2017|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|location=New Delhi|isbn=978-81-7201-324-0|page=135}}</ref>

;Others
His play ''Samyukta'' (1923) was followed by ''Sankita Hridaya'' (1925), ''Anjani'' (1938), ''Pari Ane Rajakumar'' (1938), ''Gramaseva'' (1941), ''Tapa Ane Rupa'' (1950), ''Pushponi Shrishtima'' (1952), ''Uskerayelo Atma'' (1954), ''Kavidarshan'' (1957), ''Baiju Bavaro'' (1959) and ''Videhi'' (1960). The first three and ''Gramaseva'' are full length plays while the rest are short plays and [[one-act play]]s. These plays have played an important role in the development of the [[Gujarati theatre]].<ref name="Datta1987"/> In his play ''Sankit Hriday'',<ref name="Yajnik1933">{{cite book|author=R. K. Yajnik|title=The Indian Theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8r5ycUQEl-wC&pg=PA267|access-date=18 September 2017|year=1934|publisher=Haskell House Publishers Ltd|location=New York|page=267|id=GGKEY:WYN7QH8HYJB}}</ref> [[Jayshankar Sundari]] played a role.<ref name="HansenHansen2013">{{cite book|author1=Director of the Center for Asian Studies and Professor Department of Asian Studies Kathryn Hansen|author2=Kathryn Hansen|title=Stages of Life: Indian Theatre Autobiographies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t7Q1DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA185|access-date=18 September 2017|date=December 2013|publisher=Anthem Press|location=London|isbn=978-1-78308-098-4|page=185}}</ref>

He wrote about 140 short stories but, as the ''Encyclopedia of Indian Literature'' noted, he has not been able to contribute substantially to the development of Gujarati short stories. Because he wrote most of the short stories for popular periodicals of his era. His short stories have been collected in some volumes including ''Jhakal'' (1932), ''Pankaja'' (1935), ''Rasabindu'' (1942), ''Kanchan ane Geru'' (1949), ''Divadi'' (1951), ''Bhagyachakra'' (1952), ''Sati ane Svarga'' (1953), ''Dhabakata Haiya'' (1954) and ''Hirani Chamak'' (1957).<ref name="Datta1987"/>

Desai wrote his autobiography under the titles ''Gaikal'' (1950) and ''Madhyahan Na Mrigjal'' (1956).<ref name="George1992"/>

His work ''Apsara'' (1933-1949) in five volumes is a study of the life of [[Prostitution|prostitutes]].<ref name="NatarajanNelson1996">{{cite book|author1=Nalini Natarajan|author2=Emmanuel Sampath Nelson|title=Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&pg=PA110|access-date=19 September 2017|year=1996|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|location=London|isbn=978-0-313-28778-7|page=110}}</ref>

== Translations and adaptations ==
Desai's novels ''Kokila'', ''Divya Chakshu'' and some other books were translated into [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and in other Indian languages. The 1937 Hindi film [[Kokila (1937 film)|Kokila]], directed by [[Sarvottam Badami]], was based on Desai's novel by same name. His other novel ''Purnima'' was also adapted into the film.<ref name=Gazetteer/><ref name="(India)1972">{{cite book|author=Gujarat (India)|title=Gujarat State Gazetteers: Panchmahals|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nx8bAAAAIAAJ|year=1972|publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State|pages=689}}</ref>

== Recognition ==
[[Vishwanath Bhatt]], a Gujarati critic, considered Desai as the 'Yugamoorti Vartakar' (the novelist who reflects an age).<ref name="(India)1971">{{cite book|author=Maharashtra (India)|title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: General Series|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e0FuAAAAMAAJ|access-date=20 April 2018|volume=VI|year=1971|publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications|page=379}}</ref> Desai was awarded [[Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]] in 1932 for his contribution in Gujarati literature. He also received Hargovinddas Kantawala Prize for his novel ''Divya Chakshu''.<ref name=Gazetteer/><ref name="(India)1972"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Wikisource|gu:સર્જક:રમણલાલ દેસાઈ|Ramanlal Desai}}

== External links ==
* {{Gbooks-author|Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai}}
* {{Internet Archive author|search=Desai Ramanlal}}
* {{GujLit author}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Desai, Ramanlal}}
[[Category:1892 births]]
[[Category:1954 deaths]]
[[Category:Novelists from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]
[[Category:Gandhians]]
[[Category:People from Vadodara district]]
[[Category:Indian Marxist writers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian essayists]]
[[Category:Indian historical novelists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Gujarat]]
[[Category:Indian autobiographers]]

Ramanlal Desai - Revision history

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