Chandrakant Bakshi: Difference between revisions

Chandrakant Bakshi was born on 20 August 1932 at [[Palanpur]] (now in [[Banaskantha district]], Gujarat).<ref name="one" /> He was second child of Keshavlal Bakshi and Chanchalben, a Gujarati [[Jain]] family. He completed his primary education in Palanpur. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 from St. Xavier's College, [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai). He moved to [[Calcutta]] (now Kolkata) where he studied for an [[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B]]. in 1956 and an [[Master of Arts|M.A.]] in History in 1963.<ref name="AGSI">{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ|last=Brahmabhatt|first=Prasad|publisher=Parshwa Publication|year=2010|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7|location=Ahmedabad|pages=163–170|language=gu|trans-title=History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era}}</ref>

He was in the textile business for twelve years and had a garment shop in Calcutta. He wrote his first short story ''Makan Nu Bhut'' (Ghost of the House) at this shop. He published his first book ''Padgha Doobi Gaya'' (Sunken Echoes) in 1957.<ref name="dna" /> In 1969, he moved to Mumbai and settled there and started teaching history at Raheja College. He joined [[Mithibai College]] as a professor of history and politics from 1970 to 1980. He also taught post-graduate students at the [[University of Mumbai|University of Bombay]] and was its senate member. He was the principal of L. S. Rajani Arts and Commerce College from 1980 to 1982 and retired from there. Later he accepted writing and journalism as his career. He wrote columns for several dailies and magazines. He also served as an adviser to ''[[Divya Bhaskar]]'' daily.<ref name="one" /><ref name="AGSI"/>

He was appointed to the ceremonial post of [[Sheriff of Mumbai]] in 1999 by the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="dna">{{cite news|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-ex-sheriff-chandrakant-bakshi-no-more-1019979|title=Ex-sheriff Chandrakant Bakshi no more|date=25 March 2006|access-date =27 March 2014|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]}}</ref> He died on 25 March 2006 in [[Ahmedabad]] following a heart attack.<ref name=one>{{cite news|title=Former Mumbai Sherrif Chandrakant Bakshi dead|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2006/03/25/former-mumbai-sherrif-chandrakant-bakshi-dead-1143295494.html|date=25 March 2006|access-date =26 March 2014|work=One India News}}</ref><ref name="red">{{cite news|url=http://m.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/25baxi.htm|title=Well-known Gujarati writer Chandrakant Bakshi dead|date=26 March 2006|work=Rediff News|access-date=27 March 2014}}</ref><ref name=cb>{{cite book |last= Datta|first= Amaresh|year= 1987|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo|volume=1 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=ObFCT5_taSgC&dq=chandrakant+bakshi&pg=PA331|publisher=Sahitya Akademi |pages= 331|isbn= 9788126018031|access-date=28 March 2014 }}</ref>

He is best known for his sixth novel ''[[Paralysis (novel)|Paralysis]]'' published in 1967, which revolves around protagonist Professor Shah who becomes paralyzed and reminisces about his past life events in hospital. The novel is translated in [[Marathi language|Marathi]], [[English language|English]] and [[Russian language|Russian]]. Another well known non-fiction book he authored is મહાજાતિ ગુજરાતી (Gujarati - A great race), a book on the traditions, characteristics and behavior of the various castes of Gujarat.

He has also written extensively in newspapers and 15 of his books have been translated into [[Hindi]], [[Marathi language|Marathi]], English and other languages.<ref name="one" /><ref name="red" /><ref name="cb" />

His short story ''Kutti'' was banned by the [[Government of Gujarat]] and an arrest warrant was issued against him; so he fought a court case against the government. They later withdrew all charges against him.<ref name="red" /><ref name="dna" /><ref name="cb" />

He married Bakula, who died in 2002. Their daughter Reeva Bakshi lives in Ahmedabad.<ref name="one" /><ref name="red" /> His elder brother Lalit and younger brother Bakul, a retired [[Indian Administrative Services|I. A. S.]] officer, are also columnists.