Jayant Khatri

Jayant Heerji Khatri was a Gujarati short story author from India.

Life

Jayant Khatri was born to Heerji Hansraj Khatri and Jayaben on 24 September 1909 at Mundra, Kutch, Gujarat, India.^[1] His father was a government doctor of Cutch State. He completed his primary education from Bhuj and secondary school education from New Bharda Highschool, Mumbai. He matriculated in 1928. He received L.C.P.S. from National Medical College, Mumbai in 1935 and started his medical practice. He later moved to Mandvi. He had close association with labors in Bhuj and Mumbai. He also served as a president of Navik Mandal, Mandvi (Seafarers Association) and later Mandvi Municipality.^[2]

He died on 6 June 1968 at Mandvi due to cancer.^[2]

Personal life

He married Bachuben from Morjar village in 1929. After death of her first wife, he married his sister-in-law in 1935.^[3]

His son Kirti Khatri is an editor of Gujarati daily, Kutchmitra.^[4]

Works

Fora (1944), Vehta Zarna (1952) and Khara Bapor (1968, posthumous) are his collections of short stories totaling forty one stories.^[1] More eight stories are published in various magazines. Varsadni Vadali was his first short story^[5] while dead end was his last. His only novel Chamarchaal was serialised in Pragnyatantra magazine. Mangal Pandey was his one-act play.^[2][6] Several of his stories revolved around Kutch region from where he belonged. He was also painter and painted symbols and images for his short stories.^{[7][8][9][10]}

Racognition

He received Uma-Snehrashmi Prize for the year 1968-69.^[2]

References

1. Mansukhlal Maganlal Jhaveri; Sahitya Akademi (1978). History of Gujarati Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 200.
2. "સવિશેષ પરિચય: જયંત ખત્રી, ગુજરાતી સાહિત્ય પરિષદ". Jayant Khatri, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad (in Gujarati). Retrieved 17 January 2016.
3. jugalkishor (2 January 2007). "જયંત ખત્રી, Jayant Khatri". ગુજરાતી પ્રતિભા પરિચય (in Gujarati). Retrieved 17 January 2016.
4. New Dawn with Peoples' Participation. Vishva Samvad Kendra. 2001. p. 70.
5. "‘બાદ્રાયણના એ પડકાર બાદ ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યને વાર્તાકાર જયંત ખત્રી મળ્યા’". NavGujarat Samay (in Gujarati). 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
6. "‘મરુ ભોમનું મોતી’ : જયંત ખત્રી વિષય પર વ્યાખ્યાન". Goodluck Samachar (in Gujarati). 14 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
7. K. M. George (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. p. 137. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
8. Mohan Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. p. 4042. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.
9. Gujarat (India) (1971). Gujarat State Gazetteers: Junagadh. Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. p. 527.
10. Sisir Kumar Das (1991). History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 21, 756. ISBN 978-81-7201-798-9.