Balwantray Thakore

Balwantray Thakore Biography

Balwantray Thakore was one of the greatest pioneers of the Pandit yug in Gujarati poetry. This noted Gujarati poet was also known by the titles -  "Poem-teacher" or "Kavita-Shikshak". His sonnet sequence "Premo Divas" and collections of poems titled - Bhanakar are his major contributions to Gujarati literature. His critic works are also popular. Noted Gujarati poets - Umashankar Joshi, Tribhuvandas Luhar were among his students. He was born in Porbandar on October 1869, exactly the same month, year and place where Mahatma Gandhi was born.  

He was born in Porbandar and later moved to Bharuch. Though born as a Hindu, he was influenced by Christianity and Islam during his school days. Those influences were deeply reflected in his poems later. He got married at the age of 18. Thakore graduated with honors from Deccan College, Pune. He was the top student for English subject. He then went to Mumbai to attend the ICS examination and it was during this time when he started his career as a columnist for Times of India. He also served as the editor of ‘Indian Spectator’ for a brief period. Then he continued as a teacher in different colleges and was active in social life till the age of 80.

He was offered the assistant editor position in the celebrated daily, Marata by Lokmanya Tilak. But he declined it. He taught at Wilson College, Mumbai and DJ Sindh College, Karachi. He started a publishing house at the age of 80+ with the aim of encouraging budding writers. However he died at the age of 83 leaving his dream unfulfilled. Aapni Kavita Samrudhhi is his noted critic work.

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Updated: September 23, 2014