Narsinhrao Divetia

Narsinhrao Divetia Biography

Narsinhrao Divetia was a noted writer and critic associated with Gujarati literature. He was also known as a scholar and linguistic. He contributed to Gujarati literature in the form of poems, prose, critic works, translations and other works. Divetia is credited to be the first Gujarati poet who wrote poems in pure western style. Started his literary career in the mid-1880s, he was quite active with his critic and other forms of work till his death. He passed away in 1937. He is the son of great Gujarati poet and religious reformer Bholanath Divetia who was active in social life and literal career in the second half of 19^th century.

He was born on 3 September 1859 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His father Bholanath Divetia was a Gujarati poet and religious reformer who lived during the period 1822 – 1886. He lived in a haveli (mansion) of 200 years old, which has been converted to heritage property by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation now. Narsinhrao Divetia completed graduation in Sanskrit from Elphinstone College in 1880 and was University First Rank holder. He also got through Indian Statutory Civil Service examination. Later he was appointed as Assistant Collector of Kera district in 1884. He continued in civil service till 1912 and retired following ill health. Later he settled in Mumbai, where he took teaching as profession.

As a poet, his first work was Kusumavala published in 1887. Hridyavina, Sarjatraini Sushupti, Nupurzankar and Smaran-Sanhita were his poetry collections later. Vivartleela and Smararanmukur belong to his prose works while Buddhacharit is his translation work. He gave significant contributions to the field of criticism through his works – Manomukur (in four volumes), Abhinaya Kala and Gujarati language and literature.

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Updated: April 03, 2016