Anantrai Raval

Anantrai Raval Biography

Anantrai Raval was a noted writer, critic and editor belonging to Gujarati language. He was also an academician who has taught at various educational institutions across Gujarat. He contributed numerous critic works to Gujarati literature beginning with Sahityavihar in 1946. Gandhakshat, Sahitya: Madhyakalin, Sahityavivek, Sahityanikash, Granthastha Vabgmai, Upchay, Unmilan, Samiksha, Samalochna and Kavivarya Nhanalal are his other noted critic works. As an editor, his best work is Batubhai na Natako, a collection of plays of Gujarati playwright, Batubhai Umarvadiya. He has also edited the work Gujarati Sahitya no Itihas of Umashankar Joshi, apart from several other works.

Raval was born on 1 January 1912 at Amreli in Gujarat. Though he was a native of Vallabhipur, he was brought up in Amreli where he completed his school education. He later completed graduation from Samaldas College, Bhavnagar and was a fellow of the same college for two years before he completed Master’s in two subjects by mid 1930s. He was the first student in the University of Bombay to complete Master’s with first class. After a brief period as a subeditor of Hindustan Prajamitra, he started his professional career as a lecturer and worked in different colleges. He joined Gujarat College in Ahmedabad in 1934 as a lecturer after Master’s.

As a writer his major contributions include critics’ works, though he has edited large volumes of books. In 1944 he also penned a few short stories for Chaa Ghar. His other works include a few translations from world literature. Taratamya in 1974 earned him Academy award. Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1955 and Narmad Chandrak in 1974 are other major honours received by him. He passed away on 18 November 1988.

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Updated: March 06, 2016