Jayant Khatri

Jayant Khatri Biography

Jayant Khatri was an Indian fiction writer belonging to Gujarati literature, who specialized in short stories. A progressive writer in the 20^th century who lived between 24 September 1909 and 6 June 1968, he was a recipient of a few literary awards including Uma-Snehrashmi Prize. He died at a comparatively young age of 58 in 1968. His last poetry collection, Khara Bapor was published posthumously. He owned a medical degree of L.C.P.S and was also a physician by profession. He was also an artist and painter, who included his sketches and paintings in his published works. His son Kirti Khatri is an editor of Gujarati daily, Kutchmitra.

Dr. Jayant Khatri was born to Heerji Hansraj Khatri and Jayaben on 24 September 1909. He hailed from Mundra, Kutch of present day Gujarat, then ruled by British. His father served as a government physician of Cutch State. His early education was completed at Bhuj, and later he moved to Mumbai where he completed his matriculation. He enrolled for L.C.P.S at National Medical College, Mumbai. He completed his medical degree in 1935 after which he started practice. He later moved to Mandvi, where he got involved with several labour organizations and also served as a president of Navik Mandal, Mandvi.

Since he shifted to Mandvi he lived there till his death. He died on 6 June 1968 at Mandvi due to cancer. He was married twice. After the death of his first wife Bachuben in 1929, he married his sister-in-law in 1935, and has one son Kirti Khatri who is a journalist and editor right now. Jayant Khatri was a popular short story writer whose stories were initially published in magazines. Fora (1944), Vehta Zarna (1952) and Khara Bapor (1968) are his anthology of stories published.

Published: January 22, 2019

Updated: January 22, 2019