Pioneer of Gujarati encyclopedia, historian of Gujarati literature, Dhirubhai Thakar passes away


Ahmedabad, 24 January 2014

Veteran Gujarati Litterateur Dhirubhai Thakar is no more. He was 96.

Thakar propounded the idea of a Gujarati encyclopedia (Gujarati Vishwakosh) and worked towards making it a reality. Thakar continued to work as chief editor of the Gujarati Vishwakosh and published a number of books under the Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust’s banner even at the age above 90.

Thakar was also an eminent creative writer, critic, essayist, playwright, biographer, translator, researcher, educationist, and more importantly, a freedom fighter. Thakar received his first award as student of junior Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Mumbai.

According to Kumarpal Desai, Thakar was the only one to write a complete history of Gujarati literature. Thakar was described as an eternal youth and a lifetime researcher by Narayan Desai.

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi condoled Thakar’s passing away and tweeted: Dhirubhai Thakar’s demise is a big loss for Gujarati literature. His missionary zeal and devotion to literature will be remembered forever. Gujarat Vishwakosh is a living testimony of Dhirubhai Thakar’s passion towards literature. His work will inspire generations.

-Dhirubhai retired from the post of principal in Modasa college at the age of 60 and started the Vishwakosh project at the age of 67. Dhirubhai had individually donated Rs. 10 lakh for Vishwakosh’s Lalitkala kendra. When asked whether the kendra be named after him, Dhirubhai said no.

-Gujarat Vishwakosh Trust was established in year 1985. Gujarat Vishwakosh has 25 volums in 25 years with 23,000 articles contributed by 1700 expeerts at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crore.

-During India’s freedom struggle, in 1942 while attempting to stop a police official, Dhirubhai had suffered injury.

-Dhirubhai translated Pablo Neruda’s Memoirs to Gujarati in year 2009. In 2011 he gave another book “Gandhiji ane panch saksharo”.

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