Ahmedabad

It’s one of the greatest Gujarati, Shri Kanaiyalal Maneklal Munshi’s birth anniversary today. Presented here for the first time online, a list of his works and dates and events of his life:

Munshi’s Works in their Order of Publication:

In Gujarati

1. Mari Kamala ane Biji Vato, a collection of short stories, 1912.
2. Ver ni Vasulat, social novel, 1913.
3. Kono vank, social novel, 1915.
4. patan ni Prabhuta, historical novel, 1916.
5. Gujarat no Nath, historical novel, 1917.
6. Prithvi Vallabh, historical novel, 1920.
7. Vava Sheth nun Swatantrya, social play, 1921.
8. Rajadhiraj, historical novel, 1922.
9. Purandar Parajaya, mythological play 1922.
10. Shambar Kanya, mythological, part 2 of LOP, 1922.
11. Bhagavan Kautilya, historical novel, 1923.
12. Avibhakta Atma, mythological play, 1923.
13. Svapnadrishta, social novel, 1924.
14. Be Kharab Jan, social play, 1924.
15. Tarpana, mythological play, 1924.
16. Ketalak Lekho, 1 and 2, literary criticism, 1926.
17: Gujarat na Jyotirdharo, historical biographies, 1926.
18. Ajnankita, social play, 1927.
19. Kaka ni Shashi, social play, 1929.
20. Putra Samovadai, mythological play, 1929.
21. Dhruvasvaminidevi, historical play, 1929.
22. Sneha Sambharana, social play, 1931.
23. Brahmacharyashrama, social play, 1931.
24. Shishu and Sakhi, autobiographical prose-poem, 1932.
25. Lopamudra 1, mythological novel, 1933.
26. Thodank Rasadarshano, literary criticism, 1933.
27. Narasaiyo Bhakta Harino, biographical sketch, 1933.
28. Adivachano, Inaugural addresses at Gujarati Literary Conferences, part 1 collected, 1933.
29. Deve Disheli, mythological play, part 3 of LOP, 1934.
30. Vishvamitra Rishi, mythological play, part 4 of LOP, 1934.
31. Dr. Madhurika, social play, 1936.
32. Narmad, biography, 1939.
34. Jay Somnath, historical novel, 1940.
35. Adivachano 2, inaugural addresses, 1941.
36. Adadhe Raste, autobiography, 1943(was serialized in 1923-24)
37. Mari Binjawabdar Kahani, autobiography, 1943.
38. Sidhan Chadhan, 1 and 2, autobiography, 1923(was serialized in 1932-33).
39. Europe ni Safare, travel notes, 1943.
40. Lomaharshini, mythological novel, 1945.
41. Bhagavan Parashurama, mythological novel, 1946.
42. Pidagrasta Professor, social play, 1946.
43. Chhie Tej Thik, social play, 1946.
44. Ketalik Vibhutio, biography, 1947.
45. Dr. Madhurika Film Script from the original social play, 1948.
46. Atma-Shilpi ni Kelavani, essay, 1950.
47. Bhagawad Gita ane Arvachin Jivan, Translation of the original English work, 1950.
48. Gujarat ni Kirtigatha, historical writings, 1952.
49. Swapna Siddhi ni Shodhaman, autobiography 1953.
50. Vah re Men Vah, Fantasy play, 1953.
51. Parishad ne Pramukh Padethi, Lectures, 1955.
52. Bhagna Paduka, historical novel, 1956(written in 1948).
53. Tapasvini (The Lady Sage) 1 and 2 in 1957, 3 in 1958.
54. Narasinha Yuga na Kavio, literary history, 1962.
55. Krishnavatara, mythological novel 1 – 1963, 2 – 1966, 3 – 1968, 4 – 1969, 5 – 1970, 6 – 1972, 7 and 8(combined) – 1947. This novel started being serialized in ‘Samarpan’ in 1960. parts 6, 7 and 8 were posthumously published.
56. Chakravarti Gurjaro, historical research 1966.

In English:

57. I Follow the Mahatma, 1940.
58. The Early Aryans in Gujarat, 1941.
59. Akhand Hindustan, 1942.
60. The Glory that was Gurjar Desha, 1 – 1943, 2 – 1944, both revised in 1954.
61. Imperial Gurjars, 1944.
62. The Indian Deadlock, 1945.
63. The Ruin that Britain Wrought, 1946.
64. The Creative Art of Life, 1946.
65. The Changing Shape of Indian Politics, 1946.
66. Bhagavad Gita and Modern Life, 1947.
67. Gandhi, the Master, 1948.
68. Linguistic Provinces and the Future of Bombay, 1948.
69. Somnath, the Shrine Eternal, 1951.
70. Land Transformation, a Philosophy, a Faith, 1951.
71. Sparks From the Anvil, 1951.
72. Gospel of the Dirty Hand, 1951.
73. Our Greatest Need and Other Addresses, 1953.
74. To Badrinath, 1953.
75. Janu’s Death and Other Kulpati’s letter, 1954.
76. City of Paradise and Other Kulpati’s letters, 1954.
77. Sparks from the Governor’s Anvil, 1956.
78. The Wolf Boy and Other Kulpati’s letters, 1956.
79. The Saga of Indian Sculpture, 1957.
80. The End of an Era: Hyderabad Memoirs, 1957.
81. Swan Love and Other Kulpati’s letters, 1958.
82. The World We Saw, 1960.
83. Replies to the Reader, 1961.
84. Warnings of History, 1961.
85. Reconstruction of Society through Trusteeship, 1961.
86. Foundation of Indian Culture, 1962.
87. President Under the Indian Constitution, 1963.
88. Chinese Aggression, 1963.
89. National Emergency and its problems, 196.
90. Bombay High Court: Half a Century of Reminiscences, 1963.
91. Views and Vistas, 1965.
92. Gandhiji’s Philosophy in Life and Action, 1965.
93. Pilgrimage to Freedom, 1968.
94. Problems of Food and Agriculture, 1974.

In translation

1. Kulavadhu, an original Hindu film script, 1936
2. Lopamudra, Hindi, dates not available.
3. Addhe Raste, Hindi, 1945.
4. Sidhi Chadan, Hindi, 1946.
5. Lomaharshini, Hindi, 1947.
6. Ver ni Vasulat, Hindi and English, no dates available.
7. Bhagavan Parshurama, Hindi, 1951.
8. Bhagavan Kautilya, Hindi, no date.
9. Kono Vank, Hindi, no date.
10. Svapna Siddhi ki Khajamen, Hindi 1954.
11. Svapnadrishta, Hindi, no date.
12. Shishu aur Sakhi, Hindi, no date.
13. Patan ka Prabhutva, Hindi, 1948.
14. Vah re Main vah, Hindi 1955.
15. Bhagna Paduka, Hindi 1957.
16. Rajadhiraja, Hindi, no date.
17. Gujarat Ka Nath, Hindi, no date.
18. Bhagavad Gita aur Adhunik Jivan, Hindi, 1958.
19. Badrinath ki Aur, Hindi, 1959.
20. Bhagavan Parashurama, 1 and 2, English, 1959.
21. Jaya Somnath, Hindi, 1960, English, 1976.
22. Prithvi Vallabh, English (1961), Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Kannada, dates not available.
23. Krishnavatara English 1 – 1962, 2, – 1963, 3 – 1965, 4 – 1967, 5 – 1968, 6 – 1971, 7 and 8 – 1973.
24. Prithvi Vallabh, an adaptation in Sanskrit drama, a962.
25. Prithvi Vallabh, an adaptation in Gujarati drama, 1962.
26. Jayadevam, Tamil, 1963.
27. Krishnavatara, Kannada, 1 – 1964, 2 – 1965, 3 – 1966, 4 – 1967.
28. Tapasvini, Hindi, 1 – 1964, 2 – 1965, 3 – 1966.
29. Tapasvini, Hindi, no date.
30. Tapasvini, English, 1964.
31. Krishnavatara, Hindi, 1 – 1964, 2 – 1966.
32. Bhagavana Parashurama, Marathi, 1967.

Dates and Events of Shri Kanaiyalal Munshi’s Life

1887: Born at Bharuch, Gujarat, on December 30.

1897: Invested with a scared thread, being a Brahmin.

1900: Married to Atilakshmi Pathak.

1901: Completed high school education.

1902: Joined Baroda college.

1904: Came under the influence of his professor Arvind Ghosh, later, Shri Aurobindo.Founded a free library at Bharuch.

1905: Passed First LL.B. with first class, winning a prize.

1906: Passed B.A., winning Elliot Memorial prize.

1907: Settled in Bombay. Attended Surat Congress; first exposure to Tilak, Bipin Pal and Lajpat Rai.

1910: Passed final LL.B. examination. Enrolled as pleader on the Appellate side of Bombay High Court.

1911: Became secretary of Gurjar Sabha (Gujarati Literary Society). Won Students’ Brotherhood Motiwala prize for his article. “Theory and Practice of Social Service.”

1912: Promoted a monthly, Bhargava.

1913: Enrolled as an Advocate on the Original side of Bombay High Court. Joined Bhulabhai Desai as his junior.

1915: Started “young India,” and became its joint editor. Joined Home-Rule League.

1917: Became member of the Subjects Committee of the Indian National Congress. Elected Secretary of the Bombay Presidency Association.

1919: Elected Secretary of the Bombay Presidency Association.

1919: Elected Secretary of the Bombay Home-Rule League.

1920: Resigned from the Indian National Congress and the Home-Rule League.

1922: Founded Gujarati Sahitya Sansad(Gujarati Literary Society). Started Gujarat, an illustrated monthly, and became its Joint Editor. Literary collaboration with Lilavati Sheth.

1923: Visited Europe.

1924: Elected President of the Panchagani Hindu Educational Society. Elected Chairman of Sir H.N. Hospital. Wife Atilakshmi died.

1926: Elected Fellow of the Bombay University. Elected to the Senate of the Bombay University. Elected Vice President of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad(Gujarati Literary Conference). Founded Gujarat University Society, and became its Secretary. Appointed member of the Baroda University Commission. Married Lilavati Sheth.

1927: Elected Chairman of the Gujarati Board of Studies of the Bombay University. Elected to the Bombay Legislative Council.

1928: Assisted in piloting the Bombay University bill. Appointed Chairman of the Physical Culture Committee, by the Bombay Government.

1929: Elected member of the Academic Council of the Bombay University. Elected member of the Board of Post-graduate studies of the Bombay University. Appointed Trustee of Bai Kabibai Trust. Resigned from the Bombay Legislative Council during Bardoli Satyagraha movement. Appointed Chairman of the Bardoli Committee of Inquiry. Re-elected to the Bombay Legislative Council.

1930: Re-joined the Congress: participated in the Salt Satyagraha movement of Gandhi. Sentenced to six months of imprisonment for this participation. Sentenced to three months of imprisonment for participating in the Civil Disobedience movement. Nominated Substitute member of the Working Committee of the Congress. Founded the Bombay City Ambulance Corps, and was elected its President.

1931: Elected member of the Bombay Pradesh Congress committee. Elected member of the All India Congress Committee. Re-joined Bombay Bar practice. Appointed trustee of the M.S. Trust.

1932: Sentenced to two years of rigorous imprisonment by Lord Willingdon in his anti-Congress campaign. Sentenced to one year imprisonment for Civil Disobedience.

1933: Started a movement (after release in December) for a Parliamentary wing of the Congress, as a result of which Swaraj party was formed.

1934: Appointed Secretary of the Congress Parliament Board.

1935: Elected Director of the Bombay Life assurance Company Ltd., and the Bombay Fire Assurance Company Ltd. Elected Vice-Chairman of the Fellowship School Society. Appointed Trustee of the Kanji Khetsi Trust.

1936: Sarted the Hans Ltd., which took over the Hindu magazine Hans; and became its Joint Editor with Hindu writer Premchand.

1937: Elected to the Bombay legislative Assembly. Appointed Home Ministr in the First Congress Government in Bombay. Elected President of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad.

1938: Appointed Vice-Presient of Children’s Aid Society. Appointed TRustee of M. Goenka Trust. Elected President of the Society for the Protection of Children in Western India. Started (with Sardar Patel( Institute of Agriculture in Anand, Gujarat State, and was elected its Vice-Chairman. Established Girls’ Hostel in Bombay for college students. Delivered the Thakkar Vasoonji Madhvji Research Lectures in Bombay University on the “Early Aryans of Gujarat”. Founded the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and was elected its President.

1939: Established Children’s Home in a Bombay suburb. Started Hansraj Morarji Public School in a Bombay suburb. Resigned as Home Minister.

1940: Started Social Welfare, an English Weekly, and became its Editor. Elected President of the First All India Prnal Reform Convention. Established Home for the Mentally Retarded Children. Arrested for individual Satyagraha.

1941: Released from detention because of severe illness. Resigned from the Indian National Congress. Conducted Akhand Hindustan(Undivided India) campaign.

1943: Organized Leader’s Conference in Delhi for negotiating Gandhi’s release.

1944: Founded Bharatiya Itihas Samiti(Indian History Society) and was elected its Chairman. Appointed Chairman of Baroda University Commission. Appointed Chairman of the Commission to Report on the University of Gujarat in Ahmedabad, by the Bombay Government. Appointed Trustee of the Krisharpana Trust. Appointed Trustee of the All India Arya-Dharma Seva Sangh Trust. Appointed Trustee of Singhania Trust.

1945: Inaugurated the All India Sanskrit Conference. Delievered lectures on “Bhagavad Gita and Modern Life.” Elected Vice-President of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad.

1946: Founded Meghji Mathradas Arts College in Bombay. Founded Narrondass Manordass Institute of Science in Bombay. Re-joined the Indian National Congress. Elected President of the All India Hindi Sahitya Parishad. Elected President of the Hindu Deen Daya Sangh. Elected member of the Constituent Assembly. Appointed member of the Experts Committee for drafting the Constitution of India. Elected Chairman of Akhil Bharat Printers, Ltd.Appointed Director of Nava-Bharat Publishers Ltd.

1947: Appointed Agent-General of the Government of India in Hyderabad.

1948: Elected member of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

1950: Visited Europe and the U.S.A. Appointed Minister for Food and Agriculture in the Government of India.

1951: Founded the Sanskrit Vishva Parishad, and became its Chairman. Elected Chairman of the Institute of Agriculture in Anand, Gujarat.

1952: Appointed Governor of Uttar Pradesh(1952-1957) and as such was ex-officio Chancellor of the Universities of Agra, Allahabad, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Roorki and the Banaras Sanskrit University.

1956: Elected President of the Charotar Education Society, which ran colleges in the faculties of Arts, Sciences, Commerce and Engineering. Appointed Fellow of the Sardar Patel University, Anand.

1957: Appointed Executive Chairman of the Indian Law Institute(1957-1960), Delhi.

1959: Resigned from the Congress party. Elected Vice President of All India Swatantra Party.

1966: Elected Chairman of the All India Colloquium on Ethical and Spiritual Values as the Basis of National Integration, 1966-1967.

1968: Elected President of the All India University Teachers and Students Camp.

1969: Received Civic Address from the Mayor of Bombay. Felicitated by the President of India, Dr. Zakir Hussain, at the Abhinandan Samaroha (Felicitation Celebration) and was pesented a specially published volume, Abhinanda Souvenir, in New Delhi.

1971: Died in Bombay on February 8.

The following honorary Degrees were conferred on Munshi:

D. Litt. by the Banaras Hindu University, 1946.
D. Litt. by the Saugor University, 1949.
LL.D. by the Osmania University, 1954.
LL.D. by the Baroda University, 1964.
LL.D. by the Bombay University, 1968.

– DeshGujarat