Chandrakant Bakshi

Chandrakant Keshavlal Bakshi (Gujarati: ચંદ્રકાંત કેશવલાલ બક્ષી) was a Gujarati author from Gujarat, India and a former Sheriff of Mumbai. He was known for his bold and new concepts in writing during his time in Gujarati literature. He is also addressed as Bakshi or Bakshibabu. Born in Palanpur, he completed higher education and had a business in Calcutta. He started writing there and later moved to Mumbai for his teaching career. He wrote 178 books, and wrote extensively in newspaper columns.

Chandrakant Bakshi
Bakshi at Kolkata, 2003
Born(1932-08-20)20 August 1932
Palanpur, Gujarat
Died25 March 2006(2006-03-25) (aged 73)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
OccupationAuthor
LanguageGujarati
NationalityIndian
Notable worksParalysis (1967)
SpouseBakula Bakshi
ChildrenReeva
Signature

Life
Bakshi's home in Palanpur where he was born

Chnadrakant Bakshi was born on 20 August 1932 at Palanpur (now in Banaskantha district, Gujarat).[1] He was second child of Keshavlal Bakshi and Chanchalben, a Gujarati Jain family. He completed his primary education in Palanpur. He completed a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 from St. Xavier's College, Bombay (now Mumbai). He moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) where he studied for an LL.B in 1956 and an M. A. in History in 1963.[2]

He was in the textile business for twelve years and had a garment shop in Culcutta. He wrote his first short story Makan Nu Bhut (Ghost of the House) at this shop. He published his first book Padgha Doobi Gaya (Sunken Echoes) in 1957.[3] In 1969, he moved to Mumbai and settled there and started teaching history at Raheja College. He joined Mithibai College as a professor of history and politics from 1970 to 1980. He also taught post-graduate students at the University of Bombay and was its senate member. He was the principal of L. S. Rajani Arts and Commerce College from 1980 to 1982 and retired from there. Later he accepted writing and journalism as his career. He wrote columns for several dailies and magazines. He also served as an adviser to Divya Bhaskar daily.[1][2]

He was appointed to the ceremonial post of Sheriff of Mumbai in 1999 by the Government of Maharashtra.[3] He died on 25 March 2006 in Ahmedabad following a heart attack.[1][4][5]

Writing

Style

Bakshi prepared only one draft for his writings. His language was a mix-up of Gujarati and Urdu words. His novels and stories had impact of existentialism, his characters are suffering and frustrated yet surviving. Ekra (1963) is one such example. In his novels, the story was a chief element. He rejected social and literary taboos in his novels but his works were concerned for readers. He freely borrowed words and phrases from Hindi, Urdu and English in his works.[6] He wrote historical fiction like Atitvan and Ayanvritta. His short stories have themes like complexities of urban life, emotional outbursts, and the atmosphere of war. He wrote extensively on history and culture. According to Rediff, his writing was 'sharp and brutal' when he criticised people he disliked. His biography Bakshinama was partially published in serialised form in Gujarati daily Samkalin. Some parts were not published due to its violent imagery like urinating on the dead body of his enemy.[4][5]

Works

He is best known for his sixth novel Paralysis published in 1967, which revolves around protagonist Professor Shah who becomes paralyzed and reminisces about his past life events in hospital. The novel is translated in Marathi, English and Russian. Another well known non-fiction books he authored is મહાજાતિ ગુજરાતી (Gujarati - A great race), a book on the traditions, characteristics and behavior of the various castes of Gujarat.

He authored 178 books, including 17 books on history and culture, 26 novels, 15 collections of short stories, six books on politics, eight travelogues, two plays and 25 books on varied subjects, besides his autobiography Bakshinama.[1][5]

He has also written in extensively in newspapers and 15 of his books have been translated into Hindi, Marathi, English and other languages.[1][4][5]

His works are as follows:[5][7]

Short stories
NameYearEnglish meaning
Pyar 1958 Love
Ek sanjh ni mulaquat 1961 Meeting at one evening
Mira 1965
Mashal 1968 Lamp
Kramashaha 1971 To be continued
Ketlic American vartao 1972 Some American stories
Bakshini ketlic vartao 1972 Some stories by Bakshi
Pashchim 1976 West
Aajni soviet vartao 1977 Soviet stories of today
Chandrakant bakshi ni shreshth vartao 1977 Greatest stories by Chandrakant Bakshi
139 vartao-1 1987 139 stories-First part
139 vartao-2 1987 139 stories-Second part
Chandrakant bakshi : Sadabahar vartao 2002 Chandrakant Bakshi : Evergreen stories
Bakshi ni vartao(Akademi) has not been published Stories of Bakshi(Academy)
Kutti Bitch (female dog)

Novels
NameYearEnglish meaning
Padgha dubi gaya 1957 Sunken Echoes
Roma 1959 Roma
Ekaltana kinara 1959 Shores of Solitude
Aakar 1963 Shapes
Ek ane Ek 1965 One and one
Paralysis 1967 Paralysis
Jatakkatha 1969 Jataka Tales
Honeymoon 1971 Honeymoon
Ayanvrutt 1972 The Equator, Transition of events from Prehistoric to Historic era spanning over 10,000 years narrated in fictional style
Atitavan 1973 In the Timberland of Ancient Time, a sequel to Ayanvrutt, yet another novel blending fiction and historical account
Lagnani aagli rate 1973 On the night prior to marriage
Zindani 1974 The prison
Surkhab 1974 Pelican
Aakashe kahyu 1975 Sky told
Reef Marina 1976 Reef Marina
Yatra no ant (translated) 1976 End of the tour
Dishatarang 1979 Wave of the direction
Baki raat 1979 Remaining night
Hatheli par Badbaki 1981 Deduction on palm
Hu, Konarak Shah 1983 I, Konarak Shah
Lili nasoma Pankhar 1984 Translated as "Lost Illusions", literally meaning Autumn in every leaf, translated as पतझड हर पत्ते में in Hindi
Vansh 1986 Descent
Priy Nikki 1987 Dear Nikki
Chorus 1991
Maru naam taru naam 1995 My name Your name
Samkaal 1998 Contemporaneous

Columns

He wrote weekly columns in several Gujarati newspapers and magazines including Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Mid Day, Chitralekha.

Adaptations

His popular short story 'એક સાંજની મુલાકાત ... ' (One evening visit) was adapted into a telefilm "Ek Shaam Ki Mulakaat" by Tigmanshu Dhulia. It was the first episode of acclaimed Indian television series Star Bestsellers, aired on Star Plus in 1999–2000. The main leads were played by Irrfan Khan and Tisca Chopra.

Controversies

His short story Kutti was banned by the Government of Gujarat and an arrest warrant was issued against him; so he fought a court case against the government. They later withdrew all charges against him.[4][3][5]

He criticised Indian politician, Bal Thackeray in his column and was asked to apologise by Thackeray's party members. He refused and never did.[4]

His autobiography Bakshinama was adapted into a Gujarati play, Hu Chandrakant Bakshi, by Shishir Ramavat. It was directed by Manoj Shah and starred Pratik Gandhi in the lead role.[8]

Personal life

He married Bakula, who died in 2002. Their unmarried daughter Reeva Bakshi lives in Ahmedabad.[1][4] His elder brother Lalit and younger brother Bakul, a retired I. A. S. officer, are also columnists.

References
  1. "Former Mumbai Sherrif Chandrakant Bakshi dead". One India News. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  2. Brahmabhatt, Prasad (2010). અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ [History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era] (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Parshwa Publication. pp. 163–170. ISBN 978-93-5108-247-7.
  3. "Ex-sheriff Chandrakant Bakshi no more". Daily News and Analysis. 25 March 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  4. "Well-known Gujarati writer Chandrakant Bakshi dead". Rediff News. 26 March 2006. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
  5. Datta, Amaresh (1987). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: A-Devo. 1. Sahitya Akademi. p. 331. ISBN 9788126018031. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  6. K. M. George (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Surveys and poems. Sahitya Akademi. p. 141. ISBN 978-81-7201-324-0.
  7. Introduction of Samkal(Novel)
  8. Seta, Keyur (1 October 2013). "Review: Hu Chandrakant Bakshi – Meet the bold and rebellious author". My Theatre Cafe. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
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