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Jhaverchand Meghani

(1896 – 1947) – (Gujarart)

Jhaverchand (Aged  78) or Zaverchand Kalidas Meghani, born on 28 August 1896, was a renowned Indian poet, writer, social reformer, and freedom fighter. He is a well-known figure in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila, where the Government College has been renamed Raashtreeya Shaayar Zaverchand Meghani College, Chotila, in his honor.

Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave him the title of Raashtreeya Shaayar (National Poet). Meghani authored more than 100 books, including his first book, Kurbani Ni Katha (Stories of martyrdom), a translation work of Rabindranath Tagore’s Kathaa-u-Kaahinee, which was first published in 1922. He contributed extensively to Gujarati folk literature by traveling from village to village in search of folk-lores, which he then published in various volumes of Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar.

Meghani also served as the Editor of Phulchhab Newspaper of Janmabhoomi group. His son, Vinod Meghani, translated a selection of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra into English, which has been published in three volumes titled A Noble Heritage, A Shade Crimson, and The Ruby Shattered. His poems are part of the syllabus in Gujarat Board Schools (GSEB). He passed away by 9 March 1947.