Neerav Patel
Born(1950-12-02)2 December 1950[1]
Bhuvaldi, Daskroi Taluka, Gujarat, India
Died15 May 2019(2019-05-15) (aged 68)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
OccupationPoet, translator, editor
LanguageGujarati, English
NationalityIndian
EducationPh.D.
GenreFree verse
Literary movementDalit literature in Gujarati
Notable works
  • Burning From Both The Ends (1980)
  • What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987)
  • Bahishkrut Phulo (2006)
Signature
Academic background
ThesisGujarati Dalit Poetry 1978 to 2003: A study
Doctoral advisorD. S. Mishra

Neerav Patel (2 December 1950 – 15 May 2019) was a Gujarati and English language poet, translator and editor; primarily known for his contribution in Gujarati Dalit literature such as Burning From Both The Ends (1980, English poems), What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987, English poems) and Bahishkrut Phulo (2006, Gujarati). He edited Swaman, a journal of Dalit writings in Gujarati.[2]

Biography

Neerav Patel was born in Bhuvaldi, a village in Daskroi Taluka of Ahmedabad district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. His birth name was Somo Hiro Chamar.[3] He changed his name to Neerav Patel because he faced atrocities due to casteism.[3] He earned a PhD in English literature. He served as a Bank Officer. After his retirement, he devoted his time to Dalit literature.[1]

He started writing poetry in college, in 1967.[4] He wrote only Dalit poetry based on Dalit people who are suffering atrocities, exploitation, discrimination and segregation.[4]

He pioneered the movement of Gujarati Dalit literature, publishing the first ever Gujarati Dalit literary magazine Akrosh in 1978 under the auspices of the Dalit Panther of Gujarat. He edited short-lived Gujarati magazines with others namely Kalo Suraj, Sarvanam, Swaman and Vacha.[5]

He died on 15 May 2019 at Ahmedabad following cancer.[6][7]

Works

Patel explored Dalit sensibility in his poems.[8][9] He published two poetry collections in English, Burning From Both The Ends (1980) and What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987). He published an anthology of Gujarati poems Bahishkrut Phulo in 2006.[2] His other works are Severed Tongue Speaks Out (2014) and Wanted Poets (2019, posthumous).

Recognition

He received the Mahendra Bhagat Prize (2004–2005) from Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, and the Sant Kabir Dalit Sahitya Award (2005) from the Government of Gujarat.[10]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Neerav Patel «  The Shared Mirror". The Shared Mirror. 2001-01-26. Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  2. 1 2 "Welcome to Muse India". Welcome to Muse India. 1950-10-02. Archived from the original on 2016-10-23. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  3. 1 2 Agarwal, Beena; Patel, Neerav (July 2009). "Conversing With Neerav Patel". Impressions (A bi-Annual Refereed e-Journal English Studies). III (II). ISSN 0974-892X. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  4. 1 2 "Inequity of inequality: A lament in Gujarati". Firstpost. 2017-01-30. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2017-06-04.
  5. ↑ "Poets translating Poets". Poets - Goethe-Institut (in Latin). Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  6. ↑ Maitreya, Yogesh (21 May 2019). "Neerav Patel, poet and pioneer of Dalit literature in Gujarat, passes away; but power of his verses lives on". Firstpost. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2019.
  7. ↑ Kothari, Rita (1 June 2019). "Farewell, Neeravbhai". Economic and Political Weekly. Mumbai. 54 (22): 70–71. eISSN 2349-8846. ISSN 0012-9976. Archived from the original on 2 June 2019 – via Economic and Political Weekly.
  8. ↑ "Welcome to Muse India". Welcome to Muse India. Archived from the original on 2016-08-20. Retrieved 2016-10-13.
  9. ↑ Amar Nath Prasad; M. B. Gaijan (1 January 2007). Dalit Literature: A Critical Exploration. New Delhi: Sarup & Sons. p. 156. ISBN 978-81-7625-817-3. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. ↑ Parmar, Manoj (October 2017). Pratiti. Ahmedabad: Rannade Prakashan. p. 276. ISBN 978-93-86685-28-5.
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