Balwantray Thakore
| Balwantray Thakor | |
|---|---|
Balwantrai Thakore
|
|
| Native name | બળવંતરાય કલ્યાણરાય ઠાકોર |
| Born | Balwantray Kalyanray Thakore 23 October 1869 Bharuch, Gujarat |
| Died | January 2, 1952 (aged 82) Mumbai |
| Pen name | Valkal, Sehni |
| Occupation | Poet, Critic |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Education | Master of Arts |
| Alma mater | Deccan College, Pune |
| Period | Pandit Era |
| Genres | Sonnet |
| Notable works |
|
| Years active | 1886 - 1952 |
| Spouses | Chandramani |
Balavantarāya Kalyāṇarāya Ṭhākora (Gujarati: બ.ક.ઠાકોર or બળવંતરાય ઠાકોર) (23 October 1869 – 2 January 1952), popularly known as Balwantrai Thakore, was a "Poem-teacher" or "Kavita-Shikshak" in Gujarati literature. Known as 'Ballukaka' in his intimate circle, he was one of the great pioneers of Pandit yug. He played a key role in the development of modern Gujarati poetry and the first six decades of Gujarati poetry of this century were marked by his assertive personality.
The son of a lawyer, Thakore was born on 23 October 1869 in Porbandar, and later moved to Bharuch in Gujarat. After his schooling in Bharuch, he went to Rajkot for further education where he became acquainted with Navalram Pandya, a contemporary of Narmad, Mahatma Gandhi and Manishankar Bhatt 'kant'. While studying at Rajkot, he came under the influence of Christianity. In his later life he also appreciated certain principles of Islam. At age 18, he married Chandramani, and later he remarried after the death of his first wife.
Thakore was a good student, and learnt Sanskrit from Manibhai Dwivedi. He composed poetry in Sankrit and won an award for his essay on a historical topic. He hoped to go to study abroad, but was unable due to the death of his wife, after which he was responsible for raising his children. Thakore graduated with honors from Deccan College, Pune, where he was awarded with an Ellis scholarship for highest marks in English. He went to Mumbai, intending to take the Indian Civil Service entry exam, and started writing articles for the Times of India to support himself. Later he worked as an assistant editor of the Indian Spectator. He subsequently returned to Deccan College to pursue his Master of Arts. He was invited by Lokmanya Tilak to be an assistant editor for the celebrated Maratha, which he declined. In 1983, he was awarded a gold medal for a historical essay entitled An account of the first Madhavrao Peshwa.
...
Wikipedia