Dalpatram
| Dalpatram Dahyabhai Travadi | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Native name | દલપતરામ ડાહ્યાભાઈ ત્રવાડી |
| Born |
21 January 1820 Wadhwan, Surendranagar district, Gujarat |
| Died | 25 March 1898 (aged 78) Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Occupation | poet, editor |
| Language | Gujarati |
| Nationality | Indian |
Dalpatram Dahyabhai Travadi (Gujarati: દલપતરામ ડાહ્યાભાઈ ત્રવાડી) (1820-1898) was a Gujarati language poet during 19th century in India. He was the father of Nanalal Dalpatram Kavi, a poet.
He was born 21 January 1820 at Wadhwan city of Surendranagar district in a Brahmin family, Dalpatram grew up to the resonant chanting of 'mantras' and recitations of religious scriptures. He was a child prodigy and displayed his extraordinary literary skills by composing 'hondulas' at the age of 12. He mastered the structures of rhyme, poesis and 'Vrajbhasha' as a Swaminarayan devotee under Brahmanand Swami, and later moved to Ahmedabad at the age of 24.
He died on 25 March 1898 at Ahmedabad.
Dalpatram, who knew no English, was a Sanskrit scholar and poet. Dalpatram taught Gujarati language to Alexander Kinloch Forbes, a British colonial administrator to Ahmedabad. Gujarati was considered at the bottom of language hierarchy during those times. So he preferred to write his poems in Brijbhasha instead of Gujarati, his mother tongue. Forbes encouraged him to write in Gujarati. They became close friends. He inspired Dalpatram to write Laxmi Natak published in 1849, the first play in Gujarati, based on Greek drama Plutus.
Forbes who wanted Gujarati literature develop, had helped found the Gujarat Vernacular Society. He served as its first assistanst secretory and started Buddhiprakash periodical in 1850. He edited the periodical till 1878.When Forbes died in 1865, Dalpatram composed Farbesvirah, a Gujarati elegy, and Farbesvilas, his account of the gathering of bards, both dedicated to him. At the end of the 19th Century He was entitled Mahakavi (Great Poet) by Shahjanand Swami, the founder of Swaminarayan Sampraday.
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