Renowned Translator, Teacher And Scholar of Comparative Literature Succumbs To Heart Attack
Bholabhai Patel, a revered literary figure from Gujarat, died of a massive heart attack on Sunday at 9:30 am at Medisurge hospital in Ahmedabad. He was 77. Patel was a well-known essayist, popular travelogue writer, and an ideal teacher. He was the recipient of Padma Shree and the National Sahitya Akademi Award.
Scholars, writers, hundreds of followers and fans — scores of students among them — attended his final farewell held by the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad at 4 pm on Sunday. “Puri thai gayi badhi jivan ni len den” — many could not help recalling these words from Patel’s translated Bengali poem, ‘Van Lata Sen’.
Spiritual leader Morari Bapu has paid homage to Bholabhai Patel, hailing the writer’s capacity for ‘micro-observation’. Morari Bapu has said that the loss would be felt by the world of literature in India. The guru has offered condolences to Patel’s family.
Kumarpal Desai, a writer who is one of the Patel’s most distinguished peers, says: “Patel was a mentor of many established and budding writers.” Desai is a former president of the Gujarat Sahitya Parishad, and a trustee of the first-of-itskind Gujarati Encyclopaedia ‘Vishvakosh’. He says of Patel: “His tenderness, sharp intellect, rare insight, acute sensitivity, vast reading and art of creation made him an iconic artist. His demise is a great loss.”
Patel, born in 1934 at Soja village of the Mehsana district, completed his master’s in Gujarati, English and Science of Language from Banaras Hindu University. He was a multilingual scholar with great command of English, German, French, Hindi, Marathi, Bangla, Puria, Asamiya and Sanskrit. He began a new era of translated works and enriched Gujarati literature by bringing in influences of the world’s masters like T S Eliot, James Joyce, Rabindranath Tagore, Jivnanand Das. He also helped literarydom recall the timeless power of the great Kaalidas.
“Patel is best known for his travelogues, translated works, essays and has received several national awards for his memorable and unique contribution to literature,” says Rajendra Patel, chief secretary of the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. “We had last the chance to listen to his scholarly words at Rabindra Mahotsav that the city hosted early this month from May 1 to 7. Bholabhai, who spoke thrice on Tagore during the festival, was one of the most impressive speakers.”
Raghuvir Chaudhari, a senior writer and recipient of Sahitya Akademi Award — and a student of Patel since 1952 — says: “Bholabhai was an ideal teacher who shared a close, deep and informal bond with his students.”
Patel was known for conducting poetry analyses sessions under the canopy of a tree at a roadside tea stall with the students of the MA course. At the time, Patel taught and headed the Hindi department at the School of Languages, Gujarat University. Patel had also served as a fellow of comparative literature at Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, and at the Institute of Humanities known as Vidya Bhavana.
BHOLABHAI PATEL’S MOST FAMOUS WORKS Devo Ni Ghati
Devtatma Himalaya
Europe – Ek Anubhav
Bole Zina Mor
Adhunikata Ane Gujarati Kavita
AWARDS PATEL RECEIVED
Padma Shree (for Devo Ni Ghati)
National Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Puraskar, Mumbai
