Quick Facts
Biography
Chandrakant Keshavlal Bakshi (Gujarati: ચંદ્રકાંત કેશવલાલ બક્ષી) was a Gujarati author. He is also addressed as Bakshi or Bakshibabu. Born in Palanpur, he completed higher education and had business in Calcutta. He started writing there and later moved to Mumbai for teaching career. He wrote 178 books. He wrote extensively in newspaper columns.
Life
He was one of the three children of Keshavlal and Chanchalben, a Gujarati Jain family. He was born on 20 August 1932 in Palanpur, Banaskantha and completed his primary education there. He completed Bachelor of Arts from St. Xavier's College, Calcutta, followed by MA in History and Bachelor of Laws. He was in textile business for 12 years and had garment shop. He wrote his first short story Makan Nu Bhut (Ghost of the House) at this garment shop. He published his first book Padgha Doobi Gaya (Sunken Echoes) in 1957. In 1969, he moved to Mumbai and settled there and started teaching history at Raheja College. He joined Mithibai College as professor of history and politics, in 1970 and retired as a principal in 1982. He was a senate member of Bombay University. He was appointed as the Sheriff of Mumbai in the 1999 by Maharashtra government. He died on 25 March 2006 in Ahmedabad due to heart attack.
Personal life
He was born in Jain family who followed strict vegetarianism but Bakshi always mocked vegetarianism. He had married to Bakula who died in 2002.
Writing style
Bakshi never prepared more than one draft for his writings. His language was mix-up of Gujarati and Urdu words. His novels and stories had impact of existentialism, his characters are suffering and frustrated yet surviving. He wrote historical fictions like Atitvan and Ayanvritta. His short stories have themes like complexities of urban life, emotional outbursts, atmosphere of war etc. He wrote extensively on history and culture. According to Rediff, his writing was 'sharp and brutal' when he criticised people he disliked. His biography Bakshinama was partially published in serialised form in Gujarati daily Samkalin. Some parts were not published due to its violent imaginations like urinating on the dead body of his enemy.
Controversies
His short story Kutti was banned by Government of Gujarat and the arrest warrant was issued against him. He fought court case against government and later government withdrew all the charges against him.
He criticised Indian politician, Bal Thackeray in his column and was asked to apologise by Thackeray's party members. He refused and never did.
Works
He authored 178 books, including 17 books on history and culture, 26 novels, 15 collections of short stories, six books on politics, eight travelogues, two plays and 25 books on varied subjects, besides his autobiography Bakshinama.
He has also written in extensively in newspapers and 15 of his books have been translated into Hindi, Marathi, English and other languages.
His works are as follow:
Short stories
| Name | Year | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Pyar | 1958 | Love |
| Ek sanjh ni mulaquat | 1961 | Meeting at one evening |
| Mira | 1965 | |
| Mashal | 1968 | Lamp |
| Kramashaha | 1971 | To be continued |
| Ketlic American vartao | 1972 | Some American stories |
| Bakshini ketlic vartao | 1972 | Some stories by Bakshi |
| Pashchim | 1976 | West |
| Aajni soviet vartao | 1977 | Soviet stories of today |
| Chandrakant bakshi ni shreshth vartao | 1977 | Greatest stories by Chandrakant Bakshi |
| 139 vartao-1 | 1987 | 139 stories-First part |
| 139 vartao-2 | 1987 | 139 stories-Second part |
| Chandrakant bakshi : Sadabahar vartao | 2002 | Chandrakant Bakshi : Evergreen stories |
| Bakshi ni vartao(Akademi) | has not been published | Stories of Bakshi(Academy) |
| Kutti | Bitch (female dog) |
Novels
| Name | Year | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Padgha dubi gaya | 1957 | Sunken Echoes |
| Roma | 1959 | Roma |
| Ekaltana kinara | 1959 | Shores of Solitude |
| Aakar | 1963 | Shapes |
| Ek ane Ek | 1965 | One and one |
| Paralysis | 1967 | Paralysis |
| Jatakkatha | 1969 | Jataka Tales |
| Honeymoon | 1971 | Honeymoon |
| Ayanvrutt | 1972 | The Equator, Transition of events from Prehistoric to Historic era spanning over 10,000 years narrated in fictional style |
| Atitavan | 1973 | In the Timberland of Ancient Time, a sequel to Ayanvrutt, yet another novel blending fiction and historical account |
| Lagnani aagli rate | 1973 | On the night prior to marriage |
| Zindani | 1974 | The prison |
| Surkhab | 1974 | Pelican |
| Aakashe kahyu | 1975 | Sky told |
| Reef Marina | 1976 | Reef Marina |
| Yatra no ant (translated) | 1976 | End of the tour |
| Dishatarang | 1979 | Wave of the direction |
| Baki raat | 1979 | Remaining night |
| Hatheli par Badbaki | 1981 | Deduction on palm |
| Hu, Konarak Shah | 1983 | I, Konarak Shah |
| Lili nasoma Pankhar | 1984 | Translated as "Lost Illusions", literally meaning Autumn in every leaf, translated as पतझड हर पत्ते में in Hindi |
| Vansh | 1986 | Descent |
| Priy Nikki | 1987 | Dear Nikki |
| Chorus | 1991 | |
| Maru naam taru naam | 1995 | My name Your name |
| Samkaal | 1998 | Contemporaneous |
Columns
He wrote weekly columns in several Gujarati newspapers and magazines including Divya Bhaskar, Gujarat Samachar, Sandesh, Mid Day, Chitralekha.
In popular culture
His autobiography is adapted into play, Hu Chandrakant Bakshi, written by Shishir Ramavat and directed by Manoj Shah. The lead role is played by Pratik Gandhi.