Manubhai Pancholi

Manubhai Pancholi is a Gujarati language novelist, author and educationist from Gujarat, India. He is also known by his pen name, Darshak. He participated in the Indian independence movement and held several offices after independence.

Manubhai Pancholi was born on 15 October 1914 at Panchashiya village in Rajkot district, Gujarat, India. He completed his primary education from Tithwa Lunsar. He left study to participate in Salt Satyagraha in 1930 when he was studying at Wankaner. He was jailed in Sabarmati, Nasik and Visapur. He started his career as a rector in educational institute, Dakshinamurti at Bhavnagar in 1932 and later joined as a professor in Gramdakshinamurt, Ambala in 1938. He was also arrested during Quit India Movement in 1942 was jailed at Bhavnagar. He served as education minister of Bhavnagar State in 1948. He co-founded Lokbharti Gramvidyapith institute with Nanabhai Bhatt in 1953 at Sanosara. He married Vijayaben Patel.

He was a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and served as an education minister in 1970. He was arrested during the emergency in 1975. He served as a president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad from 1981 to 1983.

He died on 29 August 2001 at Sanosara, Bhavnagar, Gujarat following kidney ailment.He established Darshak Foundation to encourage people who spent their life for social reform.Manubhai Jadavajibhai Shah retd.prof.of PTC was the main and played important role for it

His contribution to Gujarati literature is noteworthy . His two novels Zer To Pidha Chhe Jani Jani and Socrates are regarded as classic.

He received Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1964, Sahitya Akademi Award to Gujarati Writers for Socrates in 1975 and Bharatiya Jnanpith Moortidevi Award for Zer To Pidha Chhe Jani Jani in 1987. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 1991 for his work in public affairs. He also received Saraswati Samman in 1997 for his book Kurukshetra and Jamnalal Bajaj Award in 1996.