Kavi Kalapi
Encyclopedia
Sursinhji Takthasinhji Gohil (Gujarati:સુરસિંહજી તખ્તસિંહજી ગોહિલ) (popularly known as Kalapi (Gujarati:કલાપી) is a renowned name in Gujarati literature
. He lived in Lathi
-Gohilwad, which is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
in 1874. He had a very short life of 26 years, and died in 1900. When Kalapi 15 years old, he was married to two princess
es. Rajba-Ramaba, the princess of Kutch - Roha
, and Kesharba-Anandiba, the Princess of Saurashtra-Kotada. Ramaba was elder to Sursinhji by eight years, while Anadiba was elder to him by two years. When he was 20 years old, he fell in love with Shobhana, who was serving as a maid to his royal family. It is believed that, Kalapi's love for Shobhana became the reason of conflicts with Ramaba, and then the reason for his accidental death due to poisioning by his own wife. He was a follower of The Swaminarayan Sampraday founded by Lord Swaminarayan
writings. His 900 letters to his friends and wives brought the facts and truth. He not only used Gujarati language
as his medium
to elaborate his own creation, but also translated four English novel
s in Gujarati.
In his relatively short life, he still managed to mentor a minor number of budding poets, who carried on his style of writing, becoming very famous in their own right. The most prominent among these was Kavi Lalitji, who was about the same age as Kalapi, and already an established poet, when he was invited to the Lathi Darbar as a tutor for the Royal children. He came under Kalapi's influence, the two became great friends, and Kavi Lalitji went on to become the Rajya Kavi (Royal Bard) of Lathi
.
All of Kalapi's creations, reading, study and achievements were packed by Kavi Lalitji during the period of his age from 16 years to 26 years. He was the excellent poet in Saurashtra's history, and was the glory of Lathi
.
Kavi Kalapi had written poems in various Chhand of Gujarati language. Like Mandakranta, Shardulvikridit, Shikharini etc. To write poem in particular Chhand, one has to follow the structure of that chhand and the rules of chhandas poem. Kavi kalapi is the only poet who has written maximum number of poems in these chhands. Those poems are so smooth and lovely to read and to sing because of chhandas structure. In one of his poem he asks birds to come and eat seeds near his house and not afraid, He will not harm them. He wonderfully wrote those lines in mandakranta chhand. That poem become very famous and Gujarat education board has taken in sylabbus.
Gujarati literature
The history of Gujarati literature may be traced to 1000 AD, and this literature has flourished since then to the present. It is unique in having almost no patronage from a ruling dynasty, other than its composers...
. He lived in Lathi
Lathi, Gujarat
Lathi is a city and a municipality in Amreli district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Lathi is located at . It has an average elevation of 141 metres .-Demographics:...
-Gohilwad, which is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
Personal life
He was born to a royal familyRoyal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
in 1874. He had a very short life of 26 years, and died in 1900. When Kalapi 15 years old, he was married to two princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
es. Rajba-Ramaba, the princess of Kutch - Roha
Roha Fort
Roha Fort is one of the many forts of Kutch, Gujarat.The fort is located in periphery of Roha village, in Nakhatrana Taluka of Kutch. It was the seat of Roha Jagir. One hundred & twenty Soomra Rajput princesses sought asylum with Abda who died in the battle with Allaudin Khilji...
, and Kesharba-Anandiba, the Princess of Saurashtra-Kotada. Ramaba was elder to Sursinhji by eight years, while Anadiba was elder to him by two years. When he was 20 years old, he fell in love with Shobhana, who was serving as a maid to his royal family. It is believed that, Kalapi's love for Shobhana became the reason of conflicts with Ramaba, and then the reason for his accidental death due to poisioning by his own wife. He was a follower of The Swaminarayan Sampraday founded by Lord Swaminarayan
Works
In spite of his short life, poet Kalapi's creation was immense and enormous. His creation includes about 250 poems (including 15,000 verses). He has also given a number of proseProse
Prose is the most typical form of written language, applying ordinary grammatical structure and natural flow of speech rather than rhythmic structure...
writings. His 900 letters to his friends and wives brought the facts and truth. He not only used Gujarati language
Gujarati language
Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language, and part of the greater Indo-European language family. It is derived from a language called Old Gujarati which is the ancestor language of the modern Gujarati and Rajasthani languages...
as his medium
Media (communication)
In communications, media are the storage and transmission channels or tools used to store and deliver information or data...
to elaborate his own creation, but also translated four English novel
English novel
The English novel is an important part of English literature.-Early novels in English:A number of works of literature have each been claimed as the first novel in English. See the article First novel in English.-Romantic novel:...
s in Gujarati.
In his relatively short life, he still managed to mentor a minor number of budding poets, who carried on his style of writing, becoming very famous in their own right. The most prominent among these was Kavi Lalitji, who was about the same age as Kalapi, and already an established poet, when he was invited to the Lathi Darbar as a tutor for the Royal children. He came under Kalapi's influence, the two became great friends, and Kavi Lalitji went on to become the Rajya Kavi (Royal Bard) of Lathi
Lathi, Gujarat
Lathi is a city and a municipality in Amreli district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Lathi is located at . It has an average elevation of 141 metres .-Demographics:...
.
All of Kalapi's creations, reading, study and achievements were packed by Kavi Lalitji during the period of his age from 16 years to 26 years. He was the excellent poet in Saurashtra's history, and was the glory of Lathi
Lathi, Gujarat
Lathi is a city and a municipality in Amreli district in the Indian state of Gujarat.-Geography:Lathi is located at . It has an average elevation of 141 metres .-Demographics:...
.
Kavi Kalapi had written poems in various Chhand of Gujarati language. Like Mandakranta, Shardulvikridit, Shikharini etc. To write poem in particular Chhand, one has to follow the structure of that chhand and the rules of chhandas poem. Kavi kalapi is the only poet who has written maximum number of poems in these chhands. Those poems are so smooth and lovely to read and to sing because of chhandas structure. In one of his poem he asks birds to come and eat seeds near his house and not afraid, He will not harm them. He wonderfully wrote those lines in mandakranta chhand. That poem become very famous and Gujarat education board has taken in sylabbus.
External links
- http://www.gujaratitrade.com/poets.asp
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264749
- http://www.marugondal.com/kalapi/index.htm
- http://marugondal.com/kalapi/index.htm