26 Facts About Ramanlal Desai

Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai was an Indian Gujarati language writer.

Ramanlal Desai is considered as an important figure of the Gujarati literature as well as Gujarati novel writing.

Ramanlal Desai wrote 27 novels, among which, Bharelo Agni and Gramalakshmi are considered to be his magnum opus.

Ramanlal Desai's family was a native of Kalol of Panchmahal district.

Ramanlal Desai studied until sixth standard at his uncle's home in Shinor and then moved to Vadodara in 1902 and was admitted in the Branch School.

Ramanlal Desai was engaged to Kailasvati at age of eight and they married in 1912.

Ramanlal Desai matriculated in 1908 and shifted to Vadodara college where he failed in Mathematics both in the first year and inter year exams.

Ramanlal Desai used to discuss with friends about topics like Socialism, Communism and marriage and delivered lectures on these topics.

Ramanlal Desai wrote a play entitled Samyukta which was staged at Gujarati Sahitya Parishad held at Surat in 1915.

Ramanlal Desai completed Master of Arts in 1916 with English and Gujarati literature.

Ramanlal Desai joined Shri Sayaji High School as a teacher, and few months later, in November 1916, he was appointed the head clerk in the Baroda State, where he later held various positions before retiring in 1948.

Ramanlal Desai died on 20 September 1954 due to heart failure.

Ramanlal Desai was the president of Pragatishil Sahitya Mandal and of the Baroda Sahitya Sabha in 1937.

Ramanlal Desai's son, Akshay Desai, was a renowned Indian sociologist.

Ramanlal Desai was the contemporary of Gujarati novelists K M Munshi and Dhumketu.

Ramanlal Desai is mostly known for his novels depicting the Gujarati middle class life and characters.

Ramanlal Desai has written short stories, plays, poems, character-sketches, travelogues, historical essays, literary criticism and autobiography.

Tripathi, Ramanlal Desai was the first Gujarati novelist who wrote his novels with historical events that shaped the contemporary milieu.

Ramanlal Desai deeply studied about particular historical era before writing these novels and he visited some places, which is depicted in these novels, so that he could write an authentic description of the places.

Ramanlal Desai's novels reflect the ideas and thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi, though he had never met Gandhi.

Ramanlal Desai depicted the spirit of the days of freedom struggle of India.

Ramanlal Desai wrote about 140 short stories but, as the Encyclopedia of Indian Literature noted, he has not been able to contribute substantially to the development of Gujarati short stories.

Ramanlal Desai wrote his autobiography under the titles Gaikal and Madhyahan Na Mrigjal.

Ramanlal Desai's work Apsara in five volumes is a study of the life of prostitutes.

Ramanlal Desai was awarded Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1932 for his contribution in Gujarati literature.

Ramanlal Desai received Hargovinddas Kantawala Prize for his novel Divya Chakshu.