Nanalal Dalpatran Kavi (1877-1946) Commemoration

Nanalal Dalpatran Kavi, born on March 16, 1877, was the fourth son of Kacishwar Dalpatram Dahyabhai, a renowned poet of the latter half of the 19th century and a pioneer of modern Gujarati poetry. After completing his M.A., Nanalal served as the Headmaster of the Princes’ School at Sadra and later joined the Rajkumar College in Rajkot. He then held the position of Chief Justice in the Native State of Rajkot before becoming the Education Officer for the entire Kathiawad region under the British Political Agency in 1918.

In 1919, Nanalal composed a memorable poem hailing Mahatma Gandhi as the Hermit of Gujarat on his 50th birthday. When Gandhi initiated the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1921, Nanalal responded by resigning from his government post and dedicated himself wholly to writing, living in Ahmedabad thereafter. He passed away on January 9, 1946, facing financial difficulties but leaving behind a legacy as a gifted poet of his time.

Nanalal was a romantic idealist, akin to the English romantic poets of the 19th century, and excelled as a lyrical poet. He ventured into various literary forms, including plays, narrative poetry, novels, short stories, biographies, essays, and criticism, with over eighty books to his credit. While deeply rooted in tradition, he was also a bold experimenter, particularly in introducing rhythmic prose in his lyrical plays and poetry, innovating in the direction of vers libre.

His writing is marked by a distinctive diction, sweetness, charm, and a consistent moral purpose, viewing the poet as a prophet. Many of Nanalal’s lyrics are considered gems of Gujarati poetry, enriching Gujarati literature for generations to come. In honor of this great literary figure, the Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp.