About Department

Department of Gujarati:

The Department of Gujarati was established in 1950. During the early years Prof. Bhogilal Sandesara, an eminent philologist and a scholar of medieval Gujarati literature, shaped it. In the later period, it benefited from the scholarship of Prof. Suresh Joshi, a well-known creative writer and critic.

The Department is the largest department of Gujarati language and literature in the Gujarat state. At present it comprises of well-known creative writers, research scholars, critics, editors and translators. Two prestigious periodicals, namely TATHAPI, PRATYAKSHA and VIVIDHA are edited by its teachers. The teachers of this department have published more than 80 books and other 15-20 books are to be published.

Moreover, the Department of Gujarati has a very good collection of nearly 500 old manuscripts, some of them very rare and illustrative. The department has two publication series, viz. Sayajivijay Granthmala and Prof. B.K. Thakore series.

The students of this department have creditable records as creative writers, critics and research scholars.Research work undertaken by the department from the very beginning has contributed to the development of Gujarati Literary Critism. Othe regions of Gujarat have popularised a phrase : 'Baroda School of Critism" and thereby endorsing the importance of this department and its continuous healthy academic traditions.

The teachers of the Department have more than 100 books to their credit and every year the number of publications keeps on increasing.Many of these books have been awarded state and national level prizes. One of the disguished teachers, Prof. Sitanshu Y. Mehta (retd.) earned international recognition also. He has also been awarded the "Padma Shree" by the Government of India.