Kishorlal Ghanshyamlal Mashruwala (5 October 1890 – 9 September 1952) was an Indian independence activist as well as biographer, essayist and translator. Educated in Bombay and Agra, he completed BA and LLB. He was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi and was deeply influenced by him. He extensively wrote on education, religion and philosophy as well as translated some works in Gujarati.
Biography
Early life
Mashruwala was born on 5 October 1890 in Bombay (now Mumbai) in Mashruwala family. His family belonged to Surat. He was influenced by Swaminarayan Sampraday due to his father. He started his primary education in Marathi language in Akola. His mother died when he was eight so he was raised by her aunt in Bombay where he studied in Gujarati. Following plague in Bombay, he moved to Agra for school education where he also studied Hindi and Urdu.[1]
He received BA with elective subjects of Material Science and Chemistry in 1909 from Wilson College, Bombay. He completed LLB in 1913 and practised law for three years. He married Gomatiben in 1907.[1]
Career
Mashruwala had briefly served as a secretary of Mahatma Gandhi.[2] He taught at the National School in his Sabarmati Ashram from 1917 to 1919. He served as the first Registrar of Gujarat Vidyapith which was founded by him. During this period, he was introduced to Kedarnathji by Kaka Kalelkar. He was influenced by Sahajanand Swami, Mahatma Gandhi and Kedarnathji. He participated in the Indian independence movement in 1930-32 and was imprisoned for two years by the British authorities. He served as the president of Gandhi Sewa Sangh from 1934 to 1938. Following arrest of Gandhi during the 1942 Quit India Movement, he managed Gandhi's periodical Harijan. He was again imprisoned for sometime. Following 1946, he edited Harijan till his death.[1]
Mashruwala has highlighted the human elements in his biographies which include Ram Ane Krishna (Rama and Krishna, 1923), Ishu Khrist (Jesus Christ, 1925), Buddha Ane Mahavir (Buddha and Mahavira, 1926) and Sahajanand Swami (Sahajanand Swami, 1926).[4] These are written in a simple and impacting language.[5]
Essays
Mashruwala had written some works on education such as Kelavanina Paya (1925), Kelavani Vivek (1949), Kelavani Vikas (1950). He had suggested several changes and ideas in education. His works reflect Mahatma Gandhi's basic education scheme Nai Talim.[1][5]
His biggest contribution in literature belongs to his essays on religion and philosophy. Jivan Shodhan (1929) has six sections focusing on changing perspective of life. Gandhivichardohan (1932) is his work on Gandhian philosophy. Geetamanthan (1933) is a commentary on Bhagavad Gita. Streepurush Maryada (1937) collects his essays written over span of a decade and has influences of Swaminarayan Sampraday. Kagadani Najare (1947) is his satirical essays on followers of Gandhi. His Samuli Kranti (1948) includes his original thoughts and commentaries on religion, society, economics, politics and education. His two volumes of Sansar Ane Dharma (1948) include his critical views on religion.[1]Gandhi Ane Samyavad (Gandhi and Communism/Gandhi and Marx, 1951) is a collection of series of essays published in Harijan which compares Gandhism and Communism.[1][6] His Ahimsavivechan (1942) includes his articles on non-violence which has some differences of ideas from Gandhi.[1]
^ abcdefghijBrahmabhatt, Prasad (2007). અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ (ગાંધીયુગ અને અનુગાંધી યુગ) Arvachin Gujarati Sahityano Itihas (Gandhiyug Ane Anugandhi Yug) [History of Modern Gujarati Literature (Gandhi Era & Post-Gandhi Era)] (in Gujarati). Ahmedabad: Parshwa Publication. pp. 52–57, 63.
^Chokshi, U. M.; Trivedi, M. R. (1991). Gujarat State Gazetteer. Vol. II. Director, Government Print., Stationery and Publications, Gujarat State. p. 399.
^The Modern Review. Vol. 91–92. Prabasi Press Private, Limited. 1952. p. 272.
