Jayant Gadit

Jayant Gokaldas Gadit was a Gujarati novelist, critic and professor from Gujarat, India. He received the Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak in 2008 and was awarded the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi prize twice. He studied Gujarati and Sanskrit at Gujarat University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1961 and a Master of Arts degree in 1964. In 1974 he received his PhD under Harivallabh Bhayani. Gadit taught at the art colleges of Petlad and Mahudha from 1965 to 1977. He worked as a professor in the postgraduate department of Sardar Patel University from 1977 to 1986 and headed the Gujarati department there before retiring at the age of 60. He also worked as the Reader in K. L. Study Center, a research center of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad.

He married Manjula in 1963, and had two sons. He published two novellas in one volume entitled Chaspakshi ane Karna in 1979. In Chaspakshi, Gadit depicted the personal relationship of Mr. Panchal and Mrs. Soni, their sexual sensations and its psychological backgrounds.

Nhanalal Nu Apadyagadya (1976, originally his PhD thesis), Nhanalal (1977) and Navalkathama Vastavvad (1985; Realism in Novel), Aa Apni Katha (2000) are his volumes of criticism. He also helped in editing Gujarati Sahityakosh (Encyclopedia of Gujarati Literature Volume I (1990) and Anuadhunik Sahitya Sangnyakosh (1999). Mohit (1982) and Amulni Gauravgatha (1997) are his works of translation. Ek ne Ek Agyar (1994) is a collection of stories written with his wife, Manjula.

Recognition Gujarat Vidhya Sabha (a literary institution for the promotion of vernacular Gujarati literature and education) awarded him the Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak (a literary honour in Gujarat) in 2008. He received the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi prize twice.