Neerav Patel

Neerav Patel (2 December 1950 – 15 May 2019) was a Gujarati and English language poet, translator and editor; primarily known for his contribution in Gujarati Dalit literature such as Burning From Both The Ends (1980, English poems), What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987, English poems) and Bahishkrut Phulo (2006, Gujarati). He edited Swaman, a journal of Dalit writings in Gujarati.

Biography Neerav Patel was born in Bhuvaldi, a village in Daskroi Taluka of Ahmedabad district, in the Indian state of Gujarat. His birth name was Somo Hiro Chamar. He changed his name to Neerav Patel because he faced atrocities due to casteism. He wrote only Dalit poetry based on Dalit people who are suffering atrocities, exploitation, discrimination and segregation.

He died on 15 May 2019 at Ahmedabad following cancer.

Works Patel explored Dalit sensibility in his poems. He published two poetry collections in English, Burning From Both The Ends (1980) and What Did I Do To Be Black and Blue (1987). He published an anthology of Gujarati poems Bahishkrut Phulo in 2006.