Culture and Arts, Socialism and Reforms
Home to socialism, reforms, and cultural legacy, Bhavnagar is considered a city of education and culture, and is known as the cultural capital of Saurashtra. People of Bhavnagar are considered to be easy-going, and art-loving. The artists and literary luminaries of Bhavnagar have immensely contributed to the culture of the city. Gujarati is the language of normal life, although Hindi is commonly understood. Knowledge of English is limited to the more educated population of the city.
Bhavnagar has produced many reformists, thinkers, socialists, poets, writers, artists, educationists, and freedom fighters. A few of these luminaries are mentioned below:
- Narsinh Mehta - a poet-saint and exponent of Hindu devotional religious poetry, author of the famous bhajan 'Vaishnav Jana To', was born in the village of Talaja in Bhavnagar district.
- Ganga sati - a medieval Gujarati saint and poet who wrote many bhajans on devotional themes, hailed from Samadhiyala village of Umrala Taluka of Bhavnagar district. The Holy place of Ganga Sati & Panbai is situated on the riverbed of the Kalubhar river.
- Kavi Kant - a well-known poet who served as the royal poet of Bhavnagar, was born in Chavand village of Bhavnagar district.
- Nanabhai Bhatt - Founder of Lok Bharti, educationist, creative writer, thinker.
- Gijubhai Badheka - Educationist and reformer.
- Jhaverchand Meghani - one of the greatest Gujarati poets and writers of Gujarati folk literature, worked as a teacher in Bhavnagar and produced most of his literary works while living in Bhavnagar.
- Kalaguru Ravishankar Raval- a painter, art teacher, art critic, journalist, and essayist, was born in Bhavnagar.
- Manubhai Pancholi "Darshak": an educationist, writer, and politician, who wrote many books on history and on education and other subjects lived at Lok Bharti 44 km away from Bhavnagar. His famous books are 'Socrates', 'Jher to pidha chhe jani jani', 'Itihaas kathao- Greece, Rome'. He was awarded the 'GYANPITH AWARD' for Socrates, the Jamanalal Bajaj award for services, Murthidevi award, etc.
- Prahlad Parekh and Krishnalal Shridharani - Two notable poets.
- Prof.Mehboob Desai, Professor & Head,Department of History,Bhavnagar University,Bhavnagar,Gujarat,India Honored By Chief Minister Narendrbhai Modi & Governor Dr. Kamlaji on 63rd National Day,26 January 2012 at Bhavnagar
- Vinod Joshi is a well known modern Gujarati poet and critic.
- Kismat Qureshi, Nazir Dekhaiya, Barkat Virani are writers of Ghazals.
- Prajaram Raval - poet, born in Bhavnagar, worked as principal of Ayurvedic college of Bhavnagar.
- Dula Kag - renowned poet, social reformer and freedom fighter, born in Mahuva town of Bhavnagar district.
- Morari Bapu - Saint, Teacher, Preacher.(small town of Mahuva 58 miles from Bhavnagar)
- Mukundrai Muni : A well known history teacher lived at Lok Bharti.
- Dr. I. K. Vijliwala - The most famous child specialist of Bhavnagar and an author of a best seller Gujarati book Silence please! had wrote many other famous books.
- Vadilal Chitrubhuj Gandhi - early top Congress Politician and famous industrialist.
- The famous Gujarati novel Saraswatichandra by Govardhanram Tripathi was based on locations of Bhavnagar and Sihor. A few chapters were written during his stay in Bhavnagar.
- Somalal Shah - painter did all his active work in Bhavnagar.
- Kishor Parekh - Internationally acclaimed photographer was born in Bhavnagar.
- Rasiklal Andharia - Famous Indian classical singer lived in Bhavnagar.
- Bhavnagar has rich tradition of having Educationist like Gijubhai Badheka, Nanabahi Bhatt, Mulshankar M. Bhatt
- Dr Ramkrishna B Mehta- a well known physician (F.R.C.P) of Gujarat belonged to Bhavnagar, his father Dr. Balkrishna N Mehta served as a palace physician of Bhavnagar, and his brother Dr Vishnu B Mehta was also a very famous doctor of the region.
- Classical music group named Abhinav Sangit Kala Mandal run by Shri Mahidharbhai B Dave During the period 1955 to 1970.
- Dave Nathalal Bhanji;MA, BT,Poet;b June 3, 1912 Bhuva (Gujarat);m Narmada Devi, three
son and one daughter. Education: Basic Training, Bombay Univ, Sevagram; Retd Principal G. B.T.C., Mangrol; President,Sahitya Parishad, AhmedabadPublications:Kalindi(1942),Jhanvi (1961), Anurag(1973), Upadadrav(1974)-all poetry; Bhadra(1954),Shikharone Pele Par(1977) -short stories; Ravindra Vaibhav; Awards:State Awards,won prize in Bombay competition as the best poet of humorous-satirical verse in Gujarati 1974-84; Address: ' 1016,'Sadhna Path',Dawn,Krishna nagar, Bhavnagar-364001, India.
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