Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies, Online ISSN 2278-8808, SJIF 2016 = 6.17, www.srjis.com UGC Approved Sr. No.49366, NOV-DEC 2017, VOL- 4/37
UMASHANKAR JOSHI’S HILLI: A TALE OF ‘SEARCH FOR IDENTITY’ Bhagvanbhai H. Chaudhari, Ph. D. Assoc. Professor, Dept. of English, the KNSBL Arts and Commerce College, Kheralu Gujarat (India)
Umashankar Joshi was a remarkable poet and playwright of twentieth century Gujarati literature. He remained one of the chief contributors amongst Gujarati writers to lead the society as well as Gujarati literature towards new directions. He emphasized the Gandhian ideology and enriched the tradition of Gujarati Literature. Umashankar Joshi exposes the social and economic ills deeply entrenched in the society. The girl named Hilli in the story is devoid of motherly love since her childhood. She is shown motherless growing under the care of Bavaji, the Sadhu at the outskirts of a village. Joshi stresses on the wretched predicament of motherless girl deprived off her social identity and her ultimate comfort in the form of seeking the mother within herself. Hilli remains the victim of immoral societal structure. The writer seems to confirm the hopes and despairs of human mind in a striking manner. One of the fascinating features of this story is ‘Hilli continues to exist herself within two personalities’: mother and a daughter. Keywords: social evils. Gandhian ideology, exploited class, human nature, psychological attitude, social identity Scholarly Research Journal's is licensed Based on a work at www.srjis.com
Umashankar Joshi was a notable poet and playwright of twentieth century Gujarati literature. He actively took part in the nationalist movement during 1930s. In addition to this, he was also the well-known academician and skilled administrator. He was awarded the prestigious Indian award‟ Jnanpith‟ in 1967 for his unique contribution to Gujarati literature. The eminent poets like Umashankar Joshi, Sundaram, Zhaverchand Meghani and the novelists like Pannalal Patel, R. V. Desai and Darshak remained the chief contributors who guided the society as well as Gujarati literature towards new directions. They emphasized the Gandhian ideology and enriched the tradition of Gujarati Literature. The literature of Gandhian period shaped a variety of new perspectives and offered a profound insight. It has been observed that major sources of his creativity remained the pleasing backdrop, social life of villages and fairs and festival often held in the hilly region. His prime concern seems to introduce the social, political and economic issues of contemporary period. Copyright © 2017, Scholarly Research Journal for Interdisciplinary Studies