Anil Joshi, the renowned Gujarati poet, essayist, and lyricist, died on Wednesday at 85 after a brief hospitalisation. He had been receiving treatment for an age-related illness. His son, Sanket, confirmed the news on social media.
A strong advocate for free expression, he returned the Sahitya Akademi award in 2015 to protest the growing attacks on literary figures.
Born into a bureaucratic family in Rajkot, Joshi’s journey into poetry began after an eye injury ended his cricketing dreams. He became a prominent literary figure in Gujarat and Mumbai, where he moved in the 1970s.
Joshi’s first poem appeared in the 1962 Gujarati magazine Kumar, and his debut collection, Kadach, was published in 1970. His work, often reflecting the longing for nature and rural life, continued to earn him recognition.
In 1988, his collection of essays, Statue, earned him the Sahitya Akademi Award. The essays explore themes of time, memory, and life’s transience, using the metaphor of the childhood game of “statue.” Joshi rejected the Sahitya Akademi award for his Pavan ni Vyaspitha in 1990, protesting the lack of meaningful influence on children through textbooks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel paid tribute to Joshi, praising his contributions to Gujarati literature.
PM Modi took to X and said, “Saddened to hear the news of the demise of Anil Joshi… His contribution to modern Gujarati literature will always be remembered… Prayers for the peace of the departed soul and condolences to the bereaved family and readers…”
Chief Minister Patel said on the same platform: “I express deep sorrow at the demise of renowned Gujarati poet, lyricist and essayist Anil Joshi ji. His passion for creativity and works that touched human life will remain alive in the hearts of the readers. May God rest his soul in peace and give his family and well-wishers, readers the strength to overcome the loss.”
Joshi’s poetry and essays were widely influential, with many included in school curricula.
Joshi also held various roles, including language officer for municipal schools in Mumbai and director of the Antarbharti project, which fostered cultural collaboration between Marathi and Gujarati writers. His works include Chakli Bole Chi Chi Chi, a collection of children’s stories, and political satirical poems that earned admiration for their wit and deep empathy across religions.
A close friend and literary critic, Ganesh Devy, remembered Joshi as the most courageous among Gujarati writers, praising his ability to engage and challenge his audience.
He told a certain section of the media: “He was witty and he could capture the imagination of his audience like a powerful magnet. His range of references was unique and never limited. His empathy for all religions was impeccable. It is a great loss for the Gujarati language and his demise has left a vacuum that can be hardly filled. His political satirical poems are the most outstanding… Rather than publishing his books, in the last 20 years, he was recollecting his individual poems through social media. Every time he wrote a new one, he sent him to me.”
Joshi’s passing marks a significant loss for Gujarati literature, leaving a void difficult to fill.
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