Gujarati poet Dalal honoured with Narsinh Mehta award

Junagadh, Gujarat, Oct 27 (UNI) Noted Gujarati poet and litterateur Suresh Parshottamdas Dalal has been honoured with the Narsinh Mehta award.

Well known ''upanyaskar'' Morari Bapu presided over the awards function last evening. Other famous poets who graced the occasion were Raghuvir Chaudhary, Rajendra Shukla, Harshad Handarana and Chandrakant Seth.

The award carries a purse of Rs 1.51 lakh and a figurine of Narsinh Mehta. Incidentally the cash prize given is the largest for any Gujarati poet.

The award was initiated by Morari Bapu in 1999 in memory of the poet-saint Narsinh Mehta, an exponent of Hindu devotional religious poetry. Narsinh Mehta is acclaimed as Adi Kavi (first among poets).

The award is given every year during the ''Sharad Purnima'' and this was the 10th award.

In his address, Morari Bapu said Suresh Dalal is one of the most versatile Gujarati authors.

Mr Dalal is an indefatigable writer of poetry and is well known for his essays, lyrics and fiction. He has written 300 books which includes 57 books on poetry. His poetry and other writings reflect a keen sense of observation coupled with a broad vision and understanding of human condition, he said.

Mr Dalal had a long career in academia serving as the Head of Gujarati Department at SNDT University, Vice Chancellor at M S University in Vadodara, and a ''National Lecturer'' for the University Grants Commission. In addition he has served as Member, Advisory Board of Gujarati Sahitya Academy (1983-1987). He left academic life to establish image publications and writings as his effort to promote Gujarati literary and cultural life.

In addition to his publishing firm, he edits the Gujarati poetry journal ''Kavita'' being its founder-editor for last 40 years. He also edits the quarterly ''Vivecana''.

UNI