Kaumudi (pronounced [kəumudi]) was a Gujarati literary magazine published in British India. It was founded in October 1924 by Vijayrai Vaidya who edited it from 1924 to 1935. It was disestablished around 1937.

Kaumudi
Editor(s)
Categoriesliterature
Frequency
  • Quarterly (1924–1930)
  • Monthly (1930–1937)
FounderVijayray Vaidya
Founded1924
First issueOctober 1924; 99 years ago (October 1924)
Final issue1937 (1937)
CountryBritish India
LanguageGujarati

History edit

Gujarati literary critic Vijayrai Vaidya had founded, edited and published the first issue of the magazine in October 1924 (on Vijayadashami in Ashwin month of Vikram Samvat 1980) as a quarterly.[1][2] It was made a monthly in 1930.[2][3][4] Until June 1935, Vaidya served as an editor and Mulshankar Somnath Bhatt as a manager.[1][2] Due to financial difficulties, he signed an agreement with Bhatt and handed over the control. When he found a breach of the agreement later, he ended the agreement and sold his rights to Bhatt for 2100. It continued publishing for two and half years with Bhatt as an editor.[2]

Contents edit

The magazine covered literary movements, literary currents, literary criticism, literary journalism, philosophical articles, reviews and analysis in it.[1][3] Their editorials and short reviews were popular.[3]

Some of their popular articles are 'Kirtidane Kamalna Patro', 'Sorathi Sahityanai Dhara', 'Gujarati Sahityama Sangeetkavya', 'Lyric', 'Bangali Sahityama Madhusudannu Sthan' and 'Shivaji: Ek Digdarshan'. They had published special issues on poets like Kalapi (June 1925) and Nhanalal (1927). Jyotidra Dave and Dhansukhlal Mehta's novel Ame Badha, Ramanlal Desai's historical novel Bharelo Agni and K. M. Munshi's autobiography Adadhe Raste were serialised in it.[3][2]

Reception edit

Kaumudi was well received by the people interested in Gujarati literature and considered as the pioneer of the high standards of the literary criticism in Gujarati.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Parikh, Dhiru (November 1993). "કૌમુદી". In Thaker, Dhirubhai (ed.). Gujarati Vishwakosh [Gujarati Encyclopedia] (in Gujarati). Vol. V (1st ed.). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. p. 448.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bhatt, Dr. Durgesh N. (2000). "વિજયરાયનું સાહિત્યિક પત્રકારત્વ: 'કૌમુદી' અને 'માનસી'ના વિશેષ સંદર્ભમાં [Vijayray's Literary Journalism: With Special Reference to 'Kaumudi' and 'Manasi']". In Gohel, Jayanti (ed.). Vijayarāya Ka. Vaidya Janmaśatābdī Smārakagrantha વિજયરાય ક. વૈદ્ય જન્મશતાબ્દી સ્મારક ગ્રંથ [Festschrift in honour of Vijayray K. Vaidya] (in Gujarati). Gujarat Sahitya Akademi. pp. 109–124. OCLC 45388610.
  3. ^ a b c d Dave, Ramesh R. (1996). "Kaumudi" કૌમુદી. In Topiwala, Chandrakant; Dave, Ramesh R. (eds.). Gujarati Sahityakosh (Sahityik Prakirna) (in Gujarati). Vol. 3. Ahmedabad: Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. OCLC 26636333.
  4. ^ Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. New Delhi: Sahitya Akademi. p. 4466. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.