Gujarati Literature
Art & Culture › Language & Literature · Topic 9.14
Gujarati literature is the writing in Gujarati, a Western Indo-Aryan language of the Indo-European family, spoken mainly in Gujarat. It grew from Apabhramsha and Old Gujarati works of Jain scholars such as Hemachandra in the 12th century, with Narsinh Mehta (15th century), the Adi Kavi, composing the bhajan Vaishnav Jan To. Medieval figures include Mirabai, Akho and Premanand Bhatt, and the modern age began with Narmad, Dalpatram and Govardhanram Tripathi's Saraswatichandra. Gandhi, Munshi and Meghani followed. Gujarat has four Jnanpith winners. Gujarati is not a classical language as of November 2026.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Language & Literature
At a Glance
- Also called Gujarati, Gujrati, Gurjari in early forms
- Language family Indo-European, Western Indo-Aryan
- Classical status Not classical, as of November 2026
- Adi Kavi Narsinh Mehta
- Jnanpith winners Four
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Language & Literature
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows the classical regional languages. Gujarati, Rajasthani, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu form the group of Indo-Aryan literatures that did not receive classical status. Previous topic: Bengali Literature. Next topic: Rajasthani Literature.
How Did Gujarati Literature Develop?
| Period | Writers and works |
|---|---|
| Early (12th century) | Hemachandra wrote Siddha-Hema-Shabdanushasana, a grammar of Sanskrit and Prakrit including Apabhramsha, under Chalukya (Solanki) kings Siddharaja Jayasimha and Kumarapala |
| Narsinh age (15th century) | Narsinh Mehta of Junagadh, Adi Kavi, wrote padas and prabhatiyas in praise of Krishna |
| Mirabai | Devotional poet whose songs are sung in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Braj |
| Akho | 17th century poet-philosopher of Ahmedabad known for the Chhappa verses |
| Premanand Bhatt | 17th century master of the Akhyana narrative verse |
| Shamal Bhatt | 18th century storyteller in verse, known for Simhasan Batrisi |
| Dayaram | Poet of Garbi songs and Vaishnava devotion |
| Modern (from 1850) | Narmad, Dalpatram, Govardhanram, Munshi, Gandhi, Meghani |
Which Modern Authors and Works Are Asked?
| Author | Work | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Narmad (Narmadashankar Dave) | Narmakosh, Mari Hakikat | Pioneer of modern Gujarati prose and poetry |
| Dalpatram | Dalpat Kavya, a collection of poems and the play Mithya Abhiman | Contemporary of Narmad; Kavya Dohan |
| Govardhanram Tripathi | Saraswatichandra (1887 to 1901) | Four part social novel, a landmark |
| Mahatma Gandhi | Satyana Prayogo (My Experiments with Truth), Hind Swaraj | Wrote in Gujarati and edited Navajivan |
| Kanaiyalal Munshi (K. M. Munshi) | Patan ni Prabhuta, Gujarat no Nath | Historical novelist; founded Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in 1938 |
| Zaverchand Meghani | Saurashtra ni Rasdhar | National poet; collected folk songs and tales |
| Umashankar Joshi | Nishith | Jnanpith 1967 |
| Pannalal Patel | Manvini Bhavai | Jnanpith 1985 |
| Rajendra Shah | Poet | Jnanpith 2001 |
| Raghuveer Chaudhari | Novelist and poet | Jnanpith 2015 |
What Else Should You Remember?
- Alternate names: Gujarati is also written Gujrati, and the Old Gujarati stage is called Gurjar Apabhramsha or Maru-Gurjar
- Vaishnav Jan To: Gandhi’s favourite bhajan, composed by Narsinh Mehta, was sung at prayer meetings and is a cultural symbol of Gujarat
- Jain writers: Jain monks of Gujarat preserved Prakrit, Apabhramsha and Old Gujarati works in the bhandars of Patan and Khambhat
- Hemachandra: Called Kalikala Sarvajna, the all-knowing of the age, he also wrote Trishashtishalakapurushacharita and the Dvyashraya Kavya
- Garba and Garbi: Garba songs are sung during Navratri, and the folk dance Garba was inscribed on the UNESCO intangible heritage list in 2023
- Narmad: Narmad is called the first modern Gujarati poet, and 24 August, his birth date, is observed as Gujarati language day
- Akho: His Chhappas and the Akhe Gita attack hypocrisy and ritual, and he is one of the strongest voices of medieval Gujarati thought
- Premanand: Premanand Bhatt retold Puranic tales as Akhyanas to be recited to audiences, and gained a name for dramatic skill
- Munshi: Munshi was also a freedom fighter and Union minister, and he gave life to the Somnath temple reconstruction effort
- Gandhi: Gandhi’s Gujarati writing, including his autobiography Satyana Prayogo, made him a leading Gujarati prose writer
- Women and reform: Writers such as Vidyagauri Nilkanth and Hansa Mehta took part in the early 20th century reform and education movements of Gujarat
- Press: Gujarati print began with the Bombay Samachar (1822), one of the oldest newspapers still published in India
- Gujarati institutions: Gujarat Vernacular Society was set up in 1848, and the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad was founded in 1905 by Ranjitram Mehta
- Gujarat Sahitya Akademi: Founded in 1982 in Gandhinagar to promote literature
- Folk literature: Meghani collected bhajans, ballads and tales of Saurashtra, and the Bhavai is a folk theatre of Gujarat
- Diaspora: Gujarati has a global diaspora, and Gujarati writing from East Africa, the UK and the USA adds to the literature
- Eighth Schedule: Gujarati is among the 22 scheduled languages and is the official language of Gujarat
- Heritage links: Gujarati manuscripts are preserved under National Mission on Manuscripts
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Poet and age: Hemachandra, Narsinh Mehta, Akho
- Modern work: Saraswatichandra, Satyana Prayogo, Patan ni Prabhuta
- Winners: Four Jnanpith winners
- Institutions: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
- Common errors: giving Vaishnav Jan To to Mirabai or confusing Narmad with Dalpatram
As an analytical point, Gujarati literature is unusual for its link with commerce, Jainism and the freedom movement, and Gandhi’s choice of Gujarati for his major writing made it a language of national ideas.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Factual Poets and works
- Gandhi link Nationalist writing
- Folk heritage Garba and Meghani
What Came Next?
Next comes Rajasthani literature, closely related to Gujarati. Next topic: Rajasthani Literature.
Key People and Terms
- Pada Devotional verse
- Akhyana Narrative poem
- Garbi Garba song
- Bhavai Folk theatre
- Chhappa Six line verse
- Navajivan Gandhi’s journal
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Adi Kavi: Narsinh Mehta.
- Vaishnav Jan To: Narsinh Mehta.
- Saraswatichandra: Govardhanram Tripathi.
- Jnanpith: 1967, 1985, 2001, 2015.
- Not a classical language.
Do Not Confuse With
- Narmad and Dalpatram Pioneer versus contemporary poet
- Hemachandra and Narsinh Jain scholar versus Vaishnava poet
- Gujarati and Rajasthani Related but separate languages
Memory Hook
Hemachandra rules, Narsinh prays, Narmad modernises, Gandhi writes.
Mains Angle
Questions link literature with the freedom movement and heritage. These points give a frame.
- Nationalism Gandhi’s Gujarati writing
- Folk heritage Garba and Bhavai
- Regional identity Gujarati asmita
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“How did vernacular writing help the Indian national movement? Illustrate with Gujarati.”
How to Answer
- Language Gandhi chose mother tongue.
- Press Navajivan.
- Folk Meghani and Swadeshi songs.
- Impact Reach to masses.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gujarati literature?
Gujarati literature is the writing in the Gujarati language, from Hemachandra's Apabhramsha-era grammar and the devotional verse of Narsinh Mehta and Mirabai to the modern prose and poetry of Narmad, Govardhanram Tripathi, Gandhi, Munshi and Meghani, with four Jnanpith winners.
Who is the Adi Kavi of Gujarati?
Narsinh Mehta, the 15th century saint-poet of Junagadh, is called the Adi Kavi of Gujarati. He composed padas and prabhatiyas to Krishna and is the author of the bhajan Vaishnav Jan To, which Mahatma Gandhi made a symbol of compassion and sang at prayer meetings.
Which language family does Gujarati belong to?
Gujarati belongs to the Western Indo-Aryan group of the Indo-European family. It developed from Sauraseni Prakrit and Apabhramsha, through Old Gujarati, and is close to Rajasthani. It uses the Gujarati script, derived from Devanagari without the top line.
What is the classical language status of Gujarati?
Gujarati does not have classical language status. The eleven classical languages as of November 2026 are Tamil, Sanskrit, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese and Bengali. Gujarati is, however, one of the 22 languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
Why is Gujarati literature important for UPSC?
Prelims asks about Narsinh Mehta, Hemachandra, Saraswatichandra, Gandhi's writing and the four Jnanpith winners. Mains uses Gujarati for the role of vernacular language in the national movement and for folk heritage such as Garba, which was inscribed on the UNESCO intangible list in 2023.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Narsinh Mehta composed Vaishnav Jan To.
Gandhi's favourite bhajan.
2 Saraswatichandra was written by K. M. Munshi.
By Govardhanram Tripathi.
3 Umashankar Joshi won the Jnanpith award in 1967.
For Nishith.
4 Gujarati is a classical language.
It is not in the list of eleven.
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