Suman Shah

Suman Shah is a Gujarati critic, translator, essayist, novelist, editor, and short story writer. His native name is Sumanchandra Govindalal Shah, and he was born on November 1, 1939, in Dabhoi, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. His father was Govindlal, and his mother’s name was Kundanbahen. He was married to Rashmita in 1965, and she died in 2016. He completed his primary education at Dabhoi Prathamik Shala, and his secondary education at Vibhag High School, Dabhoi, in 1957. He went to take a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from M. S. University, but left it in the middle. Later, he went to an Arts College in 1959, and completed his graduation with a major in Gujarati Literature, and a minor in Sanskrit, in 1962. Then, in 1964, he finished his MA in Gujarati, and Sanskrit literature at M. S. University, Vadodara, Gujarat, India. In 1978, he joined Gujarat Vidyapith and earned a Ph.D. degree, under the guidance of Mohanbhai Shankarbhai Patel, with his thesis on ‘Suresh Joshi: His Literature & its impact upon modern Gujarati Literature’.

He started his career, as a teacher, in 1962, and taught in many schools, colleges, and universities, for forty-two years. Firstly, he taught Gujarati literature and language in a secondary school in Dayaram Sharada Mandir, Dabhoi. He taught at Municipal Arts College, in Kapadvanj as a Gujarati Literature teacher from 1966 to 1972. In 1972, he joined as a Professor of Gujarati Literature in T.C. Kapadia Arts College, in Bodeli, and assisted as a principal of the same college until 1977. Later, he joined a language school at Gujarat University, at the department of Gujarati Language and Literature till 2002. He worked as a Writer in Residence for the University of Pennsylvania in the US. He published his first novel Khadki in 1987, and Bajbaji, in 1989.

He has also published a travelogue, about his journey across the United States, named Salam Amarica Urfe Mari Vidyayatra. He has written several short stories, namely Jenti – Hansa Symphony in 1992, Avarshunkelub in 1976, Fatfatiyun in 2006, Kagarol Unlimited in 2010, No Idea and Get Idea in 2013, Dhisoom Dhisoom in 2014, and a few themed stories like, Ae Ane Territorial Birds, Wolkswagon Chhokro Ane Renault Duster Chhokri, and Kanchan Thodo Giligili Chhe. Sartra No Sahityavichar in 1980, Sahityama Adhunikta in 1988, Anu-Adhunikta Ane Apane in 2008, Vivechan: Char Mudda in 1975, Navya Vivechan in 1977, Sahityik Sanshodhan Vishe in 1980, Khevna in 1984, Kathapad in 1989, Kavyapad in 2002, Vishwanavalkatha in 2007, Nisbatpurvak and Khevnapurvak in 2011, and Bhakta-Kavi Dayaramni Kavyasrushti in 2012, are some of his criticism works.