Balwantray Thakore

Balwantray Kalyanray Thakore (Gujarati: બળવંતરાય કલ્યાણરાય ઠાકોર) (23 October 1869 – 2 January 1952), popularly known as B. K. Thakore (Gujarati: બ.ક.ઠાકોર), was a poetry teacher and one of the great pioneers of the Pandit yug, during the turn of the twentieth century period in Gujarati literature. Known as 'Ballukaka' in his intimate circle, he played a key role in the development of modern Gujarati poetry. The son of a lawyer, Thakore was born on 23 October 1869 in Porbandar, and later moved to Bharuch in Gujarat. After attending school in Bharuch, he went to Rajkot for further education where he became acquainted with Navalram Pandya, a contemporary of Narmad, Mahatma Gandhi and Manishankar Bhatt 'Kant'. While studying at Rajkot, he came under the influence of Christianity. In his later life he also appreciated certain principles of Islam. At age 18, he married Chandramani. He later remarried after the death of his first wife. Thakore learned Sanskrit from Manilal Dwivedi, a language in which he also composed poetry. He hoped to study abroad but was unable to do so due to the death of his wife, after which he had to take on the responsibility of raising his children. He graduated with honors from Deccan College in Pune, where he was awarded an Ellis scholarship for his high marks in English. Afterwards he went to Mumbai to sit the Indian Civil Service examinations, and started writing articles for The Times of India to support himself. He later worked as an assistant editor with the Indian Spectator. He subsequently returned to Deccan College to pursue his master's degree in Arts. He was offered the position of assistant editor for the celebrated news weekly Maratha, but he declined the invitation. In 1983, he was awarded a gold medal for his historical essay An account of the first Madhavrao Peshwa.