Navalram Pandya

Navalram Laxmiram Pandya (Gujarati: નવલરામ) (9 March 1836 – 7 August 1888) was a Gujarati critic, playwright, poet, essayist, editor, educationist and a social reformer. He is considered to be a most important figure in modern Gujarati literature. The first humourist, the first historical dramatist, the first critic and a leading scholar of his age, Navalram was the first to herald the new generation of writers like Manilal Dwivedi, Govardhanram Tripathi and Narsinhrao Divetia. His writings covered numerous areas, including philosophy, patriotism, reformation, education, journalism, grammar and literature. Navalram was born on 9 March 1836 in Surat (now in Gujarat) to Nandkor and Lakshmiram Pandya. Physically weak as a child, he didn't take much interest in games and was introvert in nature. At the age of eleven, he passed the final vernacular exam and got admission in an English school as a free merit scholar. He passed his matriculation exam in 1853. Though he was a prodigy in mathematics he didn't go to college and joined as an Additional Teacher at the English High School in Surat in 1854. From there he went to Deesa and joined the Anglo Vernacular School. Then he became the assistant principal of Ahmedabad Training College and worked there from 1870 to 1876. In 1876, he became the Principal of Rajkot Training College and lived there until his death on 7 August 1888. In 1847, at the age of 11, he married Shivagauri, who died after 10 months of marriage. His second marriage was with Manigauri in 1850. His son, Dhimatram, was born in 1867, while his daughter, Kamla, in 1871.