Ramanlal Desai

Ramanlal Vasantlal Desai (12 May 1892 – 20 September 1954) was an Indian Gujarati language writer. He is considered as an important figure of the Gujarati literature as well as Gujarati novel writing. He wrote 27 novels, among which, Bharelo Agni and Gramalakshmi are considered to be his magnum opus. His other notable and massive work is Apsara, essays divided in five volumes which is based on the life of prostitutes. He was awarded Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak in 1932. Desai was born on 12 May 1892 in Sinor, a village located on the bank of Narmada river to Vasantlal and Manibai. His family was a native of Kalol of Panchmahal district. His father Vasantlal was agnostic in nature while his mother Manibai was vaishanva and religious. Vasantlal ran a Gujarati magazine, Deshbhakta (Lit. The Patriot). Beside the printing house of his father Vasantlal, there was a book shop which provided him books for reading during his school life. Desai studied until sixth standard at his uncle's home in Shinor and then moved to Vadodara in 1902 and was admitted in the Branch School. He was engaged to Kailasvati at age of eight and they married in 1912.