Shivkumar Joshi

Shivkumar Joshi (1916-1988) was a Gujarati language author from India. He was also stage actor and director. Born in Ahmedabad and lived in Calcutta, he was involved in literary activities. He wrote large number of plays, novels and short stories. Shivkumar was born on 16 November 1916 at Ahmedabad to Sanskrit scholar Girijashankar Joshi. He acted in plays at early age of seven or eight when he was introduced in Natmandal, a stage troupe of Jaishankar Sundari. He completed his primary and secondary education from Ahmedabad and passed matriculation in 1933. He completed BA in Sanskrit from Gujarat College, Ahmedabad in 1937. He participated in Indian independence movement during his college days and was imprisoned for short period. He ran garment shop in partnership in Ahmedabad and Mumbai from 1937 to 1958. He started his own garment shop in Calcutta in 1958 and started participating in social, cultural, literature and stage activities. He was photographer and painter also. He died on 4 July 1988. His son Ruchir Joshi is also an author. He has 3 children from his first wife :Lt Mrs Sunanda Joshi. 1st born: Lt Mr Pranav Joshi, 2nd Born: Mrs Vandana Bhatt & 3rd Born: Mr Shyamal Joshi. He wrote, directed and also acted in plays. Pankh Vinana Pareva ane Bija Natako (1952) was his first collection of one-act plays. His other collections of one-act plays are Anant Sadhna (1955), Sonani Hansadi Roopani Hansadi (1959), Neelanchal (1962), Neerad Chhaya (1966) and Ganga Vahe Chhe Aapni (1977). His plays mostly depict a conflict of the characters associated with urban life. They are social and introvert. His Be Takhta was an experimental play and he wrote a number of radio plays.