Phoolchand Gupta


Phoolchand Gupta is a Hindi and Gujarati language poet, writer and translator. He hails from Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India. He made significant contributions to the Gujarati Dalit literature. Hindi Sahitya Akadami of state awarded him in 2013 for his book Khwabkhwahon Ki Sadi Hai. He won the Shafdar Hashmi Prize for his book Isi Mahol Mein.

Early life

He was born in Amraigaon, a village in Rudauli city of Faizabad district in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. His parents were Jagatnarayan and Savitridevi. He completed his primary education from Amaraigaon Primary School in 1969. In 1970, he came to Ahmedabad and completed his schooling from Janta Hindi High School, Naroda in 1974. He got his Bachelor of Commerce in 1978 from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Commerce Mahavidyalay, Ahmedabad. He worked in bicycle factory for 3 years.
In 1982, he joined H. K. Arts College, Ahmedabad and got his Bachelor of Arts in 1985 in English literature. He did his Master of Arts in 1987 from School of Languages of Gujarat University. In the same year, he did Postgraduate diploma in Journalism from Bhavan's Center, Ahmedabad. Again in 1993, he obtained Master of Arts in Hindi literature from Gujarat University. He earned his Ph.D in 2013 from Veer Narmad South Gujarat University for his research work Ikkisvi Sadi Ke Pratham Dashak Ke Hindi Upanyas Me Dalit, Nari Evam Vargiya Chetna. He did this research work under Uttambhai Patel.

Career

Gupta started his career in 1980 as a clerk at a private transport company in Ahmedabad. From 1987 to 1988, he served as a journalist at Young India, a daily. In 1989, he joined Sabargram Vidyapith, Sonasan in Prantij as a professor of English literature.
He started writing poems during his school days. His first poem was published in 1973. Subsequently, his writings were published in Gujarati and Hindi literary magazines including Hansa, Samkaleen Bharatiya Sahitya, English Literature, Nirikshak, Navneet Samarpan and Kumar. He started writing in Gujarati after moving to Prantij.

Works

He has written poems, short stories and essays in Hindi and Gujarati. He is known as revolutionary poet in Hindi literature.
Isi Mahol Me, his first collection of poems in Hindi, was published in 1997, followed by Saansat Me Hai Kabootar, Koi Nahi Sunata Aag Ke Sansmaran, Khwabkhwaho Ki Sadi Hai, Rakh Ka Dher, Mahagatha, Kot Ki Jaib Se Jhankati Prithvi, Deenu Aur Kauve, Jharne Ki Tarah, Phool Aur Titli and Aarzoo-E-Phoolchand. He has translated the novels of Raghuveer Chaudhari into Hindi from Gujarati: Laagani as Lagaav and Ichchhavar as Daraar.

Recognition

He won Shafdar Hashmi Puraskar in 2000 for his book Isi Mahol Me. Hindi Sahitya Akademi of Gujarat state awarded him in 2014 for his book Phool Aur Titli.

Family

He married Shakun Gupta in 1982 and they have a daughter, Pallavi, and two sons, Siddhartha and Ruchir. He lives in Himmatnagar.