Raeesh Maniar started to write poems in 1977 as an 11-year-old child. In December 1981, he had a poem published for the first time in a daily newspaper, Gujarat Samachar. He started his career as a medical doctor in 1993 at Surat. From 2008, he restricted his practice to developmental and behavioural child psychology. In 2013, he abandoned his clinical practice as a doctor and started to work full-time as a freelance writer, playwright, compere, lyricist and script writer. He has written songs for Gujarati films, including Kevi Rite Jaish, Aa To Prem Chhe, Vishwasghat, Polampol, Musafir, Vitamin She and Je Pan Kahish Te Sachu Kahish. In 2013, he penned the background song "Thai Dod Dod Gali Vaat Mod" for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela. He also wrote the script for the popular Gujarati plays Antim Aparadh, Ek Anokho Karar and Love You Jindagi. All three plays were among the winners in the Chitralekha competition. The Sandesh newspaper published his column, "Aras-paras Ni Academy", every Sunday. Formerly, he wrote the column "Vaat Nu Vatesar", in the same newspaper from 2010 to 2014. He has also written a column called "Paraspar" for NavGujarat Samay since 2014. now Divya Bhaskar publishes his column.
Works
Maniar is known for his ghazals and hazals in Gujarati. Kafiyanagar, his first book, was published in 1989, followed by Shabda Mara Swabhavma J Nathi and Aam Lakhvu Karaave Alakh Ni Safar. He has translated major works by Kaifi Azmi, Gulzar, Sahir Ludhianvi and Javed Akhtar and published each of them as books. His other significant works include Mareez: Astitva Ane Vyaktitva, Ghazal: Rup Ane Rang and Ghazal Nu Chhandovidhan. His work in the field of child psychology and parenting includes Baal Uchher Ni Barakhadi, Aapne Balkone Sha Mate Bhanaviye Chhiye and Tame ane Tamaru Nirogi Balak. He also has written a novel called Likhitang Lavanya.
Recognition
He won the Shayda Award instituted by the Indian National Theater in Mumbai. In 2002, he won an award given by Gujarati Sahitya Parishad for the best translation of Gulzar's poetry into Gujarati. His book, Baal Uchher Ni Barakhadi, was awarded a second-place B. N. Mankad Prize for 1998–1999 by Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. He received the Kalapi Award in 2016. He received the Narmad Suvarna Chandrak award for 2012 for his book Aam Lakhvu Karave Alakhni Safar.
