Lalchand Amardinomal Jagtiani (Sindhi: لالچند امرڏنومل جڳتياڻي; 25 January 1885 - 18 April 1954) was a story writer, novelist and essayist from Hyderabad, Sindh, British India (Now Pakistan). He authored 62 books including one-act plays, short stories, criticism and scholarly articles.[1]
Lalchand Amardinomal Jagtiani | |
|---|---|
| Born | لالچند امرڏنومل جڳتياڻي 25 January 1885 Hyderabad, Bombay Presidency, British India (Now Pakistan) |
| Died | 18 April 1954 |
| Occupation | Story writer, dramatist, essayist, translator |
| Nationality | India |
| Education | B.A. |
| Alma mater | Union Academy Hyderabad, Sindh. |
| Period | 1805 - 1948 |
| Genre | Prose, one-act plays, fiction |
| Notable works | More than 62 books |
Lalchand was born on 25 January 1885 in Hyderabad, Sindh, British India (now Pakistan). His father, Deewan Amerdino, was a Mukhtiarkar in the Revenue Department of Sindh. He received primary education privately at his home. After passing the matriculation examination from Hiranand Academy (now Government Naval Rai Hiranand High School Society No. 1) Hyderabad in 1903, he was appointed as a school teacher at Sindh Madersatul Islam High School Karachi (now Sindh Madarsatul Islam University). He also served as a school teacher and then as a headmaster at New High School Karachi. During his job as a school teacher, he continued his education and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1918.[2]
Lalchand Amardinomal Jagtiani was interested in reading and literature since childhood. He was 20 years old when his first novel "Choth jo Chand" (Sindhi: چوٿ جو چنڊ) was published.[3]
Lalchand Amardinomal is regarded as one of the modern writers of Sindhi literature. He was the first to introduce rhythmic prose and travelogue in Sindhi literature.[4] He was a legendary personification of Sindhi literature.[1] He authored novels, short stories, essays and research articles. He was highly inspired by classical poets like Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Sachal Sarmast, Saami, Ruhal Faquir, Khalifo Gul Muhammad Gul and others. He wrote more than 62 books.[1]
In 1914, he established the Sindhi Sahetia Society, a milestone in the development of Sindhi literature, under whose aegis literary books were published every month for a period of 15 years. He served as Joint Secretary of the Central Advisory Board for Sindhi Literature in 1940.[5] He also served as the founding managing editor of "Mehran" - the quarterly literary magazine of Sindhi Adabi Board.[6][7]
Lalchand Amardinomal founded the dramatic society Banday Matarm Natak Mandly in 1905. He wrote a number of plays for the society including Bharat Java - Uth Uthy Jag and Amaldar keen Raiyat Azar.[8] In 1923, Rabindranath Tagore Literary and Dramatic Club Hyderabad and Karachi was founded.[9] Rabindranath Tagore himself inaugurated this club at the invitation of Khanchand Daryani and Lalchand Amardinomal. Renowned writers Jethmal Prasram, Deyaldas Lalwani and Mangharam Malkani were also part of the club.[10]
Lalchand Amardinomal Jagtiani authored more than 62 books. Niaz Masroor Badvi[1] has compiled a list of his 62 books. The following table contains a list of his 21 famous books.
| Name of the Book | Name of the Book
in Sindhi Language |
Description and publication | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choth Jo Chand (Crescent Moon) | چوٿ جو چنڊ | A Novel first published in 1905 and 1906, 1927 and 1947.,[1][11] |
| 2 | Naqad Dharam (Religion of Cash) | نقد ڌرم | One-act play published in 1906. |
| 3 | Sen keen ven (Inlaws or enemies) | سيڻ ڪين ويڻ | One-act play published in 1907. |
| 4 | Hyderabad Sindh | حيدرآباد سنڌ | Published in 1910[3] |
| 5 | Muhammad Rasulullah (Peace be upon him) | محمد رسول اللّٰہ صلي اللّٰہ عليہ وسلم | Biography of Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) published in 1911.[9] |
| 6 | Hura Mukhia Ja (The Hurs of Mukhi) | حُرَ مکيءَ جا | Published in 1913. This booklet is about Hur Movement against the British Rule in India.,.[12][13] |
| 7 | Shahano Shah (Kingly Shah) | شاھاڻو شاھ | A book written on the poetry of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. Published in 1914. Most recent edition published in 1989.[14] |
| 8 | Soonharo Sachal (Beauteous Sachal) | سونھارو سچل | Biography and poetry of Sachal Sarmast published in 1914.[3] |
| 9 | Ram Badshah | رام بادشاھ | an account of the life and teachings of Swami Ram Tirtha, published in 1914.[15] |
| 10 | Musafreea jo Mazo aien Sair | مسافريءَ جو مزو ۽ سير | A travelogue published in 1915.[4] |
| 11 | Kishnia Jo Kasht
(Sorrows of Kashni) |
ڪشنيءَ جو ڪشٽ | A novel published in 1917. Also published by Sindhi Times Publications Ulhasnagar in 1985.,[1][16] |
| 12 | Sona Warniyoon Dilyoon (Hearts of Gold) | سون ورنيون دليون | A translated novel first published in 1925 and then in 1928. Also published by Sindhi Adabi Board in 1956, 1972, 1979 and 1992.,[17][18] |
| 13 | Sadaa Gulab (Perennial Roses) | سدا گلاب | This is translation of Tagore's "The Gardener" in rhythmic prose.,[19][15] |
| 14 | Berangi Bagha Jo Gul Sindhi (The Rose of Sind) | بيرنگي باغ جو گل سنڌي | appraisal of the poetry of Khalifo Gul Muhammad Gul published in 1920. |
| 15 | Amaldar ken Raiyat Azar? (Officers or Tyrants?) | عملدار ڪين رعيت بيزار | One-act play published in 1920. |
| 16 | Dukhan Dadhi Zindagi (A life of Suffering) | ڏکن ڏڌي زندگي | Short stories published in 1925. |
| 17 | Umar Marvi | عمر مارئي | Stage Drama (1925) |
| 18 | Manika, Moti, Laal | ماڻڪ، موتي، لال | Biographies and poetry of selected classical poets, published in 1927. |
| 19 | Phulan Muth (Handful of Flowers) | ڦلن مٺ | ِِEssay collection published in 1927. |
| 20 | Hisdustan Ji Tareekha | ھندستان جي تاريخ | A book on the history of India. |
| 21 | Matamian khay Dildari | ماتمين کي دلداري | This is translation of "To those who mourn" by C.W. Leadbeater[1] |
After the partition of India, Lalchand Amardinomal reluctantly left Sindh and migrated to India in 1948. He wrote a will that his ashes be flown to the Sindhu (Indus) river. He died on 18 April 1954. As per his will his ashes were flown to the Indus river, near Gidu Bander (Hussainabad), Hyderabad, Sindh on 18 April 1956.[2]