Surat: When the world celebrated International Mother Language Day on Thursday, Surat celebrated the day by re-launching the first poetry and the first prose of Gujarati language written by Kavi Dalpatram. It was here in the city that Dalpatram first recited his poetry – ‘Hunnar Khan ni Chadai’.Historian and professor Rizwan Kadri talked of Dalpatram’s economic rationalism and the removal of superstition from the society and its relevance in today’s world. Kadri was at a function held at Swaminarayan Temple, Sarthana where some Gujarati writers were felicitated too .On the sidelines of the function, Rizwan Kadri told TOI: “It was Dalpatram, who first recited his poetry ‘Hunnar Khan ni Chadai’ at St. Andrews Library near Chowk bazar in 1851. The poetry about economic rationalism was relevant 150 years ago and it is relevant even today . Can we go further without Skills (Hunnar ) even today ?” He added, “Gujarati language’s first prose – Bhoot Nibandh (essay) was written in 1849 which talked about removing all superstitions .We are relaunching these first creations on World Mother Tongue Day.”There is a story in the history which says that in Surat In 1855, it was Durgaram Mehta, who declared Rs 200 cash price for the person who would make him meet with a ghost . Kavi Dalpatram added Rs 100 cash price of his own purse and challenged people who misguided the community in the names of different superstitions. It is needless to say , no one was able to meet the ghost face to face.Kavi Dalpatram, born in Wadhwan of Surendranagar district on January 21, 1820, was very much on the path of reforming society when Surat’s own Kavi Narmad was educating himself at Elphinstone college of Mumbai. Dalpatram, the son of Dhayabhai Trivedi, was a Sanskrit scholar. He always talked of three major things — Swadesi, travelling to all shores of the world and developing Hunnar (Skills) and business.Even after 150 years , his preachings and his creations are equally important as we talk of Make in India , Skill India and Well-travelled India . “In those days those who crossed shores of the sea or major river were socially boycotted by the society, but Dalpatram advocated it to equip self with skills to match the world,” explained Kadri.According to the history, it was in 1861 that Ranchod Chimanlal had set up first textile mill in Ahmedabad and in the same year Surti man Mahipatram Rupram had gone to England.To provide Gujarati language its rightful place, it was Dalpatram who had given Provincial College the name of Gujarat Provincial College. Dalpatram passed away on March 25, 1898 in Ahmedabad.

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