Book on celebrated persons of Gujarat

When the flavour of the season is celebrating Gujarat, here is a book that highlights some of the celebrated people of the state who have contributed substantially in recent years to the formation of the state as we know it today.

Gujarat: Ghardivda ane Tejnakshatro, pen portraits by Vishnu Pandya and Dr Aarti Pandya will be released at a programme on Sunday evening by Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

The book includes profiles and biographies of literaties, journalists, politicians, social activism, education and changes, business, arts and even sciences; social activist Vimala Thakar, and Sardar Vallabhbhai under the head of 'national unity' for bringing the royal kingdoms together to form Independent India.

There is also a special mention of freedom fighters in the book, which talks about Shamji Krishnaverma; Sardarsinh Rana, Madam Cama and Chhagan Kheraj Verma.

What differentiates this book from being yet another compilation of prominent people who have contributed to the state in their respective fields is the way it has been approached. The biographies are about the person and not the personality as the world knows them. The endeavour seems to bring out the hidden individual characteristics of these achievers. The personalities have all made a distinct mark in their respective fields.