‘Writing benefits me creatively, gives me new ideas’

Bhuj-based author, Dhirendra Pritamlal Mehta, has won this year's Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati. Mehta was born in Ahmedabad and was later professor and head of department of Gujarat at Government College, Bhuj.
Mehta has been writing since his schooldays but, initially, he wrote only poems.

"Poetry is something beautiful that you create merely by writing," the author told DNA over the phone from Bhuj on Tuesday. "I gained much valuable experience from writing of poetry and I am very fond of it too. Later, I also started writing short stories and novels."

When asked about his winning the Akademi award, Mehta said, "For a writer, getting recognition for his work is a happy experience." He said he benefits creatively whether he writes a novel, a short story or a poem. "For instance, the end of a poem may give me the idea for a novel or short story, and vice versa," he said.

Mehta has written 13 novels and several books of poems and short stories. Among his best known works are: Pawan na Veshman (poems); Bhuska ni Ujani (poems for children); Kaveri ane Darpanlok (novel) and Nisbat (criticism).

For his contributions as a writer, he has been honoured with many other awards, including Critics Award; RV Desai award; Gujarat Sahitya Parishad Paritoshik; and Gujarat Sahitya Akademi award. He has also received the Darshak award of Rs1lakh for novel and Dhoomketu award for short story.