Adam Tankaravi, originally known as Adam Musa Ghodiwala, is a prominent figure credited with introducing Gujarati Gazal poetry to England after migrating there in 1966. Born on September 27, 1940, in the village of Tankaria in Gujarat's Bharuch district, he has become one of the leading exponents of gazal writing.
Tankaravi completed his primary and secondary education in Tankaria before obtaining his B.A. degree from Jayhind College in Mumbai. He pursued post-graduation with English as his main subject at M.T.B College in Surat. He furthered his academic journey by completing B.Ed, M.Ed, and Ph.D. from Sardar Patel University in Vallabh Vidyanagar.
Beginning his career as a teacher, Tankaravi served in various schools, including Tankaria High School, Karmad High School, and Jivanbharti School in Surat from 1962 to 1968. He then joined Miyagam Karjan College as a lecturer in English and later became a professor of English language at H.M. Patel Institute of English. Throughout his illustrious career spanning twenty-two years, he was actively involved in writing textbooks, conducting workshops, teaching, and editing.
In 1991, Tankaravi took voluntary retirement and migrated to England, where he served as the Principal of Bolton Girls High School and as a lecturer at Preston College until his retirement in 2001.
From a young age, Tankaravi had a deep interest in gazals. He published his first book of gazals in 1971 and has since made significant contributions to the field. He gained fame for his Gujlish gazals, a skillful fusion of Gujarati and English.
Tankaravi has received numerous awards for his poetry and his extensive contributions to Gujarati literature, particularly in the realm of gazals. His dedication and talent have left an indelible mark on the world of poetry.
Imtiaz Patel is a highly accomplished individual, currently serving as the Curator at Blackburn Museum. With a strong educational background, he pursued his primary and secondary education in Karjan, Gujarat, India. He furthered his studies at M S University of Baroda, Manchester University, and Lancaster University.
In addition to his role at the museum, Imtiaz is also associated with the NHS in the UK. Alongside his professional endeavors, he actively engages in political and social activities. He serves as a Councillor of Blackburn with Darwen Council, where he contributes to local governance. Imtiaz is also a Parliamentary Spokesperson, representing and advocating for important causes.
Deeply involved in literary pursuits, Imtiaz is a valued member of the Gujarati Writers Guild UK. He is associated with the Gujarati Writers Forum in Batley, UK, playing a vital role in organizing festivals, gatherings, and workshops for writers, poets, and researchers. As an editor, Imtiaz has contributed to several publications, including Vahora Voice Magazine, Golden Memories, Curry Flavour, and Our Heritage.
Imtiaz's passion for media and community engagement is evident through his work with the BBuzz Community online TV channel. He has conducted 51 interviews, providing a platform for individuals to share their stories and experiences.
With his diverse range of interests and contributions, Imtiaz Patel has made a significant impact in the fields of arts, culture, literature, and community development.
Devika Bhruva is a highly accomplished poet and writer with a deep passion for Sanskrit and Gujarati literature. She graduated from Gujarat University with a major in Sanskrit and a subsidiary in Gujarati language, earning a gold medal for her outstanding performance.
Since childhood, Devika has nurtured a love for poetry, participating in various competitions and winning prizes for her elocution, drama, and dance performances. In 1968, she was honored with an award from the renowned poet Shree Umashankar Joshi for her exceptional recitation skills.
Devika has published three poetry books, namely "Shabdone Palavade" (Samvad Prakashan, 2009), "Aksharane Ajavale" (Ebook, 2013), and "Kalamne Kartaale" (Goorjar Prakashan, 2017). Some of her poems have been composed by esteemed individuals such as Shri Gaurang Vyas, Shri Karnik Shah, Mrs. Bhavana Desai, and Mrs. Namrata Shodhan.
In addition to her poetry, Devika has also contributed to various literary works. She collaborated with Nayana Patel on the letter series "Athamani Korno Ujas" (2017), published by Parshva Prakashan, for which she received the Diaspora Award from the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, Ahmedabad. She also edited the Gujarati ebook "Glimpses of History of GSS" for the Gujarati Sahitya Sarita of Houston. Furthermore, she co-wrote the book "Patrotsav" (2020) with three other writers, published by Goorjar Prakashan.
Devika's poems have been presented at prestigious platforms such as the Budhsabha of Ahmedabad, University of Florida, San Francisco Gujarati Group, Gujarati Writers Forum of UK, and the Literary Academy of North America.
Currently, Devika remains active on three different blogs, where she shares her literary works and musings. These blogs include:
