Labhshankar Thakar

Labhshankar Jadavji Thakar, also known by his pen names Lagharo and Vaidya Punarvasu (14 January 1935 – 6 January 2016), was a Gujarati poet, playwright and story writer from India.

Educated in languages and Ayurveda, he taught at colleges before starting practice of Ayurveda.

He had a modernist approach in literature and was heavily influenced by absurd theatre and the traditions of experimental literature.

He chiefly wrote plays and poetry.

Thakar was born on 14 January 1935 in Sedla village near Surendranagar, Gujarat.

He was a native of Patdi village of Surendranagar district.

He completed Bachelor of Arts in Gujarati in 1957, Master of Arts in 1959 from Gujarat University.

He taught at various colleges in Ahmedabad for seven years and simultaneously studied Ayurveda.

He received Diploma in Suddha Ayurveda in 1964.

Later he started an Ayurvedic clinic Kayachikitsa and continued his practice.

His Vahi Jati Pachhal Ramya Ghosha (1965) was in traditional metres but soon he wrote modern long poem Manasni Vaat (1968) exploring new styles.

He along with playwright Subhash Shah, wrote Ek Undar ane Jadunath based on Beckett's Waiting for Godot in 1966.

Ek Undar ane Jadunath is considered to be the first absurd play in Gujarati.

His first one-act play Asatyakumar Ekagrani Dharpakad was published in collection of one-act plays, Make Believe (1967) with five other Re School writers.

Akasmat (1968) and Kon? (1968) are his novels.

Malela Jeevni Samiksha and Inner Life (1969) are his works of criticism.

His Mara Namne Darwaje (1972) and Boom Kagalma Kora (1974) deal with absurdity and illogicality of life.

His collection of seven one-act plays, Mari Jawani Maza (1973) is in absurd style.

Bathtub ma Machhali (1982), a collection of seven one-act plays, has an overtone of satire and irony.

His Pilu Gulab ane Hu (1985) is two-act play about the agony of an actress who is craving true love.

It was directed by Kanti Madia.

It was originally improvised work for Darpana Academy of Performing Arts.

Pravahan (1986) is long poem about process of poetry formation paralleled with excretion of feces.

Kalagranthi (1987) is the collection of six poems.

Tola Avaj Ghonghat (1990) is his acclaimed work.

Kahe Koyal Shor Machaye Re (1993) was originally a scene from Pilu Gulab ane Hu (1985) and later produced as one-act play.

It was later turned into three-act play.

Mansukhlal Majithiya (1993) is six scene play.

He was active in workshops for playwrights called Aakanth Sabarmati.

His humour novels include Hasyayan (1993), Champak Chalisa (1994), Anapsanap (1994), Pivari (1996).

His other collections of poetry are Kalpayan (1999), Kichud Kichud (1999), Hathiyar Vagarno Gha (2000), Samay Samay (1999), Tev, Chhe Pratiksha, I Don't Know, Sir, Chhe, Kathakno Ka, Aav, Me Commit Karyu Chhe Shu? and Ramat.

Thakar was heavily influenced by Theatre of the Absurd and Samuel Beckett.

He also wrote some more novels later Maro Driver (2002), Bako Chhe, Kalpo (2006) and Kuhoo Kuhoo Bole Koyaliya (2008).

He died on 6 January 2016 at Ahmedabad after prolonged illness.

Thakar was a modernist author of Gujarati literature.

He, along with Madhu Rye, belongs to the Re School, a modernist tradition of Gujarati literature under the influence of existentialism challenging traditional literature styles.

He had written nearly 56 books of different genres as well as 21 books on Ayurvedic treatments.

Thakar initially wrote poetry in traditional metres and gradually shifted to more experimental one.

He emphasized the process of poetry rather than final piece of poetry.

He was more interested in the absurdism than the realism.