{{Short description|Indian poet and Ghazal writer (1943–2003)}} {{Infobox writer <!--For more information, see :Template:Infobox Writer/doc.--> | name = Manoj Khanderia | image = Manoj Khanderia.jpg | caption = Khanderia at Junagadh, 1996 | birth_name = Manoj Vrajlal Khanderia | birth_date ={{birth date|1943|7|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Junagadh, Gujarat | death_date ={{death date and age|2003|10|27|1943|7|6|df=y}} | death_place = | occupation = Poet, Advocate | language = Gujarati | nationality = Indian | education = * Bachelor of Science * Bachelor of Law | alma_mater = | period = Modern Gujarati literature | genres = Ghazal, Geet, Free verse | subjects = | movement = | notableworks = * ''Achanak'' (1970) * ''Atkal'' (1979) * ''Hastaprat'' (1991) | spouse = Purnima | children = Vani, Rucha (daughters)<br/>Abhijat (son) | awards = * Kalapi Award (1999) * Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak (2002) | signature = | years_active = 1960 - 2003 |website = {{official website}} }} '''Manoj Khanderia''' (6 July 1943&nbsp;– 27 October 2003) was an Indian poet and a Ghazal writer of Gujarati language.

== Life == [[File:Chinu Modi and Manoj Khanderia.jpg|thumb|Manoj Khanderia (left) and Chinu Modi (right), U.S.A,1997]] He was born on 6 July 1943 in Junagadh, Gujarat to Vrajlal and Vijyabahen. He studied at various schools in various towns of Gujarat including Dhoraji, Veraval, Junagadh, Morbi, Rajkot and Jamnagar because his father was a revenue officer who was transferred several times. He passed SSC from Junagadh in 1961. He completed his Bachelor of Science in 1965 from Bahauddin College, Junagadh with Chemistry and Botany and Bachelor of Law in 1967. He married Purnimaben and they had two daughters, Vani and Rucha, and a son, Abhijat.<ref name= "km">{{cite book |last=Khanderia |first=Manoj |date=October 2007 |title=Varshona Varash Lage (Complete Works of Manoj Khanderia) |location=Ahmedabad |publisher= Navbharat Sahitya Mandir |page=4 |isbn= 978-81-8440-081-6 }}</ref><ref name=AGSI>{{cite book|title=અર્વાચીન ગુજરાતી સાહિત્યનો ઈતિહાસ - આધુનિક અને અનુઆધુનિક યુગ (History of Modern Gujarati Literature – Modern and Postmodern Era)|first=Prasad|last=Brahmabhatt |publisher=Parshwa Publication|location=Ahmedabad|year=2010|pages=105–108|language=gu|isbn=978-93-5108-247-7}}</ref><ref name="GSP">{{cite web | title=મનોજ ખંડેરિયા (Manoj Khanderia)| website=Gujarati Sahitya Parishad | url=http://www.gujaratisahityaparishad.com/prakashan/sarjako/savishesh/Savishesh-Manoj-Khanderia.html | language=gu | accessdate=22 December 2016}}</ref>

He started his career as an advocate in 1968. He also served as a lecturer of law from 1972 to 1984 and Commercial law from 1977 to 1981. He also worked as a lawyer from 1968. He started to write during 1959-60 under the guidance of professor Takhtasinh Parmar. In December 1965, his ghazal ''Divaalo'' (The wall) was published first time in ''Kumar'', a Gujarati literary magazine. He died on 27 October 2003 at Junagadh.<ref name= "km"/><ref name=AGSI/><ref name="GSP"/>

==Works== He is widely known for his ghazals. He also wrote in other forms of poetry including Geet, Anjani Geet, metrical and non-metrical poetry. He, along with a group of noted Gujarati poets, transformed the Gujarati Ghazal and established its individual identity by giving it a modernist sensibility.<ref name= "mk">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Topiwala |first=Chandrakant |editor-last=Topiwala |editor-first= Chandrakant |encyclopedia= Gujarati Sahitya Kosh (Encyclopedia of Gujarati literature) |title=Khanderia Manoj Vrajlal |language= Gujarati |year=1990 |publisher= Gujarati Sahitya Parishad |volume=2 |location=Ahmedabad |pages=87 }}</ref><ref name="Datta1988">{{cite book|author=Amaresh Datta|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zB4n3MVozbUC&pg=PA1390|year=1988|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1194-0|page=1390}}</ref><ref name="Saccidānandan2001">{{cite book|author=Saccidānandan|title=Indian Poetry: Modernism and After : a Seminar|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXiNXRM_KzMC&pg=PA94|year=2001|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1092-9|page=94}}</ref>

His poetry collections and anthologies include ''Achaanak'' (1970), ''Atkal'' (1979), ''Anjani'' (1991), ''Hastprat'' (1991), and ''Kyany Pan Gayo Nathi'' (posthumous, 2003).<ref name=AGSI/> In his lifelong career as a poet, he also organized and was a part of countless mushairas, poetic symposia and recitals. He also helped found and served as the president of the Narsinh Mehta Shahitya Nidhi Trust.<ref name=AGSI/><ref name="GSP"/>

Some of his most famous ghazals include 'Rasta Vasant Na', 'Pichhu', 'Koi Kehtu Nathi', 'Kshano Ne Todva Besu', 'Em Pan Bane', 'Pakdo Kalam Ne', 'Shabdo J Kanku Ne Chokha', 'Varso Na Varas Lage' and 'Shahmrugo'.<ref name=AGSI/><ref name="GSP"/>

==Awards== He received several awards, including Sahitya Akademi Award (for ''Atkal'' and ''Hastaprat'' anthologies), the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad Award (for ''Hastaprat'' and ''Anjani'' anthologies), the Gujarat State award (for ''Achaanak'' anthology), the Kalapi Award in 1999, and the Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak in 2003.

==See also== * List of Gujarati-language writers

==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category}}

== External links == * {{GujLit author}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khanderia, Manoj}} Category:Gujarati writers Category:Gujarati-language poets Category:Gujarati-language Indian writers Category:1943 births Category:2003 deaths Category:20th-century Indian poets Category:Indian male poets Category:Poets from Gujarat Category:20th-century Indian male writers