56 Notable alumni of Gujarat University

Mukund Parikh is a Gujarati novelist, poet and playwright from Gujarat, India.

Bhavin Gopani is a Gujarati language ghazal poet from Gujarat, India. His significant works include Umbaro and Orado (2016), collections of ghazals. The INT - Indian National Theater, Mumbai, awarded him the Shayda Award in 2016 for his contributions to Gujarati ghazal poetry.

Makrand Mehta was an Indian social and business historian from Gujarat.

Rengaswamy Ramesh was an Indian climatologist, oceanographer, a former Prof. Satish Dhawan Professor at the Physical Research Laboratory and a senior professor at the National Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhubaneswar. He was known for paleo-climatic and paleo-oceanographic studies and was an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies viz. Indian National Science Academy, Indian Academy...

Pravin Pandya is a Gujarati language poet, writer, playwright and dramatist from Gujarat, India. His significant works include Ajavasnan Matsya (1994), India Lodge (2003), Hathiraja Ane Bija Natako (2004) and Barda Na Dungar (2009). He is noted in Gujarati literature for his theatre activism and his dramatized adaptations of Hindi poet Shamser Bahadur Singh's works. He won Uma-Snehrashmi Prize (2008–09)...

Vijay Ramanlal Shastri is an Indian Gujarati language short story writer, novelist, critic and translator. He was educated and worked at the M. T. B. Arts College in Surat and has written more than two hundred short stories in addition to several works of criticism.

Praful Raval is a Gujarati teacher, poet, essayist and short story writer. Raval is a co-editor of Kavilok and Kumar and works as a general secretary of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. He received Kumar Suvarna Chandrak in 1982.

Vibhut Shah is an Indian contemporary Gujarati novelist, playwright, and short story writer.

Yoseph Philip Macwan was an Indian Gujarati-language poet and literary critic from Gujarat, India. He was also known for his contribution in Gujarati children's literature.

Manhar Modi was a Gujarati poet from Gujarat, India. Born and educated in Ahmedabad, he taught Gujarati at various colleges and edited several magazines. He was experimental in his poetry.

Kishorsinh Hinduji Solanki is a Gujarati poet and novelist from Gujarat, India. He is an editor of Shabdasar, a Gujarati literary magazine.

Rajendra Patel is a Gujarati language poet, short story writer and critic from Gujarat, India. He has served as Vice President of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad since 2014. His significant works include Jueeni Sugandha (2003; collection of short stories), Shri Purant Janse (2009; collection of poems) and Avagat (2014; collection of criticism). Gujarat Sahitya Akademi awarded him three times for his...

Dhirendra Pritamlal Mehta is a Gujarati novelist, poet, critic and editor who received the 2010 Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati language for his novel Chhavni.

Ramanlal Jethalal Joshi was Gujarati language literary critic and editor from India. He studied and later taught at Gujarat University in Ahmedabad. He served at several literary and educational institutions. He edited, authored and published criticism in more than forty-two books. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1984.

Bhupendra Nath Goswami is an Indian meteorologist, climatologist, a former director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). and a Pisharoty Chair Professor at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research. He is known for his researches on the Indian monsoon dynamics and is an elected fellow of all the three major Indian science academies viz. Indian National...

Bhavna Chikhalia was a Minister of State of Parliamentary Affairs and of Tourism and Culture in Government of India from 2003 to 2004. She was also a member of Lok Sabha and the first lady of Gujarat who won four consecutive term of Lok Sabha from Junagadh constituency, Gujarat (from 1991 to 2004). She was executive secretary of the Bharatiya...

Chandrakant Amritlal Topiwala is a Gujarati language poet and critic from Gujarat, India.

Anil Ramanath Joshi was an Indian Gujarati-language poet and essayist from Gujarat. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 1990 for his essay collection Statue (1988). His significant works include Kadach (1970; Collection of poems), Barafna Pankhi (1981; Collection of poems) and Pavan Ni Vyaspithe (1988; Collection of Essay).

Harikrishna Pathak was an Indian Gujarati-language poet, short story writer, editor and children's writer from Gujarat.

Manjula Pradeep is an Indian human rights activist and a lawyer. She is the former Executive Director of Navsarjan Trust, one of the largest Dalit rights organizations in India, addressing the issues of caste discrimination and gender based discrimination.

Susmita Mohanty is a spaceship designer, serial entrepreneur, and space diplomat. She is currently the Director General of Spaceport SARABHAI (S2) – India's ‘space’ think tank. She is the only space entrepreneur in the world to have started companies on three different continents in Asia, Europe and North America. Earth2Orbit, Bangalore (2009–2021), Liquifier Systems Group, Vienna (2004-ongoing), and MoonFront, San...

Anil Chavda is a Gujarati language poet, writer and columnist from Gujarat, India.

Harsh Brahmbhatt is a Gujarati language poet and writer from Gujarat, India. He has also made significant contributions to the Urdu ghazal form. He is a recipient of several awards, including the Shayda Award, Kalapi Award, Kumar Suvarna Chandrak and Dhanji Kanji Gandhi Suvarna Chandrak.

Mohan Parmar is an Indian Gujarati-language short story writer, novelist and critic from Gujarat, India. Parmar won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Gujarati in 2011 for his short story collection Anchalo. He was earlier editor of Hayati, an organ of Gujarati Dalit Sahitya Akademi, along with Harish Mangalam. He served as deputy editor of Parab, a monthly journal of Gujarati...

Harshadev Madhav is a Sanskrit and Gujarati language poet and writer who won the Sahitya Akademi Award for Sanskrit in 2006 for his work of poetry, Tava Sparshe Sparshe. He had composed over 2200 poems in Sanskrit as of 1992.

Himanshu Pandya is an Indian professor and academic at Botany Department Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. He earned a MSc and PhD in botany and areas of specialization In vivo and In vitro studies on physiological and biochemical parameters on Gladiolus, Chrysanthemum and Lily.

Priti Sengupta is a Gujarati poet and writer from Gujarat, India. She received Kumar Suvarna Chandrak in 2006. She has written several travelogues.

Stalin K. is an Indian documentary filmmaker, media and human rights activist. His films, Lesser Humans and India Untouched, on the issue of caste and untouchability in contemporary India, have galvanized international attention to caste discrimination and won numerous film awards. He has done pioneering work on new models of community media to empower marginalized groups. His interview and clips...

Dinkar Joshi is a Gujarati language author from India. He has written more than 160 books including novels, short story collections, essay collections and columns.

Rajendra Anantrai Shukla is a Gujarati poet. He taught at various places before voluntarily retiring. He published several poetry collections which won him several major Gujarati literary awards.

Abhinay Banker is an actor, director, and writer who works in Gujarati cinema and theatre. After several theatre performances in his early career, he received recognition for his performance in Gujarati play Welcome Zindagi (2010), written and directed by Saumya Joshi, which has been performed over 650 times worldwide. He acted in Gujarati film Kevi Rite Jaish (2012).

Bindu Bhat is a Gujarati language novelist, storywriter, critic and translator from Gujarat, India. Her novel Akhepatar (1999) received the Sahitya Akademi Award for the year 2003. Her other significant works include Mira Yagnikni Dayari (1992) and Bandhani (2009).

Labhshankar Jadavji Thakar, also known by his pen names Lagharo and Vaidya Punarvasu, 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...

Harin Pathak is an Indian politician who was a member of the fourteenth Lok Sabha of India. He represented the Ahmedabad East constituency of Gujarat and is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Kumarpal Balabhai Desai is an author, critic, editor, journalist, columnist and translator from Gujarat, India. He studied and later taught at the Gujarat University. He is associated with several social and Gujarati literary organisations such as Gujarati Sahitya Parishad. He has written and edited more than hundred books including biographies and several works on Jainism. He was awarded the Padma...

Parbatbhai Patel is a Gujarati politician who served as a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha from Banaskantha constituency in Gujarat in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Ankit Trivedi is a Gujarati language poet, writer, columnist, and emcee from Gujarat, India. His significant works include Gazal Purvak (collection of ghazals) and Geet Purvak (collection of geets). The Indian National Theater in Mumbai awarded him the 2008 Shayda Award for his contribution to Gujarati ghazal. He has received the Takhtasinh Parmar Prize, Yuva Gaurav Puraskar, and the Yuva...

Kaajal Oza Vaidya is an author, screenwriter, radio personality and journalist from Ahmedabad, India. She initially worked as a journalist and actress. She has written more than 56 books including novels, short stories and essays. She has written stories, dialogues and scripts of soap operas and films. She writes columns in several publications and hosts a radio show.

Ashis Nandy is an Indian political psychologist, social theorist, futurist and critic. A trained clinical psychologist, Nandy has provided theoretical critiques of European colonialism, development, modernity, secularism, Hindutva, science, technology, nuclearism, cosmopolitanism, and utopia. He has conceptualised cosmopolitanism and critical traditionalism. Nandy has written an historical profile of India's commercial cinema as well as critiques of state and violence.

Sudhir Uttamlal Mehta is an Indian billionaire businessman. Together with his brother, Samir Mehta, he operates Torrent Group, a conglomerate founded by their late father, U. N. Mehta, in 1959. As of December 2024, Sudhir and Samir Mehta's combined net worth was estimated at US$16.3 billion, ranking them 16th among India's richest individuals according to Forbes.

Saumya Joshi is an Indian poet, writer, playwright, director and actor associated with Gujarati language literature, theatre and films. He is known in Gujarati theatre for his plays Welcome Zindagi and 102 Not Out. Greenroomma (2008; In the Greenroom) is his collection of poems. He has been awarded by Chandravadan Chimanlal Mehta Award for his contribution to Gujarati theatre in...

Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi was an Indian judge who was the 26th Chief Justice of India. After serving as a judge in the Gujarat High Court, Ahmadi was appointed judge to the Supreme Court in 1988. He was Chief Justice of India from 1994 to 1997. He served as chancellor at the Aligarh Muslim University for two terms.

Tejas M. Patel is an Indian cardiologist and the chairman and chief interventional cardiologist at Apex Heart Institute, Ahmedabad. Patel has received several honors, including the Dr. B. C. Roy Award, the Padma Shri in 2015, and the Padma Bhushan in 2024, for his contributions to the medical field.

Jignesh Mevani is an Indian politician, lawyer, activist and former journalist serving as the representative of the Vadgam constituency in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly since 2017. He is a member of the Indian National Congress party. He is the convener of the Rashtriya Dalit Adhikar Manch (RDAM).

Shankersinh Vaghela is an Indian politician and former Chief Minister of Gujarat. He was also the Leader of Opposition in 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan was an Indian space scientist who headed ISRO from 1994 to 2003. Until his death, he was Chancellor of Central University of Rajasthan and NIIT University. He was also chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University and the chairman of Karnataka Knowledge Commission. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha (2003–09) and a former member of the Planning Commission...

Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala is an Indian politician and Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the Second Modi ministry. He was elected to 18th Lok Sabha from Rajkot. He was a member of Rajya Sabha, representing the Indian state of Gujarat and a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a former member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Amreli...

Ela Ramesh Bhatt was an Indian cooperative organiser, activist and Gandhian, who founded the Self-Employed Women's Association of India (SEWA) in 1972, and served as its general secretary from 1972 to 1996. She was the chancellor of the Gujarat Vidyapith from 7 March 2015 to 19 October 2022. A lawyer by training, Bhatt was a part of the international labour,...

Raghuveer Chaudhari is a novelist, poet and critic from Gujarat, India. He has also worked as a columnist for numerous newspapers, such as Sandesh, Janmabhumi, Nirikshaka and Divya Bhaskar. He was a teacher at the Gujarat University until his retirement in 1998. His most significant contributions have been in Gujarati language but he has also written Hindi articles. He received...

Mallika Sarabhai is an Indian classical dancer, activist and actress from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Daughter of a classical dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai and space scientist Vikram Sarabhai, Mallika is an accomplished Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer and performer who has specialized in using the arts for social change and transformation.

Phoolchand Gupta is an Indian Hindi and Gujarati language poet, writer and translator. He hails from Himmatnagar, Gujarat, India. He made significant contributions to the Gujarati Dalit literature. Hindi Sahitya Akademi of state awarded him in 2013 for his book Khwabkhwahon Ki Sadi Hai. He won the Shafdar Hashmi Prize (2000) for his book Isi Mahol Mein.

Chinu Modi,, also known by his pen name Irshad, was a Gujarati language poet, novelist, short story writer and critic from Gujarat, India. Educated in languages, he taught at various institutions and established himself as a poet and author. He was a recipient of several awards including Sahitya Akademi Award, Vali Gujarati Award and Narsinh Mehta Award.

Rajesh Jatashankar Vyas, better known by his pen name Miskin, is an Indian Gujarati-language poet from Gujarat, India. Born and brought up in Ahmedabad, he completed his doctorate in Gujarati literature. He writes ghazal poetry and columns in various publications.

Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician who has served as the prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the member of parliament (MP) for Varanasi. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a right-wing Hindutva paramilitary volunteer...

Hasmukh Adhia is a retired 1981 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre who served as the Finance Secretary and Revenue Secretary of India. He is considered as one of the key persons behind the architecture and roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax & Demonetization in India announced in 2016. He is the present Chairman of the boards of State...