JAYANTI M. DALAL

Indian business executive and writer Jayanti M. Dalal was born in Kapadwanj (Gujarat), India, on 28th December 1935. After passing his Matriculation exam at the Jubilee School of Umreth, he enrolled at Ruia College in Bombay, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in 1958. During his studies, he developed a love of reading and quickly read most of the books of fiction and short stories available in the library of his village. This extensive reading inspired him to write his first stories at the age of seventeen. In 1955, his first short novel (in Gujarati), The Flower and the Thorn, was serialized in the weekly 'Anand' (published from Ahmedabad). He continued reading and writing throughout his college days, and in 1966, his first novel, Thirsty Eyes, Dry Lips, was published. A second, experimental novel, Additions of Chipher, appeared in 1969 and was highly appreciated by critics. To date, Mr.Dalal has published twenty two books, including fourteen novels, three short story collections and five compilations .

Upon the completion of his university studies, Mr.Dalal married his wifre Vasumati (in 1958). Their first child, son Amit, was born in 1960. Handicapped from birth, young Amit was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Tormented by the child's inability to talk and walk, without ever losing courage, Mr.Dalal went to work for a private company for three years. He then entered into a business partnership with a friend, leaving that endeavor after thirteen years to start his own firm, Super Industries of Bombay. Along with his continued literary activities, he pursued many creative experiments in making objects of acrylic plastic, becoming the first person to introduce acrylic furniture items in India (for which he received acclaim from all over the country). While busy with his career, three more children were born, sons Rakesh and Tejas, and daughter Neha Bakul Thakkar.

In order to explore the possibilities of exports, Mr.Dalal visited the countries of the Gulf in 1978. The next year, he visited Germany to see the Expo K'79 (related to plastic products), later touring Europe to see articles made from acrylic. He was fascinated by the use of acrylics in Europe and decided to do pioneering work in the acrylic industry in India. While continuing his writing of novels and short stories, he became involved with his showroom of acrylic furniture, which was inaugurated by sheriff and famous cinestar Dilipkumar, accompanied by Sairabanu and Nasimbanu. In 1984, the then vice president of India, Hon'ble Mr.Venkatraman presented Mr.Dalal the highly prestigious "A. R. Bhat Entrepreneurship Award" for outstanding performance in the field of acrylic furniture manufacturing. The following year, the government of India sent him as a "One Man Study Team" to Europe and the U.S.A. to study the market of acrylic.

In 1991, under Mr.Dalal's leadership, an ACRYPLAST '91 Exhibition and Seminar was organised, the first of its kind in India. Since that time, the exhibition continues to be held every third year, with representatives from all over the world having particpated in ACRYPLAST '97. In addition, Mr.Dalal had the honor of being elected founding president of the Small Scale Acrylic Plastic Products Manufacturers Association and, acting as Chairman of the Directory Committee, he has prepared the National Acrylic Directory in 1994, 1997 & 2000.

Today, Mr.Dalal is a member of the Plastic & Linoleum Export Promotion Council, the Federation of Association of Small Industries of India, the Indian Institute of Interior Designers, the Shree Vile Parle Gujarati Mandal, the Juhu Vile Parle Gymkhana Club, and the Indian Society of Lighting Engineers, the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad, Ahmedabad, Kala Gurjari, Vishwa Gujarati Samaj, Ahmedabad ,Bruhad Mumbai Gujarati Samaj, Shri Kapadwanaj Dasha Porwad Mitra Mandal, Mumbai. He was vice president of the All India Plastics Manufacturers' Association during 1984-85, has been elected to fellowship in the United Writers Association, and has served on the fourteen-member working committee which prepared the book Introduction to Plastic Furniture in the Country, published by the Ministry of Industry of the government of India in 1988. Recently his Gujarati novel 'Ankhane Sagpan Ansoona' was translated into English by Dr.Arpan A. Desai named 'Ordeal of Innocence' and was published by Ivy House Publishing Group, NC, Raleigh, U.S.A. in the month of February 2005. To promote this novel Mr.Dalal visited U.K., U.S.A. and Canada in the month of May 2005. In November 1997, his Shastipurti was facilitated gracefully, with a short documentary film on his life shown by videoscope. He still writes enthusiastically, with hopes his literature will provide him his life's exygen to his last breath.

For further enquiries you can contact Mr.Jayanti M. Dalal at the given below address:

Jayanti M. Dalal
103, Anuradha,
Irla Bridge, S.V. Road,
Andheri (West),
Mumbai - 400 058, India.
Tel. No. 0091-22-26207074
Email: jmdalal@rediffmail.com

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