Manubhai Pancholi 'Darshak'

Manubhai Pancholi was born on 15 October 1914 at Panchashiya village in Morbi district, Gujarat, India. He completed his primary education from Tithwa Lunsar. He left study to participate in Salt Satyagraha in 1930 when he was studying at Wankaner. He was jailed in Sabarmati, Nasik and Visapur. He started his career as a rector in educational institute, Dakshinamurti at Bhavnagar in 1932 and later joined as a professor in Gramdakshinamurt, Ambala in 1938. He was also arrested during Quit India Movement in 1942 was jailed at Bhavnagar. He served as education minister of Bhavnagar State in 1948. He co-founded Lokbharti Gramvidyapith institute with Nanabhai Bhatt in 1953 at Sanosara.[1][2] He married Vijayaben Patel, a daughter of Patidar family from Varad village of Bardoli, who predeceased him on 25 April 1995. He was a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly from 1967 to 1971 and served as an education minister in 1970. He was arrested during the emergency in 1975. He served as the president of Gujarati Sahitya Parishad from 1981 to 1983. He also served as the chairman of the Gujarat Sahitya Akademi from 1991 to 1998. He died on 29 August 2001 at Sanosara, Bhavnagar, Gujarat following kidney ailment.