Shri Khalil Dhantejvi

Shri Khalil Dhantejvi

Shri Khalil Dhantejvi receives a Padma Shri (posthumous) for arts from President Kovind. He promoted the use of Gujarati as a literary language in Ghazals. His performances in Gujarati and Urdu have been instrumental in introducing a wider audience to the world of ghazals.

Who is Shri Khalil Dhantejvi ?

A poet and novelist from Gujarat, India, Khalil Ismail Makrani (12 December 1935 – 4 April 2021) was better known by his pen name, Khalil Dhantejvi. In both Gujarati and Urdu, he wrote poetry. He received Padma Shri from the Indian government in 2022.

In 2004 and 2013, Dhantejvi earned the Kalapi Award and the Vali Gujarati Gazal Award, respectively. He was given the Narsinh Mehta Award in 2019. He received the Padma Shri posthumously from the Indian government in 2022 in recognition of his contributions to literature and education.