Gaurishankar Govardhandas Joshi (1892–1965), better known by his pen name Dhumaketu, was an Indian Gujarati-language writer,[1] who is considered one of the pioneers of the Gujarati short story.
He published twenty-four collections of short stories, as well as thirty-two novels on social and historical subjects, and plays and travelogues.
Through his short story, he gave a new dimension of experience, created characters drawn from different status and professions of life; and introduced a variety of locales and psychological moods.
His other short stories collections include Avashesh (1932), Pradeep (1933), Mallika Ane Biji Vartao (1937),Tribheto (1938), Aakashdeep (1947), Parivesh (1949), Anamika (1949), Vanchhaya (1949), Pratibimba (1951), Vanrekha (1952), Jaldeep (1953), Vankunj (1954), Vanrenu (1956), Mangaldeep (1957), Chandrarekha (1959), Nikunj (1960), Sandhyarang (1961), Sandhyatej (1962), Vasantakunj (1964) and Chhello Jhabakaro (1964).
[6] His historical novels include Chauladevi (1940), Rajsanyasi (1942), Karnavati (1942), Rajkanya (1943), Vachinidevi (1945), Jaysinha Siddharaj: Barbarjishnu (1945), Jaysinha Siddharaj: Tribhuvan Khand (1947), Jaysinha Siddharaj: Avantinath (1948), Gurajareshwar Kumarpal (1948), Rajarshi Kumarpal (1950), Nayikadevi (1951), Rai Karan Ghelo (1952), Ajit Bhimdev (1953), Aamrapali (1954), Nagari Vaishali (1954), Magadhpati (1955), Mahaamatya Chanakya (1955), Chandragupta Maurya (1956), Samrat Chandragupta (1957), Priyadarshi Ashok (1958), Priyadarshi Samrat Ashok (1958), Magadhsenapati Pushpamitra (1959), Kumardevi (1960), Gurjarpati Moolrajdev: 1-2 (1961), Paradhin Gujarat (1962), Bharatsamrat Samudragupta: 1, 2 (1963, 1964), Dhruvdevi (1966).
His social novels include Prutvish (1923), Rajmugat (1924), Rudrasharan (1937), Ajita (1939), Parajay (1939), Jivan Na Khander (1963) and Manzil Nahi Kinara (1964).
Jivanpanth and Jivanrang are two of his autobiographies which provided a vivid glimpse of his past life and an idea of how he became a writer.
He won the rare honour to represent India in a book published in the US with the title Stories From Many Lands.