In 1967, he received the Sahitya Akademi Award, and in 1973, the Ranjitram Suvarna Chandrak, for his contribution to the study of Gujarati language and linguistics.

He initially missed out on graduate studies due to participating in the Indian independence movement of 1942, which led to him being jailed for six months.

Later, he went to London and joined the School of Oriental and African Studies, where he worked under the guidance of linguist Ralph Lilley Turner for his doctorate.

His interest in linguistics brought him into contact with Jules Bloch, who inspired him to study various Indian dialects.

During this time he taught as a visiting lecturer at several academic institutions including the Michigan, Nairobi, Berkeley, and Cornell's respective universities.