Ranchhodbhai Udayaram Dave (9 August 1837 – 9 April 1923) was a Gujarati playwright, producer and translator.
[1] He was born on 9 August 1837 in a Khedawal Brahmin family in Mahudha near Nadiad (now in Gujarat, India).
He was awarded Huzoor Assistant by Khengarji III of Cutch State and later appointed a minister (Diwan).
Dave was not happy with the adult-comedy being performed in traditional-folk Gujarati play form called Bhavai.
Lalita Dukh Darsak (1866) is a great example of his themes and his ability to address social reforms in his work.
It was about an educated girl marrying an illiterate boy and thus passing through social and emotional trial which at the end result in his death.
[3] He translated Rasmala Vol I, II (1870, 1892), the history from 8th century to arrival of British and folk literature of Gujarat by Alexander Kinloch Forbes, in Gujarati in 1869.
[7] His translations from Sanskrit plays include Malvikagnimitra (1870), Vikramorvarshiya-trotak (1868), Ratnavali (1889) as well as Gujarati Hitopadesh (1889), Laghusiddhantkaumudi (1874).