In the realm of poetic expression, a rare gem emerged from the vibrant culture of Gujarat, India. Bharat D. Thakkar, a masterful wordsmith, has spent over three decades enchanting readers with his profound and soul-stirring poetry. With the support of his friends and family, this eminent poet has transcended linguistic barriers, captivating hearts and minds in both Gujarati and English.

Born with an innate gift for language, Bharat has published five anthologies in his mother tongue, Gujarati, spoken by over fifty million people in India. Among these literary treasures, “Kripa-Sparsh” (Touch of Grace) earned him a gold medal from the Gujarati Literary Conference and a cash prize from the Government of Gujarat in 1968.

Despite being a non-native English speaker, Bharat’s poetic prowess in the language is indisputable. The National Library of Poetry recognized his work as being in the top three percent of over a thousand entries. His verses have been featured in numerous anthologies, including “A Break in the Clouds,” “Coming of Dawn,” “Sea of Treasures,” “Contemporary Poets of America and Britain,” and “Outstanding Poets of 1994.”

In 1964, Bharat immigrated to the United States, bringing his profound insights and artistic talents to a new audience. While pursuing his passion for poetry, he simultaneously excelled in the field of mechanical engineering, earning his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 1967 and 1976, respectively. He has served as a distinguished member of technical staff at AT&T-Bell Laboratories and an Adjunct Professor at his alma mater, Illinois Institute of Technology, as well other esteemed institutions including North Illinois University, Walden University, Midwest College of Engineering, and Argosy University.

A devoted husband to Indira for 45 years and father to two sons, Akhil and Virat, Bharat’s personal and professional lives have harmoniously flourished in Wheaton, Illinois. His remarkable journey serves as a testament to his boundless creativity, determination, and love for poetry.

Bharat Thakkar’s legacy is beautifully preserved in his published works, including the following

• “Soneri Maun” (1964) – “Golden Contemplation” in English, a collection of Gujarati poems
• “Kripa-Sparsh” (1967) – “Grace of Touch” in English, an award-winning collection of Gujarati poems
• “Pramukh Swami Chicago-ma” (1988) – 25 Gujarati poems commemorating Swami Shri’s Dharm Yatra in Chicago
• “Smruti Na Zaran” (1991) – “Streams of Memories” in English, a collection of Gujarati poems
• “Shri Akshar-Purushottam Kavya-Dhara” (1992) – “A Stream of Poems on Lord Akshar-Purushottam” in English, a collection of Gujarati poems
• “Humming Horizons” (1995) – A collection of English poems, ISBN: 0-9645085-1-6
• “Shri Akshar Purushottam Amrut Dhara” (1995) – “An Immortal Stream of Poems on Lord Akshar-Purushottam” in English, a collection of Gujarati poems
• “Goonjati Kshitijo” (1996) – A collection of translated Gujarati poems from “Humming Horizons” by Shri Subhash Shah, Suramya Prakashan, Ahmedabad, India.