Akho: The poet of protest in the seventeenth century Gujarat

Summary

R. L. Raval’s article profiles the seventeenth‑century Gujarati poet Akho (Akha Bhagat), placing him in the socio‑cultural context of Mughal‑era Gujarat. Although Gujarat was prosperous under Mughal rule, society was marked by rigid hierarchies and religious orthodoxy. Akho’s poetry served as a protest against these injusticesfile:///home/oai/share/520768%20(18)%201-170_compressed.pdf#:~:text=AKHO%20%3A%20THE%20POET%20OF,thriving%20ports%20like%20Cambay%20and. Raval provides a biographical sketch of Akho, an artisan who composed six‑line ‘chhappa’ verses combining vernacular language with profound insight. He analyses poems in which Akho criticises caste arrogance, ritualism and hypocrisy, emphasising inner purity and humility. Raval shows how Akho draws on bhakti traditions and satirically addresses both Hindu and Jain audiences, urging them to transcend sectarian pride. The article highlights Akho’s use of irony and humour and situates his work within a wider pattern of vernacular protest literature. It concludes that Akho’s legacy lies in his ability to blend spiritual devotion with social critique, inspiring later reformers and remaining popular in folk performance.