Amritlal Vegad

Amritlal Vegad (1928–2018) was a celebrated Gujarati and Hindi writer, painter, and environmental activist from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. He studied at Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan, under Nandalal Bose, and became known for his extensive foot-travels (parikrama) along the Narmada River, which he undertook for over 25 years. His profound connection to the river is evident in his acclaimed travelogues, which often feature his personal sketches and collages. Vegad received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2004 for his Gujarati travelogue, `Saundaryani Nadi Narmada`, and was also honored with the Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sahitya Award, Rashtrapati Award, and the Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan award in Hindi. His work, सौन्दर्यस्रोतस्विनी नर्मदा (Soundaryasrotarswini Narmada), reflects his dedication to documenting the river's beauty and significance.