gujarati

Gujarati is an Indo-Aryan language of the Gujarati subgroup, spoken primarily in the Indian state of Gujarat and by Gujarati communities around the world. It descends from Shauraseni Prakrit through the medieval Prakrit stages of Apabhramsa and has a long literary history dating to the medieval period. Gujarati is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and serves as the official language of the state of Gujarat.

The language is written in the Gujarati script, an abugida derived from Brahmi. The script is written left to right and is distinct from Devanagari in that most characters lack the characteristic horizontal head stroke along the top.

Gujarati exhibits regional dialects, including Kathiawari, Surti, and Charotari, among others. Modern Gujarati has a standardized form used in education, media, and formal writing, while regional varieties preserve local pronunciation and vocabulary.

Literature in Gujarati ranges from medieval devotional and philosophical poetry to contemporary fiction, journalism, and film. Prominent figures include poets such as Narsinh Mehta and Akho, with later writers contributing to a robust modern canon. Gujarati is widely used in schooling, radio and television, print media, and digital platforms within Gujarat and in many countries where the Gujarati diaspora resides. Diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, North America, East Africa, and beyond maintain linguistic and cultural ties through language education, media, and cultural organizations.