Marathi literature
Encyclopedia
Marathi literature is the body of literature of Marathi
, a Sanskrit-derived language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra
and written in the Devanagari
script.
and Warkari sects. Mahanubhava saints used prose as their main medium, while Warkari saints preferred poetry as the medium. The early saint-poets were Mukundaraj who wrote Vivekasindhu, Dnyaneshwar
(1275–1296) (who wrote Amrutanubhav
and Bhawarthadeepika, which is popularly known as Dnyaneshwari
, a 9000-couplets long commentary on the Bhagavad Gita
) and Namdev
. They were followed by the Warkari saint-poet Eknath
(1528–1599). Mukteswar translated the great epic Mahabharata
into Marathi. Social reformers like saint-poet Tukaram
transformed Marathi into an enriched literary language. Ramdas
's (1608–1681) Dasbodh
and Manache Shlok are well-known products of this tradition.
In the 18th century, several well-known works like Yatharthadeepika (by Vaman Pandit
), Naladamayanti Swayamvara (by Raghunath Pandit
), Pandava Pratap, Harivijay, Ramvijay (by Shridhar Pandit) and Mahabharata
(by Moropant
) were produced. However, the most versatile and voluminous writer among the poets was Moropanta (1729–1794) whose Mahabharata was the first epic poem in Marathi. The historical section of the old Marathi literature was unique as it contained both prose and poetry. The prose section contained the Bakhars that were written after the foundation of the Maratha kingdom by Shivaji. The poetry section contained the Povadas and the Katavas composed by the Shahirs. The period from 1794 to 1818 is regarded as the closing period of the Old Marathi literature and the beginning of the Modern Marathi literature.
The first English Book was translated in Marathi in 1817. The first Marathi newspaper started in 1835. Many books on social reforms were written by Baba Padamji (Yamuna Paryatana, 1857), Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Lokhitwadi
, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade
, Hari Narayan Apte
(1864–1919) etc. Lokmanya Tilak's newspaper Kesari
, set up in 1880, provided a platform for sharing literary views.
Marathi at this time was efficiently aided by Marathi Drama. Here, there also was a different genre called 'Sangit Natya' or Musicals. The first play was V.A. Bhave's Sita Swayamvar in 1843 Later Kirloskar (1843–85) and G.B. Deval (1854-19l6) brought a romantic aroma and social content. But Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar (1872~1948) with his banned play Kichaka-Vadh (1910) set the trend of political playwriting. Later on this "stage" was ably served by stalwarts like Ram Ganesh Gadkari
and Prahlad Keshav Atre
.The Drama Flourished in 60s and 70s with few of the best Indian actors available to take on a variety of protagonists. Mohan Agashe
, Sriram Lagoo, Kashinath Ghanekar
, Prabhakar Panshikar
playing many immortal characters penned by greats like Vasant Kanetkar, Kusumagraj
, vijay Tendulkar
to name a few. This Drama movement was ably supported by Marathi films which did not enjoy a continuous success. Starting with V.Shantaram and before him the pioneer DadaSaheb Phalke
, Marathi cinema went on to influence contemporary Hindi cinema. Director Raja Paranjape
, Music director Sudhir Phadke
, lyricist G.Madgulkar and actor Raja Gosavi
came together to give quite a few hits in later period. Marathi Language as spoken by people here was throughout influenced by drama and cinema along with contemporary literature.
Modern Marathi poetry began with Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's compositions. The later poets like Keshavsuta, Balakavi, Govindagraj, and the poets of Ravi Kiran Mandal like Madhav Julian
wrote poetry which was influenced by the Romantic and Victorian English poetry. It was largely sentimental and lyrical.Prahlad Keshav Atre
, the renowned satirist and a politician wrote a parody of this sort of poetry in his collection Jhenduchi Phule.
Sane Guruji (1899–1950) contributed to the children's literature in Marathi. His major works are Shyamchi Aai
(Shyam's Mother), Astik (Believer), Gode Shevat (The Sweet Ending) etc. He translated and simplified many Western Classics and published them in a book of stories titled Gode Goshti (Sweet Stories). Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar
(1889–1976)'s Yayati
won him the Jnanpith Award
for 1975. He also wrote many other novels, short stories, essays etc. His major works are Don Dhruv (Two Poles), Ulka (Meteorite), Krounchavadh, Jalalela Mohar, Amrutvel.
The major paradigm
shift in sensibility began in the forties with the avant-garde modernist poetry of B.S. Mardhekar. In the mid fifties, the 'little magazine movement
' gained momentum. It published writings which were non-conformist, radical and experimental. Dalit literary movement also gained strength due to the little magazine movement. This radical movement was influenced by the philosophy of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and challenged the literary establishment which was largely middle class, urban, and upper caste
people. The little magazine movement threw up many excellent writers. Bhalchandra Nemade
is a well known novelist, critic and poet. Dr.Sharad Rane is a well known bal-sahityakar. The poetry of Arun Kolatkar
, Dilip Chitre
, Namdeo Dhasal
, Vasant Abaji Dahake
, Manohar Oak
and many other modernist poets is complex, rich and provokative. Bhau Padhye
, Vilas Sarang
, Shyam Manohar, Suhas Shirvalkar and Visharm Bedekar are well known fiction writers.
The another major paradigm shift in Marathi
sensibility began in the nineties with the another avant-garde modernist poetry of poets associated with Abhidhanantar and Shabadavedh. In the post nineties, this 'new little magazine movement' gained momentum and poets like Manya Joshi
, Hemant Divate
, Sachin Ketkar, Mangesh Narayanrao Kale
, Saleel Wagh
, Mohan Borse, Nitin Kulkarni, Nitin Arun Kulkarni, Varjesh Solanki
, Sandeep Deshpande, Vasant Gurjar touched the new areas of post-modern life. The poetry collections broughtout by Abhidhanantar Prakashan and the regular issues of the magazine Abhidhanantar is taking Marathi poetry to the global standards. Another leading wave in contemporary Marathi poetry is the poetry of non-urban poets like Arun Kale, Bhujang Meshram, Pravin Bandekar, Shrikant Deshmukh, Veerdhaval Parab etc. They insist on native values in their poetry.
Marathi is also one of the few Indian
languages (and possibly the only one) where there is a stream of science fiction literature. A few well known Marathi science fiction authors are Dr. Jayant Narlikar, Dr Bal Phondke
, Subodh Javadekar, and Laxman Londhe.
Marathi language is rich in producing encyclopedias or 'kosh'. Shreedhar Venkatesh Ketkar's
'Dnyaankosh', Siddheshwarshastri Chitrao's 'Charitra Kosh', Mahadevshastri Joshi's
'Bharatiy Sanskrutikosh', and Laxmanshastri Joshi's
'Dharmakosh' and 'Vishwakosh' are reputed encyclopaedias in Marathi.
Many writers like Dnyaneshwar Mulay have added new dimensions and enriched Marathi with their literary talent. His autobiographical book 'Maati Pankh Aani Aakaash' was considered to be among the best ten autobiographies of last 100 years in Marathi by a survey conducted by Antarnaad
, a respected martahi literary magazine. His other books are 'Russia Navya Dishanche Amantran' a book that captures post 1992 Russia
. It is popular because it is probably the only work of its kind in Marathi. His recent poetry collection 'Swatahteel Awakash' won the state literary award of governmment of Maharashtra
. He writes regular columns in Marathi dailies like Lokmat
and Loksatta
and Sadhana
, weekly published from Pune
.
:
On 24 October 1841, Govind Vithal Kunte began Prabhakar. Kunte was the first professional Marathi journalist. Prabhakar eulogised Indian art and culture.
Jnyanodaya was begun in 1842 by Christian missionaries in Western India.
Jnyan Prakash was begun on 12 February 1849 in Pune. It was edited by Krishnaraj Trimbak Ranade. It was a weekly till 1904, when it became a daily. It ceased publication in 1951. It was a prestigious journal and supported education and social reform. Hari Narayan Apte, a famous Marathi novelist served as its editor. Some of its contributors included Mahadev Govind Ranade and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
In the early years of Marathi journalism, most periodicals were concerned with spreading education and knowledge. These include Jaganmitra (from Ratnagiri), Shubh Suchak (from Satara), Vartaman Dipika, Vartaman Sangrah.
In 1862, Induprakash was begun in Bombay (now Mumbai). It was a bilingual journal, edited by M.G. Ranade. It criticised orthodoxy and was the mouthpiece of many social reforms.
In 1877, Jyotiba Phule and Krishnarao Bhaskar began Deenabandhu, as part of the Dalit upliftment movement. Deenabandhu was the organ of the Satyashodhak Samaj founded by Phule.
On 4 January 1881, Bal Gangadhar Tilak began Kesari, along with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
In 1887, Agarkar left to start Sudharak (bilingual) along with Gopal Krishna Gokhale. After Agarkar's death in 1895, it ceased publication.
In 1889, K. Navalkar started the weekly Vartahar to highlight atrocities committed by Europeans.
In 1890, Haribhau Apte began Karmanuk as a family entertainment paper. It contained articles on science.
In 1890, Anandrao Ramachandra Dharandhar started Bhoot published every new and full moon day. It was the first Marathi paper to carry cartoons on political and social matters. It was very popular but ceased publication in 1904.
gives the Sahitya Akademi Award
to Marathi writers for their outstanding contribution to Marathi literature.
Winners of the Award along with their books are :
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
, a Sanskrit-derived language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
and written in the Devanagari
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
script.
Early Marathi Literature (before 1800)
Though the earliest known Marathi inscription found at the foot of the statue at Shravanabelgola in Karnataka is dated c. 983, the Marathi literature actually started with the religious writings by the saint-poets belonging to MahanubhavaMahanubhava
Mahanubhav- Hindu sects in maharashtra mainly in amaravati district started by Chakradhar Swami in 1267. Chakradhar Swami propagated a religious movement as well as social movement, in which all were accepted irrespective of their castes and the traditional ritualistic religion was...
and Warkari sects. Mahanubhava saints used prose as their main medium, while Warkari saints preferred poetry as the medium. The early saint-poets were Mukundaraj who wrote Vivekasindhu, Dnyaneshwar
Dnyaneshwar
Dnyāneshwar , also known as Jñanadeva , was born into a Deshastha Brahmin Kulkarni family.He was a 13th century Maharashtrian Hindu saint , poet, philosopher and yogi of the Nath tradition whose works Bhavartha deepika teeka ,...
(1275–1296) (who wrote Amrutanubhav
Amrutanubhav
Amrutanubhav or Amritanubhav is a composition by the Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar during the 13th century. It is considered to be a milestone in Marathi literature.-Etymology of the name:...
and Bhawarthadeepika, which is popularly known as Dnyaneshwari
Dnyaneshwari
The Dnyaneshwari is the commentary on Bhagavad Gita written by Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar during the 13th century at age 16...
, a 9000-couplets long commentary on the Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita
The ' , also more simply known as Gita, is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the ancient Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata, but is frequently treated as a freestanding text, and in particular, as an Upanishad in its own right, one of the several books that constitute general Vedic tradition...
) and Namdev
Namdev
Sant Namdeo or Bhagat Namdeo was born on October 29, 1270 in the state of Maharashtra village of Narasi-Bamani, in Hingoli district . His father, a calico printer/tailor, was named Damshet and his mother's name was Gonabai...
. They were followed by the Warkari saint-poet Eknath
Eknath
Eknath was a prominent Marathi scholar and religious poet. He is called a "sant" in the Marathi tradition as are most other religious poets...
(1528–1599). Mukteswar translated the great epic Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
into Marathi. Social reformers like saint-poet Tukaram
Tukaram
Sant Tukaram was a prominent Varkari Sant and spiritual poet during a Bhakti movement in India.Sant Tukaram was born and lived most of his life in Dehu, a town close to Pune in Mahārāshtra, India. He was born to a couple with the family name "More", the descendent of the Mourya Clan with first...
transformed Marathi into an enriched literary language. Ramdas
Ramdas
Ramdas or Ram Das may refer to:*S. A. Ramadass, a MLA from Karnataka, India*Samarth Ramdas or Samartha Ramdas Swami, a 17th-century Hindu saint from Maharashtra, who was a devotee of Lord Rama and the spiritual guru of Maratha king Shivaji*Ramadasu, a 17th-century Hindu devotee from Andhra...
's (1608–1681) Dasbodh
Dasbodh
Dāsbodh , loosely meaning advise to the disciple, is a classical 17th Century Hindu Advaita Vedanta spiritual text. It was orally narrated by saint Samarth Ramdas, spiritual advisor of the famous King Shivaji, to his disciple Kalyan Swami. The narration is believed to have taken place in a cave...
and Manache Shlok are well-known products of this tradition.
In the 18th century, several well-known works like Yatharthadeepika (by Vaman Pandit
Vaman Pandit
Vaman Pandit was a Marathi scholar and poet of India. Some sources say that his family hailed from Nanded but had moved to Dharwad where Vaman Pandit was born and grew up. Later he migrated to Kashi for a significant period of his life. His most significant work, the Yatharthadipika is a...
), Naladamayanti Swayamvara (by Raghunath Pandit
Raghunath Pandit
Raghunath Pandit was a Marathi poet who was active around the year 1800.Marathi poetry went through a phase where text drew heavily on religious mythology and was dominated by language influenced by Sanskrit, a language which few in contemporary times understand. This literature is called...
), Pandava Pratap, Harivijay, Ramvijay (by Shridhar Pandit) and Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
(by Moropant
Moropant
Moreshwar Ramji Paradkar , popularly known in Maharashtra as Moropant or Mayur Pandit , was a Marathi poet who was the last among those classified by Marathi literary scholars as pandit poets...
) were produced. However, the most versatile and voluminous writer among the poets was Moropanta (1729–1794) whose Mahabharata was the first epic poem in Marathi. The historical section of the old Marathi literature was unique as it contained both prose and poetry. The prose section contained the Bakhars that were written after the foundation of the Maratha kingdom by Shivaji. The poetry section contained the Povadas and the Katavas composed by the Shahirs. The period from 1794 to 1818 is regarded as the closing period of the Old Marathi literature and the beginning of the Modern Marathi literature.
Modern Period (after 1800)
The period of the late 19th century in Maharashtra is the period of colonial modernity. Like the corresponding periods in the other Indian languages, this was the period dominated by the English educated intellectuals. It was the age of prose and reason. It was the period of reformist diadicticism and a great intellectual ferment.The first English Book was translated in Marathi in 1817. The first Marathi newspaper started in 1835. Many books on social reforms were written by Baba Padamji (Yamuna Paryatana, 1857), Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Lokhitwadi
Gopal Hari Deshmukh
Gopal Hari Deshmukh was a social reformer from Maharashtra, India.-Career:Deshmukh started his career as a translator for the government then under British Raj. In 1867, the government appointed him a small cause judge in Ahmedabad, Gujarat...
, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade
Mahadev Govind Ranade
Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer and author. He was a founding member of the Indian National Congress and owned several designations as member of the Bombay legislative council, member of the finance committee at the centre, and the judge of Bombay...
, Hari Narayan Apte
Hari Narayan Apte
Hari Narayan Apte was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.Through his writings, he provided an eminent example to future Marathi fiction writers in respect of writing effective novels and short stories which faithfully reflect different aspects of contemporary society...
(1864–1919) etc. Lokmanya Tilak's newspaper Kesari
Kesari
This article is about the Marathi newspaper. For other uses of the word, see Kesari Kesari is a newspaper founded by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, a prominent leader of the Indian Independence movement....
, set up in 1880, provided a platform for sharing literary views.
Marathi at this time was efficiently aided by Marathi Drama. Here, there also was a different genre called 'Sangit Natya' or Musicals. The first play was V.A. Bhave's Sita Swayamvar in 1843 Later Kirloskar (1843–85) and G.B. Deval (1854-19l6) brought a romantic aroma and social content. But Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar (1872~1948) with his banned play Kichaka-Vadh (1910) set the trend of political playwriting. Later on this "stage" was ably served by stalwarts like Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari was a Marathi poet, playwright, and humorist from Maharashtra, India.Ram Ganesh Gadkari was one of the writers in new age transformation in Marathi Literature. He wrote poetry under the pen name Govindagraj and humorous articles under the pen name Balakram...
and Prahlad Keshav Atre
Prahlad Keshav Atre
Prahlād Keshav Atre , popularly known as Āchārya Atre , was a multi-faceted Indian figure. He was a prominent Marathi writer, a poet, an educationist, a newspaper founder–editor of Maratha , a political leader, a movie producer–director–script writer...
.The Drama Flourished in 60s and 70s with few of the best Indian actors available to take on a variety of protagonists. Mohan Agashe
Mohan Agashe
Mohan Agashe is an Indian theatre and film actor. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1996.-Biography:...
, Sriram Lagoo, Kashinath Ghanekar
Kashinath Ghanekar
Kashinath Ghanekar was an actor in Marathi films in the 1960s. He did extensive work on stage dramas.-Filmography:...
, Prabhakar Panshikar
Prabhakar Panshikar
Prabhakar Panshikar was an Indian stage actor. His role as Lakhoba Lokhande in the drama To Mi Navhech is considered to be one of the most memorable roles presented so far on the Marathi stage...
playing many immortal characters penned by greats like Vasant Kanetkar, Kusumagraj
Kusumagraj
Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar , popularly known by his pen name, Kusumāgraj , was an eminent Marathi poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, apart from being a humanist, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived, In a career spanning five decades starting in...
, vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi...
to name a few. This Drama movement was ably supported by Marathi films which did not enjoy a continuous success. Starting with V.Shantaram and before him the pioneer DadaSaheb Phalke
Dadasaheb Phalke
Dhundiraj Govind Phalke, popularly known as Dadasaheb Phalke was an Indian producer-director-screenwriter, known as the father of Indian cinema...
, Marathi cinema went on to influence contemporary Hindi cinema. Director Raja Paranjape
Raja Paranjape
Raja Paranjape was an Indian actor, director, producer and writer in the Marathi film and Hindi film industries.-Career:In a career spanning 40 years, Paranjape was associated with about 80 Marathi and Hindi films....
, Music director Sudhir Phadke
Sudhir Phadke
Sudhir Phadke was an accomplished Marathi singer-composer from India. He was regarded as an icon of the Marathi film industry and Marathi Sugam Sangeet for five decades...
, lyricist G.Madgulkar and actor Raja Gosavi
Raja Gosavi
Raja Gosavi was a Marathi film and Theater actor who led the Marathi Film Industry and Theater for almost four decades. He has performed in 79 films including Marathi and Hindi.- External links :...
came together to give quite a few hits in later period. Marathi Language as spoken by people here was throughout influenced by drama and cinema along with contemporary literature.
Modern Marathi poetry began with Mahatma Jyotiba Phule's compositions. The later poets like Keshavsuta, Balakavi, Govindagraj, and the poets of Ravi Kiran Mandal like Madhav Julian
Madhav Julian
Madhav Julian was the pen name which Madhav Trimbak Patwardhan used in writing Marathi poetry.He hailed from Maharashtra, India.-Biography:...
wrote poetry which was influenced by the Romantic and Victorian English poetry. It was largely sentimental and lyrical.Prahlad Keshav Atre
Prahlad Keshav Atre
Prahlād Keshav Atre , popularly known as Āchārya Atre , was a multi-faceted Indian figure. He was a prominent Marathi writer, a poet, an educationist, a newspaper founder–editor of Maratha , a political leader, a movie producer–director–script writer...
, the renowned satirist and a politician wrote a parody of this sort of poetry in his collection Jhenduchi Phule.
Sane Guruji (1899–1950) contributed to the children's literature in Marathi. His major works are Shyamchi Aai
Shyamchi Aai
Shyamchi Aai is hailed as one of the greatest tribute to mother's love in Marathi literature. This book has been written by famous author and social activist Sane Guruji....
(Shyam's Mother), Astik (Believer), Gode Shevat (The Sweet Ending) etc. He translated and simplified many Western Classics and published them in a book of stories titled Gode Goshti (Sweet Stories). Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar
Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar
Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar was an eminent Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Early life:...
(1889–1976)'s Yayati
Yayati
Yayati was a Puranic king and the son of king Nahusha and one of ancestors of Pandavas. He was a great scholar of Vedas. He had five brothers, Yati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati and Kriti. He had two wives, Devayani and Sharmishtha. Devayani was the daughter of Shukracharya, the priest of Asuras ....
won him the Jnanpith Award
Jnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country...
for 1975. He also wrote many other novels, short stories, essays etc. His major works are Don Dhruv (Two Poles), Ulka (Meteorite), Krounchavadh, Jalalela Mohar, Amrutvel.
The major paradigm
Paradigm
The word paradigm has been used in science to describe distinct concepts. It comes from Greek "παράδειγμα" , "pattern, example, sample" from the verb "παραδείκνυμι" , "exhibit, represent, expose" and that from "παρά" , "beside, beyond" + "δείκνυμι" , "to show, to point out".The original Greek...
shift in sensibility began in the forties with the avant-garde modernist poetry of B.S. Mardhekar. In the mid fifties, the 'little magazine movement
Little magazine movement
Little magazines, often called "small magazines" are literary magazines which publish experimental and non-conformist writings of relatively unknown writers. They are usually noncommercial in their outlook. They are often very irregular in their publication...
' gained momentum. It published writings which were non-conformist, radical and experimental. Dalit literary movement also gained strength due to the little magazine movement. This radical movement was influenced by the philosophy of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and challenged the literary establishment which was largely middle class, urban, and upper caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
people. The little magazine movement threw up many excellent writers. Bhalchandra Nemade
Bhalchandra Nemade
Bhalchandra Vanaji Nemade is a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Life:Nemade was born in 1938 in the village of Sangavi in Khandesh. He received his bachelor's degree from Fergusson College in Pune and Master's degree in Linguistics from Deccan College in Pune and English Literature from...
is a well known novelist, critic and poet. Dr.Sharad Rane is a well known bal-sahityakar. The poetry of Arun Kolatkar
Arun Kolatkar
Arun Balkrishna Kolatkar was a poet from Maharashtra, India. Writing in both Marathi and English, his poems found humor in many everyday matters. His poetry had an influence on modern Marathi poets...
, Dilip Chitre
Dilip Chitre
Dilip Purushottam Chitre was one of the foremost Indian writers and critics to emerge in the post Independence India. Apart from being a very important bilingual writer, writing in Marathi and English, he was also a painter and filmmaker.-Biography:He was born in Baroda on 17 September 1938...
, Namdeo Dhasal
Namdeo Dhasal
Namdeo Laxman Dhasal is a Marathi writer and Dalit activist from Maharashtra, India.-Biography:Dhasal was born on February 15, 1949, in a village near Pune, India. A member of the Mahar Dalit class, he grew up in dire poverty...
, Vasant Abaji Dahake
Vasant Abaji Dahake
Vasant Abaji Dahake is a Marathi poet, playwright, short story writer, artist, and critic from Amaravati district in the Maharashtra state of India. He is awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection ` Chitralipi' for the year 2009....
, Manohar Oak
Manohar Oak
Manohar Shankar Oak was a Marathi poet, novelist, and translator from Maharashtra, India.Oak led a Bohemian life style. An influence of English poets like Allen Ginsberg can be discerned in his poetry...
and many other modernist poets is complex, rich and provokative. Bhau Padhye
Bhau Padhye
Prabhakar Narayan Padhye , popularly known as Bhau Padhye , was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India....
, Vilas Sarang
Vilas Sarang
Vilas Sarang is one of the most significant modernist Indian writer, critic and translator to emerge in the post-independence period....
, Shyam Manohar, Suhas Shirvalkar and Visharm Bedekar are well known fiction writers.
The another major paradigm shift in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
sensibility began in the nineties with the another avant-garde modernist poetry of poets associated with Abhidhanantar and Shabadavedh. In the post nineties, this 'new little magazine movement' gained momentum and poets like Manya Joshi
Manya Joshi
-Biography:Manya Joshi was born in 1972. He has Master's in Marathi Literature from Mumbai University and a Master's in Library and Information Studies from the University of Oklahoma, USA. He works as a freelance library research advisor and copywriter...
, Hemant Divate
Hemant Divate
Hemant Divate is a reputed Marathi poet, translator and publisher based in Mumbai.- Biography :Hemant Divate is an avant-garde poet, a reputed editor, publisher and translator....
, Sachin Ketkar, Mangesh Narayanrao Kale
Mangesh Narayanrao Kale
- Biography :Mangesh Narayanrao Kale was born in Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, in 1966. He is a post graduate in journalism and Hindi. As a journalist, he started his career with the Marathi daily ‘Marathwada’. Later he started own daily, ‘Khandesh’. He now works in publishing and printing...
, Saleel Wagh
Saleel Wagh
Saleel Wagh is a Marathi poet, translator and critic based in Pune.-Biography:Saleel Wagh was born in 1967 in Rajkot, Gujarat. His collections include Nivadak Kavita, Sadhyachya Kavita, Aadhichya Kavita a Marathi translation of a major Hindi poet Shamsher Bahadur Singh and Blog Pahila, a...
, Mohan Borse, Nitin Kulkarni, Nitin Arun Kulkarni, Varjesh Solanki
Varjesh Solanki
-Biography:Varjesh Solanki was born in 1967. He has two collections of poems to his credit: i) Varjesh Solankichya Kavita and ii) Ta Ta Pa Pa both published by Abhidhanantar Prakashan, Mumbai....
, Sandeep Deshpande, Vasant Gurjar touched the new areas of post-modern life. The poetry collections broughtout by Abhidhanantar Prakashan and the regular issues of the magazine Abhidhanantar is taking Marathi poetry to the global standards. Another leading wave in contemporary Marathi poetry is the poetry of non-urban poets like Arun Kale, Bhujang Meshram, Pravin Bandekar, Shrikant Deshmukh, Veerdhaval Parab etc. They insist on native values in their poetry.
Marathi is also one of the few Indian
Languages of India
The languages of India belong to several language families, the major ones being the Indo-European languages—Indo-Aryan and the Dravidian languages...
languages (and possibly the only one) where there is a stream of science fiction literature. A few well known Marathi science fiction authors are Dr. Jayant Narlikar, Dr Bal Phondke
Bal Phondke
Bal Phondke is the nom-de-plume of Dr Gajanan Phondke, a leading writer in Marathi. His specialty is science literature .He is credited along with Dr Jayant Narlikar to have started the science fiction genre of writing in Marathi literature. He has worked as a nuclear biologist at the Bhabha...
, Subodh Javadekar, and Laxman Londhe.
Marathi language is rich in producing encyclopedias or 'kosh'. Shreedhar Venkatesh Ketkar's
Shridhar Venkatesh Ketkar
Shridhar Venkatesh Ketkar was a sociologist, historian and novelist from Maharashtra, India...
'Dnyaankosh', Siddheshwarshastri Chitrao's 'Charitra Kosh', Mahadevshastri Joshi's
Mahadevshastri Joshi
Mahadevshastri Joshi was a Marathi writer.Joshi was born on January 12, 1906 in the town of Ambede in Goa...
'Bharatiy Sanskrutikosh', and Laxmanshastri Joshi's
Laxmanshastri Balaji Joshi
Laxmanshastri Balaji Joshi was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Biography:He was born in the town of Pimpalner in Dhule District on January 27, 1901....
'Dharmakosh' and 'Vishwakosh' are reputed encyclopaedias in Marathi.
Many writers like Dnyaneshwar Mulay have added new dimensions and enriched Marathi with their literary talent. His autobiographical book 'Maati Pankh Aani Aakaash' was considered to be among the best ten autobiographies of last 100 years in Marathi by a survey conducted by Antarnaad
Antarnaad
Antarnaad was a 1991 Hindi film made by Shyam Benegal, based on the Swadhyay Movement by Pandurang Shastri Athavale. Arati Ankalikar-Tikekar was the playback singer for this film. She received The Indian National Award in the category of 'Best Playback Singer'.-Cast:* Kulbhushan Kharbanda* Girish...
, a respected martahi literary magazine. His other books are 'Russia Navya Dishanche Amantran' a book that captures post 1992 Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It is popular because it is probably the only work of its kind in Marathi. His recent poetry collection 'Swatahteel Awakash' won the state literary award of governmment of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
. He writes regular columns in Marathi dailies like Lokmat
Lokmat
Lokmat is the largest read & circulated Marathi language newspaper. It is the fifth largest Indian daily and in Marathi, it is the largest selling daily with 1.58 million copies a day. As per IRS 2010 Q3, Lokmat has a total readership of 23.67 million...
and Loksatta
Loksatta (newspaper)
-Introduction:Launched on January 14, 1948, Loksatta has stood by its tradition of being a forum and voice of democracy in Maharashtra, India. Published by The Indian Express Group, a champion of change, Loksatta is known for its impartial coverage and nonconformist & liberal viewpoint...
and Sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
, weekly published from Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
.
Dnyananpith award
Three Marathi writers have been honored by the Jnanpith AwardJnanpith Award
The Jnanpith Award is a literary award in India. Along with the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, it is one of the two most prestigious literary honours in the country...
:
- Vishnu Sakharam KhandekarVishnu Sakharam KhandekarVishnu Sakharam Khandekar was an eminent Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Early life:...
- Vishnu Vaman ShirwadkarKusumagrajVishnu Vāman Shirwādkar , popularly known by his pen name, Kusumāgraj , was an eminent Marathi poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, apart from being a humanist, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived, In a career spanning five decades starting in...
(Kusumagraj) - Vinda KarandikarVinda KarandikarGovind Vināyak Karandikar , better known as Vindā Karandikar , was a well-known Marathi poet and writer. He was also an essayist, literary critic, and a translator....
Marathi Journalism
On January 6, 1832, Bal Shastri Jambhekar began Darpan, a Marathi-English fortnightly magazine. By May 1832 it became an 8 page weekly. It was the first medium of Marathi expression.On 24 October 1841, Govind Vithal Kunte began Prabhakar. Kunte was the first professional Marathi journalist. Prabhakar eulogised Indian art and culture.
Jnyanodaya was begun in 1842 by Christian missionaries in Western India.
Jnyan Prakash was begun on 12 February 1849 in Pune. It was edited by Krishnaraj Trimbak Ranade. It was a weekly till 1904, when it became a daily. It ceased publication in 1951. It was a prestigious journal and supported education and social reform. Hari Narayan Apte, a famous Marathi novelist served as its editor. Some of its contributors included Mahadev Govind Ranade and Gopal Krishna Gokhale.
In the early years of Marathi journalism, most periodicals were concerned with spreading education and knowledge. These include Jaganmitra (from Ratnagiri), Shubh Suchak (from Satara), Vartaman Dipika, Vartaman Sangrah.
In 1862, Induprakash was begun in Bombay (now Mumbai). It was a bilingual journal, edited by M.G. Ranade. It criticised orthodoxy and was the mouthpiece of many social reforms.
In 1877, Jyotiba Phule and Krishnarao Bhaskar began Deenabandhu, as part of the Dalit upliftment movement. Deenabandhu was the organ of the Satyashodhak Samaj founded by Phule.
On 4 January 1881, Bal Gangadhar Tilak began Kesari, along with Gopal Ganesh Agarkar.
In 1887, Agarkar left to start Sudharak (bilingual) along with Gopal Krishna Gokhale. After Agarkar's death in 1895, it ceased publication.
In 1889, K. Navalkar started the weekly Vartahar to highlight atrocities committed by Europeans.
In 1890, Haribhau Apte began Karmanuk as a family entertainment paper. It contained articles on science.
In 1890, Anandrao Ramachandra Dharandhar started Bhoot published every new and full moon day. It was the first Marathi paper to carry cartoons on political and social matters. It was very popular but ceased publication in 1904.
Sahitya Akademi Awards in Marathi
Every year, Sahitya AkademiSahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
gives the Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award
Sahitya Akademi Award is a literary honor in India which Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, annually confers on writers of outstanding works in one of the following twenty-four major Indian languagesAssamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri,...
to Marathi writers for their outstanding contribution to Marathi literature.
Winners of the Award along with their books are :
| Year | Author | Book |
|---|---|---|
| Tarkateertha Laxman Shastri Joshi | 'Vaidik Sanskruticha Vikas' | |
| B. S. Mardhekar | 'Saundarya ani Sahitya' | |
| 1957 | (No Award) | |
| 1958 | Chintamanrao Kolhatkar | 'Bahurupee' |
| 1959 | G.T.Deshpande | 'Bharatiya Sahityashastra' |
| 1960 | Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar was an eminent Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Early life:... |
'Yayati' |
| 1961 | D.N.Gokhale | 'Dr.Ketkar' |
| P.Y.Deshpande | 'Anamikachi Chintanika' | |
| S. N. Pendse | 'Rathachakra' | |
| 1964 | Ranjit Desai Ranjit Desai Ranjit Desai was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.He was born in 1928 in the town of Kowad in Kolhapur district of Maharashtra.-Novels:* Bari* Maza Gav* Swami* Shriman Yogi* Radheya* Lakshya Wedh* Samidha... |
'Swami' |
| P.L.Deshpande | 'Vyakti ani Valli' | |
| T S Shejwalkar | 'Shri Shiv Chhatrapati' | |
| N.G.Kelkar | 'Bhasha : Itihas ani Bhoogol' | |
| Irawati Karve Irawati Karve Irawati Karve was an Indian anthropologist, educationist, and a writer from Maharashtra, India. She was born at Irawati to G. H. Karmarkar, engineer in Myingyan, Burma, so as to commemorate birth place secrede river iravati, she was given name 'Iravati'... |
'Yugant' | |
| S.N.Banhatti | 'Natyacharya Deval' | |
| N.R.Phatak | 'Adarsh Bharat Sevak' | |
| Durga Bhagwat Durga Bhagwat Durga Narayan Bhagwat , popularly known as Durga Bhagwat, was an Indian scholar, socialist and writer. She studied Sanskrit and Buddhist literature, roamed jungles of Madhya Pradesh to study tribal life, later returned to Mumbai as a researcher and wrote books in Marathi... |
'Pais' | |
| 1972 | Godavari Parulekar | 'Jevha Manus Jaga Hoto' |
| G. A. Kulkarni G. A. Kulkarni G. A. Kulkarni or simply "GA" , was a legendary Marathi writer of short stories.GA grew up in Belgaum. After earning his masters degree, he taught English at JSS College in Dharwad for about 30 years. He had very strong liking for Dharwad and Belgaum. For medical treatment of his eyes, he... |
'Kajalmaya' | |
| Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar | 'Natasamrat' | |
| R.B.Patankar | 'Soundarya Mimansa' | |
| G. N. Dandekar G. N. Dandekar Gopal Nilkanth Dandekar was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.Dandekar was born in Paratwadain Amravati district.... |
'Smarangatha' | |
| A.R.Deshpande 'Anil' | 'Dashapadi' | |
| C.T.Khanolkar 'Arati Prabhu' | 'Nakshatranche Dene' | |
| Sharadchandra Muktibodh | 'Srushti, Saundarya ani Sahityamulya' | |
| 1980 | Mangesh Padgaonkar | 'Salaam' |
| 1981 | Laxman Mane Laxman Mane Laxman Bapu Mane is a Marathi writer and a social activitist from Maharashtra, India. Mane came to sudden fame after publishing his autobiography Upara, , in 1980... |
'Upara' |
| Prabhakar Padhye | 'Saundaryanubhav' | |
| Vyankatesh Madgulkar | 'Sattantar' | |
| Indira Sant Indira Sant Indira Sant was a Marathi poetess from Maharashtra, India.She was born on January 4, 1914, as Indira Dikshit in the small town of India, Karnataka.... |
'Garbhareshmi' | |
| 1985 | Vishram Bedekar Vishram Bedekar Vishwanath Chintamani Bedekar , who professionally used the name Vishram Bedekar , was a Marathi writer and movie director from Maharashtra, India.... |
'Ek Zad ani Don Pakshi' |
| 1986 | N.G.Deshpande | 'khoon Gathi' |
| R.C.Dhere | 'Shri Vitthal : Ek Mahasamanvay' | |
| Laxman Gaikwad | 'Uchalya' | |
| Prabhakar Urdhwareshe | 'Haravlele Diwas' | |
| 1990 | Anand Yadav Anand Yadav Anand RatanYadav is a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.He was born on November 30, 1935 in the village Kagal near Kolhapur, Maharastra in a poor family. His illiterate farmer father was not in favor of educating him... |
'Zombi' |
| Bhalchandra Nemade Bhalchandra Nemade Bhalchandra Vanaji Nemade is a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.-Life:Nemade was born in 1938 in the village of Sangavi in Khandesh. He received his bachelor's degree from Fergusson College in Pune and Master's degree in Linguistics from Deccan College in Pune and English Literature from... |
'Teeka Svayanwar' | |
| 1992 | Vishwas Patil | 'Zada Zadati' |
| Vijaya Rajadhyaksha | 'Mardhekaranchi Kavita' | |
| Dilip Chitre Dilip Chitre Dilip Purushottam Chitre was one of the foremost Indian writers and critics to emerge in the post Independence India. Apart from being a very important bilingual writer, writing in Marathi and English, he was also a painter and filmmaker.-Biography:He was born in Baroda on 17 September 1938... |
'Ekun Kavita - 1' | |
| Namdeo Kamble | 'Raghava vel' | |
| Gangadhar Gadgil Gangadhar Gadgil Gangadhar Gopal Gadgil was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.He was born in Mumbai in 1923... |
'Eka Mungiche Mahabharat' | |
| M.V.Dhond | 'Dnyaneshwaritil Laukik Srushti' | |
| 1998 | Sadanand More | 'Tukaram Darshan' |
| Ranganath Pathare | 'Tamrapat' | |
| N.D.Mahanor | 'Panzad' | |
| Rajan Gavas | 'Tanakat' | |
| Mahesh Elkunchwar Mahesh Elkunchwar Mahesh Elkunchwar is an Indian playwright with more than 15 plays to his name, in addition to his theoretical writings, critical works, and his active work in India's Parallel Cinema as actor and screenwriter.... |
'Yugant' | |
| T.V.Sardeshmukh | 'Dangora Eka Nagaricha' | |
| 2004 | Sadanand Deshmukh Sadanand Deshmukh Sadanand Namdev Deshmukh is a Marathi language author. He was awarded with Sahitya Akademi Award in 2004 for his novel Baromas.-References:... |
'Baromas' |
| 2005 | Arun Kolatkar Arun Kolatkar Arun Balkrishna Kolatkar was a poet from Maharashtra, India. Writing in both Marathi and English, his poems found humor in many everyday matters. His poetry had an influence on modern Marathi poets... |
'Bhijaki Vahi' |
| Asha Bage | 'Bhoomi' | |
| Shyam Manohar | 'Utsuktene Mee zopalo' | |
| 2009 | Vasant Abaji Dahake Vasant Abaji Dahake Vasant Abaji Dahake is a Marathi poet, playwright, short story writer, artist, and critic from Amaravati district in the Maharashtra state of India. He is awarded Sahitya Akademi Award for his collection ` Chitralipi' for the year 2009.... |
'Chitralipi' |