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Kusumagraj

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Kusumāgraj
Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar
विष्णू वामन शिरवाडकर
5
Portrait of Kusumagraj
Born(1912-02-27)27 February 1912
Poona,Bombay Presidency,British India
(present dayMaharashtra, India)
Died10 March 1999(1999-03-10)(aged 87)
Nashik,Maharashtra, India
NationalityBritish Indian(1912–1947)
India(1947–1999)
Occupation(s)Poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, humanist
Notable workVishakha
Natsamrat
AwardsPadma Bhushan(1991)
Jnanpith Award(1987)
Sahitya Akademi Award(1974)
Websitekusumagraj.org

Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar(27 February 1912 – 10 March 1999), popularly known by his pen name,Kusumāgraj,was aMarathipoet, playwright, novelist and short story writer, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived.[1]

In a career spanning five decades starting in India's pre-independence era, he wrote 16 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays.[2]His works like theVishakha(1942), a collection of lyrics, inspired a generation into theIndian freedom movement,and is today considered one of the masterpieces ofIndian literature.[3]

He was the recipient of the 1974Sahitya Akademi Awardin Marathi forNatsamrat,Padma Bhushan(1991)[4]and theJnanapith Awardin 1987.[5]

He also served as the President of theAkhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelanheld atMargaoin 1964.[6]

Early life and education

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Kusumagraj was born into aDeshastha Brahminfamily[7]on 27 February 1912 inPuneas Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar. He even published some of his poetry under this name in 1930s. Upon being adopted somewhat late in life in 1930s, his name was changed to Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar. He later adopted the sobriquet 'Kusumagraj'. He pursued his primary education in Pimpalgaon and high school education in the New English School of Nashik, which is now called J.S. Rungtha High School of Nashik. He passed matriculation fromMumbai University.[8]In 1944, he married Manorama (née: Gangubai Sonawani); she died in 1972).[9] He was associated with Rajaram College, Kolhapur. Noted critic Keshav Rangnath Shirwadkar (1926-2018) was his younger brother.[10]

Career

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While Shirwadkar was at the H. P. T. Arts College inNashik,[11]his poems were published in theRatnakar(रत्नाकर) magazine.[12]In 1932, at the age of 20, Shirwadkar participated in asatyagrahato support the demand for allowing the entry of theuntouchablesin theKalaram TempleatNashik.[9]

In 1933, Shirwadkar established theDhruv Mandal(ध्रुव मंडळ ) and started writing in a newspaper calledNava Manu(नवा मनू). In the same year, his first collection of poems,Jeevanlahari(जीवन लहरी), was published.[9]In 1934, Shirwadkar obtained aBachelor of Artsdegree in Marathi and English languages, from the H. P. T. College inNashik.[11]

Shirwadkar joined Godavari Cinetone Ltd. in 1936 and wrote thescreenplayfor the movieSati Sulochana(सती सुलोचना). He also acted in the movie as LordLakshmana.[13]However, the film failed to be a success.[14]

He later worked as a journalist. He wrote in periodicals such asSaptahik Prabha(साप्ताहिक प्रभा),Dainik Prabhat(दैनिक प्रभात),Saarathi(सारथी),Dhanurdari(धनुर्धारी), andNavayug(नवयुग). 1942 was a turning point in the career of Kusumagraj, as the father-figure of Marathi literature,Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar,published Kusumgraj's compilation of poetry,Vishakha(विशाखा) at his own expense, and in his preface describing Kusumagraj as a poet of humanity, wrote, "His words manifest the social discontent but retain the optimistic conviction that the old world was giving way to a new one."[15]Its publication coincided with theQuit India Movement,and carried the message of freedom and stood against slavery, and soon its words became popular with young men and women; in time it was to become his lasting legacy to Indian literature.[16]

After 1943, he started adapting the plays by literary giants likeOscar Wilde,Moliere,Maurice MaeterlinckandShakespeare,especially his tragedies, and which played an important role in boosting Marathi theatre of the period. This continued into the 1970s when his masterpieceNatsamrat,styled after Shakespeare's playKing Lear,was first staged in 1970, withSriram Lagooas the lead.[15]In 1946, he wrote his first novelVaishnav(वैष्णव) and his first playDoorche Dive(दूरचे दिवे).[9]From 1946 to 1948, he also edited a weekly calledSwadesh(स्वदेश).[9]

While temperamentally he ranged from reclusive to exclusive, he had a keen social sense and championed the cause of the downtrodden without involving himself in ground level activities. In 1950, he founded the Lokahitawādi Mandal (लोकहितवादी; organisation for social good) in Nashik which is still in existence. He also edited certain academic textbooks for school students.[9]

However, Kusumagraj's main claim to fame was as a poet and writer. In 1954, he adaptedShakespeare'sMacbethasRajmukut(राजमुकुट), 'The Royal Crown' to Marathi. It starred Nanasaheb Phatak andDurga Khote(Lady Macbeth). He also adaptedOthelloin 1960.[17]He also worked as a lyricist inMarathi cinema.

His work reflected the changing social milieu, from being the reflection of national uprising during Indian freedom struggle and in the post-independence era it got steeped into rising social-consciousness amongst Marathi writers, which marked the advent of modernDalit literature.[15]

Shirwadkar was also an active participant in theSamyukta Maharashtra Movement.[9]

Awards and recognition

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To honour his work in Marathi Literature, every year the birthday of Kusumagraj, 27 February, is celebrated as "Marathi Bhasha Din" (मराठी भाषा दिन) (transl. Marathi Language Day).[9]

  • 1961- President of Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalay annual function
  • 1960 - State Govt. forMarathi Mati'मराठी माती' (काव्यसंग्रह)
  • 1962 - State Govt. forSwagat'स्वगत' (काव्यसंग्रह)
  • 1964 - State Govt. forHimresha'हिमरेषा' (काव्यसंग्रह)
  • 1964 - President ofAkhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan,Margao,Goa
  • 1965 - Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award 1965 by All India Nātya Parishad
  • 1966 - State Govt. for the playYayati ani Devyani'ययाति आणि देवयानी'
  • 1967 - State Govt. for the playVij mhanali Dhartila'वीज म्हणाली धरतीला'
  • 1970 - President of Marathi Natya Sammelan, Kolhapur
  • 1971 - State Govt. for the playNatsamrat'नटससम्राट'
  • 1974 -Sahitya Akademi Award1974 for his writing of the playNatsamrat,an adaptation ofKing Lear
  • 1985 - Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award from Akhil Bhatiya Natya Parishad
  • 1986 - The honorary degree ofD.Litt.byPune University
  • 1987 -Jnanpith Award— a prestigious literary award in India, in recognition of his literary achievements
  • 1988 - Sangeet Nātya Lekhan Award
  • 1989 - President — Jagtik Marathi Parishad, Mumbai
  • 1991 -Padmabhushanaward in the field of Literature & Education by the then President of India -R. Venkataraman.
  • 1996 - A star named as "Kusumagraj" in the galaxy

Death

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He died on 10 March 1999 in Nashik,[2]where his home also served as the office of the Kusumāgraj Pratishthān.[18]

Writings

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Collections of poems

  • Vishakha(1942)
  • Himaresha(1964)
  • Chhandomayi(1982)
  • Jeewanalahari(1933)
  • Jaicha Kunja(1936)
  • Samidha(1947)
  • Kana(1952)
  • Marathi Mati(1960)
  • Wadalwel(1969)
  • Rasyatra(1969)
  • Muktayan(1985)
  • Shrawan(1985)
  • Prawasi Pakshi(1989)
  • Patheya(1989)
  • Meghdoot(1956 Marathi translation of Kalidas'Meghdoot,which is inSanskrit)
  • Swagat(1962)
  • Balbodh Mevyatil Kusumagraj(1989)

Edited collections of poems

  • Kāwyawāhini
  • Sāhityasuwarna
  • Pimpalapān
  • Chandanawel
  • Rasyātrā,poems chosen by Shankar Vaidya andPoet Borkar,and with a long scholarly introduction by Vaidya

Collections of stories

  • Phulawāli
  • Chhote Āni Mothe
  • Satāriche Bol Āni Iter Kathā
  • Kāhi Wruddha, Kāhi Tarun
  • Prem Āni Mānjar
  • Appointment
  • Āhe Āni Nāhi
  • Wirāmachinhe
  • Pratisād
  • Ekāki Tārā
  • Wātewaralyā Sāwalyā
  • Shakespearechyā Shodhāt
  • Roopareshā
  • Kusumāgrajānchyā Bārā Kathā
  • Jādoochi Hodi(for children)

Plays

  • Yayāti Āni Dewayāni
  • Weeja Mhanāli Dharateelā
  • Natsamrāt
  • Doorche Diwe
  • Dusarā Peshwā
  • Waijayanti
  • Kounteya
  • Rājmukut
  • Āmche Nāw Bāburāo
  • Widushak
  • Ek Hoti Wāghin
  • Ānand
  • Mukhyamantri
  • Chandra Jithe Ugawat Nāhi
  • Mahant
  • Kaikeyi
  • Becket(translation ofThe Honour of God by Jean Anouilh)

One-act plays

  • Diwāni Dāwā
  • Dewāche Ghar
  • Prakāshi Dāre
  • Sangharsh
  • Bet
  • Natak Basat Āhe Āni Itar Ekānkikā

Novels

  • Waishnawa
  • Jānhawi
  • Kalpanechyā Teerāwar

Works in translation

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  • The Saint in the Cellar: selected poems.Tr. by S. A. Virkar. New Native Press, 2003.ISBN1-883197-18-X.

Visualisation of works of Kusumagraj

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The translation of Meghadūta by Kusumagraj was visualised by watercolour artist Nana Joshi. These visualisations were published in the Menaka Diwali issue in 1979.[19] Natsamrat,a play written by V.V. Shirwadkar for which he won several accolades, was also adapted on screen by directorMahesh Manjrekarwith veteran actor Nana Patekar asNatsamrat(2016), after successful runs of the play's theatre adaptations.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Modern Indian literature, an anthology, (Volume 2).Sahitya Akademi. 1992. p. 846.ISBN81-7201-324-8.
  2. ^ab"Kusumagraj is dead".Indian Express.11 March 1999.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^K. M. George, ed. (1997).Masterpieces of Indian literature, (Volume 1).National Book Trust. p. 927.ISBN81-237-1978-7.
  4. ^"Padma Awards"(PDF).Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 15 October 2015.Retrieved21 July2015.
  5. ^"Bharatiya Jnanpith".Jnanpith.net.31 August 1940. Archived fromthe originalon 14 July 2016.Retrieved27 February2016.
  6. ^"Rediff on the NeT: Marathi poet-playwright Kusumagraj, 87, passes away".Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2018.
  7. ^The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 95.Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1974. p. 31.Marathi literature is strewn with Deshastha writers. Some of the luminaries are B. S. Murdhekar, the neo classical poet and critic; the popular dramatists Acharya P. K. Atre, V.V.Shirwadkar; the poet and story writer G.D.Madgulkar popularly known as the "Modern Walmiki" of Maharashtra, Sahitya Akademi Award winners G. T. Deshpande, Laxmanshastri Joshi, S. N. Banhatti, V. K. Gokak and Mugali all belong to this community.
  8. ^"Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan — Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar".Kusumagraj.org.Retrieved27 February2016.
  9. ^abcdefgh"Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan — Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar".Kusumagraj.org.Retrieved27 February2016.
  10. ^"के.रं.शिरवाडकर निधन (कुसुमाग्रजांचे बंधू)".
  11. ^ab"12020675-HPT College to Host 'Smaranrang' | News".Cafenasik.com.18 February 2012. Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2016.Retrieved27 February2016.
  12. ^[1][dead link]
  13. ^"Archived copy".Archived fromthe originalon 14 March 2016.Retrieved26 February2016.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^"Dadasaheb Phalke — Nashik.com — A complete guide of Nashik city".Nashik.com.3 May 1913.Retrieved27 February2016.
  15. ^abcGohkale, Madhav (13 March 1999)."A master craftsman".Indian Express.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^Das, Sisir Kumar (1995).History of Indian Literature:.1911–1956, struggle for freedom: triumph and tragedy (Volume 1).Sahitya Akademi. p. 90.ISBN81-7201-798-7.
  17. ^"Shakespeare in India (6):: Internet Shakespeare Editions".Internetshakespeare.uvic.ca.7 June 2006. Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved27 February2016.
  18. ^"Act of will – Kusumagraj signs off with a flourish".Indian Express.13 March 1999.[permanent dead link]
  19. ^Joshi, Nana."A Visual Interpretation of Kalidas' Meghadūta".Joshi Artist.Archived fromthe originalon 2 January 2014.Retrieved1 January2014.
  20. ^"Epic Marathi dramas that are being recreated on silver screens".Starkut.com.31 December 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 4 March 2016.Retrieved27 February2016.
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