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Marathi poet-playwright Kusumagraj, 87, passes away

Famed Marathi litterateur and 1988 Jnanpith Award winner Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, known popularly by his nom-de-plume 'Kusumagraj', died at 12.15pm IST in Nasik, Maharashtra, today. He will be cremated with full state honours tomorrow morning.

Shirwadkar, 87, who played a big role in enriching Marathi literature through his poems, plays, and novels, had been ill for the last few months.

Among the awards he won were the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1974, the first Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi award.

His martial poem published in 1942, Garazaa Jaijaikar Kranticha (Victory to the Revolution), evoked strong patriotic feelings amongst freedom-fighters of the era.

Governor P C Alexander expressed deep shock and grief at Shirwadkar's death. In a condolence message, Dr Alexander said Kusumagraj was a father figure for Maharashtra's literary world.

Kusumagraj was born Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar on February 27, 1912, in Poona. Later, his uncle adopted him and named him Vishnu.

He started his literary career at the age of 17 writing for a magazine for children. Simultaneously, his poems were published in the prestigious magazine Ratnakar published from Nasik.

While in college in 1933, Shirwadkar published his first collection of poems titled Jeevan-Lahiri. The next year he graduated with Marathi and English as his major subjects.

The years 1936-38 witnessed a turning point in his life as he joined a Marathi film company, writing the script of Sati Sulochana and also performing the role of Lakshman in it.

From 1938, he worked with Marathi newspapers like Prabhat (Dawn) published from Poona, and Sarathi (Charioteer), Dhaurdhari and Navyug (New Era). In 1944, he married Manorama.

Shirwadkar's contribution to Marathi literature is immense. His masterpiece of a play Natasamraat won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1974.

In his book Shodh Shakespearecha (The Discovery of Shakespeare), Shirwadkar has written how he found a few texts of the Bard's plays in an attic of his uncle's house. He also translated Macbeth and Othello into Marathi.

In 1942, Vishakha, the second collection of Kusumagraj's poetry, was published. It contained many of his more significant poems, including the inspiring Garazaa Jaijaikar Kranticha.

In 1946 he published his first novel Vaishnav. The same year, his first play, Doorche Dive (The Lights in the Distance) was staged.

In 1950, Shirwadkar moved to Nasik and devoted himself to writing. He also participated actively in the Sanyukta Maharashtra (One Maharashtra) movement of the 1950s.

Kusumagraj chaired the 45th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (literary conference) held in Margao, Goa, in 1964. In 1970, he presided over the Marathi Natya (dramatics) Sammelan in Kolhapur. Two years later, he lost his wife Manorama to a brief illness.

"My poetry was never for victory. And therefore she never feared defeat. She never tried wilfully to be born and therefore she is not sorry that she may die" -- these lines sum up the spirit of Kusumagraj's poetry.

His romanticism came through clearly in his poems, which included Vanarani (1937), Prateeksha (1933), and Abodh (1943). All of them figured in the compilation Kinara (The Shore), published in 1952. Most of the poems in this book were translations of Meghdoot. His most inspiring collection included Himresha, Samidha, Vadalvel, Shravan, Marathi Mati and Chando Mai.

His famous books include Phoolarani, Pimpaipaan, Ekaki Nara, Pratisaad, Chhote aani Mothe, Vedh and Sangharsh. Among his novels are Vaishnav, Janhvi and Kalpanechya Tirawar.

Among his plays are Kaunteya, Doosra Peshwa, Vaijayanti, Raj Mukut, Aamche Nav Baburao, Yayati Devyani, Mukhyamantri, Vidushak, Anand and Ek Hoti Waghin.

As late as last week he had published a book for children called Akshar Baug which included poems and a collection of stories.

UNI

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