The land of Konkan has produced ranges of able persons throughout ages. This page will regularly bring to you notes introducing them. The notes have been reproduced from 'Concise Biographical Dictionary Of Eminent Marathi Personality' written by Mr. Rajaendraprasad S. Masurkar which is on the way to publish. Any form of their reproduction is prohibitted and subjected to legal action.
Aartee Prabhu (Khanolkar, Chintaman Tryambak) : writer (Mar 8, 1930,
Tendoli, Vengurle, Sindhudurga - Apr 26, 1976, Mumbai)
A
sufferer of extreme poverty, Khanolkar, despite suspension of his education was
an inborn poet. He is famous for his works covering different literary forms
including poetry, drama and novel.
His
plays include 'Ek Shoonya Bajirao', 'Kalay Tasmai Namah' , 'Ajab Nyay
Vartulacha', 'Kondura' and 'Chaanee.' (Films were later made on the last two.) He is attributed to produce 'Jogava'- an
anthology, 'Shoonya Shringarate'-poem and 'Zaade Nagna Zaalee'- a novel.
Khanolkar's
writing reflected his pains and sufferings, but he didn't write for moaning his
grievances. He ably worded human helplessness against the circumstances. His
own miserable living made him create his characters whirling in sorrow, however
his genius pen didn't let his writing irksome and insipid.
Athalye, Janardan Hari: journalist (1822, Shiposhi, Dist. Ratnagiri-1900,
Ratnagiri)
Athalye
has an important place in the history of native press in Maharashtra as he
started the first periodical in rural area of the state. He launched 'Jaganmitra' (Friend of the world) in
1854 from Ratnagiri. It was functional till the end of the 19th century.
Instead
of using the journal as a tool for presenting before the government the
grievances of the people, Athalye too held the objective to defend fair side of
Hinduism against the missionary attacks. He also conducted 'Vidyamala', a monthly dedicated to information and entertainment.
He compiled 'Brihat Samhita', a
treatise on prehistoric knowledge.
Bandodkar, Dayanand Balkrishna: statesman (Mar 12, 1911, Pernem, Goa-Aug
12, 1973, Panjim, Goa)
Bandodkar was the first chief minister of the state of
Goa. Born in a mine owner's family, Dayanand lost his father in his early age.
He did not get higher education but commanded over Marathi, Hindi, Portuguese
and French. He politically inclined to merge Goa into Maharashtra and for the
cause he founded 'Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party' (MGP) in 1963.
In his youth he developed the family business of mining
and married a daughter of a tradesman. He had four daughters and a son who died
in his early age. His eldest daughter Shashikala later rose as the chief
minister of the state.
Dayanand alias Bhausaheb participated in both 'Quit India
Movement' and 'Goa Freedom Struggle.' Goa was freed on 19 Dec 1961. During the
Portuguese reign medium of instruction was the language of the rulers, however
an endless chain of workers striving for survival and re-establishment of
Marathi was created by the people of Goa. Bhausaheb was one among the front row
agitators. He strived to conduct a Marathi medium school.
MGP won the first elections in 1963. Bhausaheb occupied
the seat of Chief Minister, however resigned when the plebiscite went against
the merger into Maharashtra. His attempts for the cause did not come to an end,
he resumed the office of CM after 1967 elections and worked till the end of his
life. During his regime the state was comprised of present Goa, Div and Daman.
Bhausaheb Bandodkar became popular in Goa for his work to
develop the state. Despite being a mine
owner his sympathy towards mine labours was praiseworthy. He was fond of
education and supported and aided educational and sports institutions
substantially. The establishment of 'Kala Academy' in Goa is one of the
monuments of his work.
Bhende, Dr. Subhash Vasudev: writer
(Oct 14, 1936, Bari, Goa - -------------)
Educated in Sangli and Pune, Dr.
Subhash Bhende completed his doctoral study from the famous Gokhale Institute
of Political and Economics at Pune. He was a fellow of Ford Foundation. He
started his career as a lecturer in Chougule College in Goa, most of his
service years were spent in kirti College, Mumbai and he retired as Principal
of Rajasthani Seva Sangh College.
Bhende
had special affection to the land of Goa and his first novel 'Aamcha Goyn' (0ur
Goa) brought to him mass popularity. He followed by the writing on the
disturbances and transformation in the life of Goanese people after the region
became independent. He efficiently wrote on vanity of neo riches, decline of
values and domestic life of Goanese Christians. Through his satiric writing he
focused on controversies and pretensions in middle class families.
Although
being an able writer Bhende was overlooked by critics for he had adopted
satiric style. However his contribution to Marathi literature is valuable. He
was elected President of literary conferences in Goa and Maharashtra. He was
recipient of honour by Goa Kala Academy, Maharashtra Sahitya Parisahd and Pune
Sarvajanik Vachanalaya.
Bhide, Ganesh Rango : lexicographer (Jun 6, 1907, Jun 8, 1981)
Bhide started as a journalist and founded the first
Marathi film magazine 'Cinema Srushti' in 1932. He too worked for many leading
periodicals. Bhide, despite being a Bachelor of Training did not turn to work
as a teacher.After reading some books on recipe and
household encyclopedia he felt the need of such books for Marathi readers. In 1931 he
founded a committee for creation of an encyclopedia known as 'Vyavaharik
Dnyankosh Mandal' which later turned into a limited company.
Bhide's contemporary Y. R. Date had recently created a
new encyclopedia but the former opined that it was but a concise form of the
existing 'Dnyankosh' and had nothing been added from the happenings in recent
past.
Bhide's actual work of printing started on 1st Jan 1960
after he received a grant from the then Bombay Government. Till then he had
collected and compiled a lot of information and rapidly published ten volumes
within a span of eight years. The contributors of his cyclopedia- Abhinav
Marathi Dnyankosh- seem to be erudite though not much famous. It introduced the
novelty of pictorial illustrations, even colourful, to the readers of Marathi
cyclopedias.
Bhide too wrote books on photography and other subjects,
but he couldn't complete the work of creation of his proposed educational
encyclopedia.
Anant Vitthal Keer, born in
Ratnagiri, a coastal Konkan town, in a carpenter's house belonged to Bhandari
caste. Matriculated in 1935, couldn't continue further education for the want
of a job. Joined Bombay Municipal Corporation as a clerk in education department
and served for 22 years.
Keer, Dhananjay: biographer (Apr 23, 1913,Ratnagiri-May 12, 1984, Mumbai)
Curiosity
about the lives of eminent persons pushed him to study of biography writing.
Started writing with nickname Dhananjay for weeklies. His first complete
biographical work on the life of V. D. Savarkar earned to him reputation as a
best biographer and was compared to the high standard of James Boswell. Following
this he wrote English biographies of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Tilak, Jotirao
Phooley, Shahu (all qv) and Mahatma Gandhi. He too separately wrote in Marathi on lives
of Ambedkar, Phooley, Shahu and labour leader S. K. Bole(qv). His
other works include the life sketches of eminent Indians. 'Pen Pictures', his
column in 'Free Hindustan', a weekly
conducted by Savarkar's personal assistant Mr. A. S. Bhide was very popular among
the readers in mid 19th century. Thinkers have attributed to him as
to be an erudite scholar of contemporary history of India with special context
to Maharashtra.
He edited literary works of Phooley and compiled life
mission of Marathi sage Namdeo. Honoured by Shivaji University, Kolhapur with
D. Litt. And by Nav Nalanda Vidyapeeth, Ujjain with Vidyawaridhi (eq. to D.
Litt.) Government of India conferred on him 'Padmabhushan' in 1971.
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