Manik Sitaram Godghate

Manik Godghate a.k.a. Grace
Born Manik Seetarampant Godghate
(1937-05-10)10 May 1937
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Died 26 March 2012(2012-03-26) (aged 74)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Cause of death Cancer[1]
Resting place Nagpur
Nationality Indian
Education Nagpur University
Occupation Professor and Editor
Years active 1966-1997
Known for Poems, Speeches
Spouse(s) Dr Leela Mate
Children Mithila, Madhavi, Raghav

Manik Godghate (Marathi: माणिक गोडघाटे), popularly known by his pen name Grace, was a Marathi prose writer and poet. He is most popular as lyricist of the Marathi song "Bhaya Ithale Sampat Nahi", which was sung by Lata Mangeshkar as the title track for the TV serial Mahashweta. His book Vaaryane Halte Raan (Marathi: वार्‍याने हलते रान The forest swings with the wind) was awarded the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award in 2011.

His works include Churchbell and Mitvaa in prose, and Sandhyaakalchya Kavita, Rajputra Aani Darling, Saanjbhayaachayaa Saajani and Chandramadhaviche Pradesh in poetry.

Influenced by Ingrid Bergman's acting in the film The Inn of the Sixth Happiness as if she was in grace, Manik Godghate decided to call himself "Grace". He revealed this in an interview with Akshaykumar Kale. The long interview (pg. 19 to 98) in published in his book "Gracevishayi...". Grace's first book of poetry, Sandhyaakalchya Kavita, is dedicated to Ingrid Bergman.

Early life

Grace was born as Manik Seetaram Godghate on May 10, 1940 in Colonel Baug, Nagpur. Manik's father Seetaram served in the armed forces and was known for being a connoisseur of the Arts. The early years were difficult for Manik. Following the early death of his mother Sumitra, the household fell into a disarray that was for Manik to manage. Manik finished his matriculation from the Navyug Vidyalay and took to earning a livelihood while still in college. As an undergraduate, he moved out of his parent's home and supported himself by teaching and working as a typist. Soon after finishing his undergraduate education he married Dr. Sumati Mate, whom he liked to call Leela. In some personal correspondence Manik has addressed Sumati Mate as "Leela Gunavardhane". On the eve of his university examination he met with a road accident. Despite this mishap, in the year 1966, Manik earned the degree 'Master of the Arts' (M.A.) with a major in Marathi Literature from the university of Nagpur. He was awarded the N.K. Behere gold medal for academic excellence. His hands were still plastered for fractures when he accepted the medal[2] .

His earliest poems were published in the local weekly magazine 'Rashtra Shakti'. In the later, more stable period of his career, he worked as a lecturer in the National College, the Science College and the Morris College, Nagpur[3] .

Poetic Style

Godghate's poetic style is known to be abstruse. Defending his style, Godghate, in a speech given in Ralegaon said, "My poetry is my Soliloquy and by its nature, a soliloquy lacks the awareness of a sense. It does not require and nor does it assume the existence of an audience. It springs boldly forth from its creator. My poetry does not bear the pretensions of a pedant neither does it make a prize of ignorance. I am the sort of poet who coins new words in the language".[4]

His collection of 77 poems "Sandhyakalcya Kavita" was published in 1967. Of these, his poem "Varshav" was written in 1960 whereas other all were written in 1958. The writer critic Dr. Prabha Ganorkar, wife of poet Vasant Abaji Dahake, has analyzed his this collection of poems. She notes that around 50 of these poems are referred to a woman ("Tu", Marathi feminine gender form of "You") where the woman has physical or emotional relationship with the First person ("Me", Marathi form of I/Me). Despite this, she does not classify the poetry as romantic.[5]

His next collection of poems "Rajputra Aani Darling" was published in 1974. His 1977's publication "Chandramaadhaviche Pradesh" had the poems "Bhaya Ithle Sampat Nahi" and "Ti Geli Tevha Rimzhim" which were composed by Hridaynath Mangeshkar. The collection "Sandhyaparvaatil Vaishanavi" is divided into two section "Prarthanaparva" and "Sandhyaparva" with 33 and 63 poems respectively. His last publication "Baai! Jogiyapurush" is a compilation of about 112 poems written by him from 1958 to 2011.

Death

Godghate succumbed to cancer following a three-year battle with the disease, he was 74.He Died of Liver Cancer as he was an alcoholic.

Publications

Poetry
Prose

Famous Poems

१. असे रंग आणि ढगांच्या किनारी
२. अज्ञेयाहून गूढ गूढ दिसती झाडातली वर्तुळे
३. आठवण
४. ओळख
५. ओळखीच्या वाऱ्या तुझे घर कुठे सांग?
६. ऊर्मिलेचा सर्पखेळ’
७. कंठात दिशांचे हार
८. कर्णभूल
९. कर्णधून
१०. क्षितिज जसे दिसते
११. ग्रेसची वृत्ती.
१२. घर थकलेले सन्यासी
१३. घनकंप मयूरा
१४. जे सोसत नाही असले
१५. डहाळी
१६. तुळशीतले बिल्वदल
१७. ती गेली तेव्हा रिमझिम
१८. तुला पाहिले मी नदीच्या किनारी
१९. .तांबे-सोन्याची नांदी
२०. तुझी बहार मंदशी तृषार्त जाग ये जरी...
२१. तुझ्यात नभवाहिनी कुठून रक्त गंधावले
२२. देखना कबीर
२३. देवी
२४. दुःख घराला आले
२५. दु:ख
२६. निनाद
२७. निरोप
२८. प्रणाली

References

  1. "Marathi poet ‘Grace’ passes away". Pune: The Hindu. March 27, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  2. संध्याकाळच्या कविता : एक अभ्यास, प्रा. अजय आणि इतर, साहित्य सेवा प्रकाशन (सातारा).
  3. Dattatraya Bhikaji Kulkarni (Diwali 2012). "अललपंच्छ ग्रेस". विशाखा (in Marathi): 99–105. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. लोकसत्ता http://www.loksatta.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=128277:2011-01-10-15-05-37&Itemid=1. Sep 29, 2012
  5. Dr. Prabha Ganorkar (Diwali 2012). "'तू 'ची अमुर्तता : संध्याकाळच्या कविता!". विशाखा (in Marathi): 106–109. Check date values in: |date= (help)

Further reading

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