Kusumagraj

Kusumagraj
Born (1912-02-27)27 February 1912
Pune, Maharashtra
Died 10 March 1999(1999-03-10) (aged 87)
Nashik, Maharashtra
Pen name Kusumagraj
Occupation poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, humanist
Language Marathi
Nationality Indian
Notable works Vishakha (1942)
Natsamrat
Notable awards 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi
1987 Jnanpith Award
Website
kusumagraj.org

Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar (Marathi: विष्णु वामन शिरवाडकर) (27 February 1912 – 10 March 1999), popularly known by his pen name, Kusumāgraj (Marathi: कुसुमाग्रज), 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,[1] In a career spanning five decades starting in 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 the Vishakha (1942), a collection of lyrics, inspired a generation into the Indian freedom movement, and is today considered one of the masterpieces of Indian literature.,[3] apart from his play, Natsamrat which has important place in Marathi literature. He was the recipient of several State awards, and National awards including the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi for Natsamrat, Padma Bhushan (1991)[4] and the Jnanpith Award in 1987;[5] he also remained chairperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in 1989.[2]

Early life and education

He was born in Pune on 27 February 1912 as Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar. Upon being adopted, his named was changed to Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar. He later adopted the sobriquet 'Kusumagraj'. His pursued his primary education in Pimpalgaon and high school education in the New English School of Nashik, which is now called as J.S. Rungtha High School of Nashik. He passed matriculation from Mumbai University.[6] In 1944, he married Manorama (née Gangubai Sonawni).[7]

Career

While Shirwadkar was at the H. P. T. College in Nashik,[8] his poems were published in the Ratnakar (रत्नाकर) magazine.[9] In 1932, at the age of 20, Shirwadkar participated in a satyagraha to support the demand for allowing the entry of the untouchables in the Kalaram Temple at Nashik.[7]

In 1933, Shirwadkar established the Dhruv Mandal (ध्रुव मंडळ ) and started writing in a newspaper called Nava Manu (नवा मनू). In the same year, his first collection of poems, Jeevanlahari (जीवन लहरी) was published.[7] In 1934, Shirwadkar obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marathi and English languages, from the H. P. T. College in Nashik.[8]

Shirwadkar joined Godavari Cinetone Ltd. in 1936 and wrote the screenplay for a movie named Sati Sulochana (सती सुलोचना). He also acted in the movie as Lord Lakshmana.[10] However, the film failed to be a success.[11]

He later worked as a journalist. He wrote in periodicals such as Saptahik Prabha(साप्ताहिक प्रभा), Dainik Prabhat(दैनिक प्रभात), Saarathi(सारथी), Dhanurdari(धनुर्धारी), Navayug(नवयुग) etc. 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."[12] Its publication coincided with the Quit 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.[13]

After 1943, he started adapting the plays by literary giants like Oscar Wilde, Moliere, Maurice Maeterlinck and Shakespeare, especially his tragedies, and which played an important role in boosting Marathi theatre of the period. This continued into the 1970s when his masterpiece Natasamrat was first staged in 1970, with Sriram Lagoo as the lead.[12] In 1946, he wrote his first novel Vaishnav(वैष्णव) and his first play Doorche Dive (दूरचे दिवे).[7] From 1946 till 1948, he also edited a weekly called Swadesh (स्वदेश).[7]

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.[7]

However, Kusumagraj's main claim to fame was as a poet and writer. In 1954, he adapted Shakespeare's Macbeth, as Rajmukut (राजमुकुट), 'The Royal Crown' to Marathi, it starred Nanasaheb Phatak and Durga Khote (Lady Macbeth) and later he also adapted Othello in 1960[14] He also worked as a lyricist in Marathi cinema.[15]

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 modern Dalit literature.[12]

Shirwadkar was also an active participant in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement.[7]

Awards and recognition

To honour his work in Marathi Literature, every year Birth day of Kusumagraj i.e. 27 February is celebrated as "MARATHI BHASHA DIN" (मराठी भाषा दिन).[7]

Death

He died on 10 March 1999 in Nashik,[2] where his home also served at the office of the 'Kusumāgraj Pratishthān.[16]

Writings

Collections of Poems

Edited Collections of Poems

Collections of Stories

Plays

One-Act Plays

Novels

Works in translation

Visualisation of Works of Kusumagraj

The translation of Meghadūta by Kusumagraj were visualised by watercolour artist Nana Joshi. These visualisations were published in the Menaka Diwali issue in 1979.[17] Natsamrat a play written by V.V. Shirwadkar for which he won several accolades has also been adapted on screen by Director Mahesh Manjrekar with veteran actor Nana Patekar as 'Natsamrat' after successful runs of the play's theatre adaptations.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Modern Indian literature, an anthology, (Volume 2). Sahitya Akademi. 1992. p. 846. ISBN 81-7201-324-8.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kusumagraj is dead". Indian Express. 11 March 1999.
  3. ↑ K. M. George, ed. (1997). Masterpieces of Indian literature, (Volume 1). National Book Trust. p. 927. ISBN 81-237-1978-7.
  4. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bharatiya Jnanpith". Jnanpith.net. 1940-08-31. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  6. ↑ "Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan - Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar". Kusumagraj.org. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan - Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar". Kusumagraj.org. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  8. 1 2 "12020675-HPT College to Host ‘Smaranrang’ | News". Cafenasik.com. 2012-02-18. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑ "Dadasaheb Phalke - Nashik.com - A complete guide of Nashik city". Nashik.com. 1913-05-03. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  12. 1 2 3 Gohkale, Madhav (13 March 1999). "A master craftsman". Indian Express.
  13. ↑ Das, Sisir Kumar (1995). History of Indian Literature: .1911–1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy (Volume 1). Sahitya Akademi. p. 90. ISBN 81-7201-798-7.
  14. ↑ "Shakespeare in India (6) :: Internet Shakespeare Editions". Internetshakespeare.uvic.ca. 2006-06-07. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  15. ↑ "कुसुमाग्रज - Kusumagraj - marathi Lyricist Lyricswriter". Geetmanjusha.com. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  16. ↑ "Act of will – Kusumagraj signs off with a flourish". Indian Express. 13 March 1999.
  17. ↑ Joshi, Nana. "A Visual Interpretation of Kalidas' Meghadūta". Joshi Artist. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  18. ↑ "Epic marathi dramas that are being recreated on silver screens". Starkut.com. 2015-12-31. Retrieved 2016-02-27.

External links

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