There were poems for children that made adults chuckle and there were ironies of adulthood that made one pause and ponder. There was prose that found beauty in the mundanity of life and there were profound words delivered with a lightness of touch. At Jnanpithache Dene, the universe of Vishnu S. Khandekar, Kusumagraj (V. V. Shirwadkar), Vinda Karandikar and Bhalchandra Nemade came a little closer to lovers of literature, who had gathered at the NCPA on a thunderous October evening. The event, organised by Maharashtra Times in collaboration with the NCPA and the Government of Maharashtra, was a special tribute honouring the remarkable contributions and cultural impact of the four Jnanpith Award-winning Marathi littérateurs. 

Some of the verses of these luminaries have been set to music by such noted composers as Hridaynath Mangeshkar. Their compositions were presented onstage along with readings, performances and discussions by well-known artistes of the Marathi stage. The evening was interspersed with commentary by contemporary writers and literary critics.

As part of the event, Maharashtra Times, along with the Government of Maharashtra, honoured Mr. Khushroo N. Suntook, Chairman, NCPA, in recognition of his contribution to the arts and culture landscape of India. “Under Mr. Suntook’s leadership, the NCPA has grown to become a beacon of cultural excellence, hosting world-class performances across music, dance, theatre and literature. His dedication to promoting and preserving India’s rich artistic heritage has been instrumental in shaping the NCPA’s stature as one of the premier cultural institutions in the country,” the citation mentioned. He was felicitated by eminent nuclear physicist Anil Kakodkar and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra, Mangal Prabhat Lodha. 

“It is a matter of pride for us that a programme dedicated to the stalwarts of Marathi literature is being held at the NCPA. I am also delighted that this event comes close on the heels of Marathi being declared a classical language,” said Mr. Suntook. 

Parag Karandikar, Editor of the widely read Maharashtra Times, thanked the NCPA “for hosting the celebration of literary excellence in its hallowed venue where many programmes in Marathi theatre and music have been held.” 

The Jnanpith Award is one of India’s most prestigious literary honours. Established in 1961, it recognises outstanding contributions to Indian literature with works written in any of the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Khandekar was the first recipient of the award in the world of Marathi literature (1974), followed by Kusumagraj (1987), Karandikar (2003) and Nemade (2014). 

“The very idea of a literary programme based on the works of Jnanpith awardees is a welcome one,” said veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi. Also in the audience were other prominent personalities from the world of education, journalism, theatre and music including Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Kumar Ketkar, Makarand Deshpande and Kaushal Inamdar. Deepak Kesarkar, Cabinet Minister – Maharashtra (School Education & Marathi Language), was honoured at the event, which was attended by Bhushan Gagrani, Commissioner of the BMC, Vivek Phansalkar, Commissioner, Mumbai Police and other senior officials.