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2025-11-14T05:02:23Z

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{{short description|Social educator from Maharashtra, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Indurikar Maharaj
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption = Indorikar Maharaj
| birth_name = Nivrutti Kashinath Deshmukh
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|1|9}}
| birth_place = Indori, [[Akole taluka]], [[Ahmednagar district]], Maharashtra
| death_date = 
| death_place =
| alma_mater = Gokhale Education Society's College of Education
| occupation = {{hlist|
[[Kirtankar]]|
social educator|
[[teacher]] (formerly)|
}}
| yearsactive = 1994–present
| known_for = [[Kirtans]] (In Marathi)
| spouse = Shalinitai Deshmukh
| children = 2
}}

'''Nivrutti Kashinath Deshmukh''' (born 9 January 1972) commonly known as '''Indurikar Maharaj''', is an Indian [[kirtan]]kar and social educator from [[Maharashtra]], India. His shows typically involve humorous routines that poke fun at societal ills and malpractices.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chaudhary |first1=Rajshekhar |title=निवृत्ती महाराज देशमुख इंदोरीकर यांचे बहारदार समाज प्रबोधन |url=https://www.esakal.com/paschim-maharashtra/deshpande-maharaj-deshmukh-indurkars-kirtan-132739 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=[[Sakal]] |date=23 July 2018 |language=mr-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=निवृत्ती महाराज देशमुख (इंदोरीकर) यांचा २० रोजी भव्य कीर्तन सोहळा |url=https://www.lokmat.com/aurangabad/nivrutra-deshmukh-indorekar-celebrates-20th-anniversary-kirtan-sangeet/ |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=Lokmat |date=18 November 2017 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Indurikar was born on 9 January 1972 to a Kshatriya Maratha kirtankar family.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gaikwad |first1=Anand |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांचा वाढदिवस पंकजा मुंडे, थोरात, जानकरांनी केला 'एन्जाॅय' |url=https://www.sarkarnama.in/indurikar-maharaj-birthday-presence-political-leaders-32596 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Sarkar Nama |date=10 January 2019 |language=mr}}</ref><ref name="personal life"/><ref name="writ"/> He grew up in Indori village in [[Akole taluka]] of [[Ahmednagar district]] and adopted the [[demonym]] ''Indorikar/Indurikar'' as part of his stage name.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murumkar |first1=Ashok |title=आपल्या हाटके स्टाईसाठी प्रसिद्ध असलेल्या इंदुरीकर महाराजांच्या गावाची माहिती जाणून घ्या |url=https://www.esakal.com/ahmednagar/learn-about-indurikar-maharaj-village-which-famous-its-hatke-style-339833 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=www.esakal.com |date=30 August 2020 |language=mr-IN |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919084014/https://www.esakal.com/ahmednagar/learn-about-indurikar-maharaj-village-which-famous-its-hatke-style-339833 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Nandkumar |title=इंदोरीकरांच्या समर्थनार्थ अकोले तालुक्यात कडकडीत बंद |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/ahmednagar-news/ahmednagar-bandh-morcha-and-thousand-of-supporters-protest-to-support-of-indurikar-maharaj-in-akole/articleshow/74266630.cms |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=[[Maharashtra Times]] |date=23 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>
Indurikar earned a [[Bachelor of Education|B.Ed.]] degree from the Gokhale Education Society's College of Education in [[Sangamner]], [[Ahmednagar district]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Prestigious Alumina: LIST OF SOME OF THE PROMINENT ALUMNI OF THE SOCIETY TILL 2018 |url=https://gesociety.in/prestigious-alumina/ |website=gesociety.in |publisher=Gokhale Education Society |access-date=31 December 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Eminent Alumni |url=https://gescoledusgm.org/alumni/ |website=gescoledusgm.org |publisher=College of Education |access-date=31 December 2020 |location=[[Sangamner]], Maharashtra}}</ref> He initially worked as a teacher and started performing ''Kirtans'' at the age of 22.<ref name="personal life"/><ref name="teacher"/>

==Kirtan style==
Indurikar is known for interlacing humorous relatable examples in his kirtans and thus is able to quickly strike a cord with the audience. First cassette of his kirtan was released in 2003 and soon became famous over the social media.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Temghare |first1=Shankar |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांना सोशल मीडियाने दिला आधार अन् केले बेजारही |url=https://www.esakal.com/pune/shankar-temghare-article-indurikar-maharaj-social-media-263437 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=www.esakal.com |language=mr-IN}}</ref> Indurikar, along with a group of associates, employ musical instruments ''[[Taal (instrument)|Taal]]'' and ''[[Mridang]]'', but their usage is minimal.

According to [[Sadanand More]], a historian as well as a kirtan writer, Indurikar does not fit within the hierarchy of [[Sant Mat|Sant Parampara]] and [[Warkari]] sampradaya. He added that Indurikar's objectification of women and substandard jokes are indicative of base-level mediocrity.<ref>{{cite news |title="महाराष्ट्राच्या संत परंपरेत इंदुरीकरांचं कीर्तन बसत नाही; त्यांचे विनोदही कमी दर्जाचे" |url=https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra-news/indurikar-maharaj-sadanand-more-criticized-indurikar-maharaj-bmh-90-2087813/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Loksatta |date=18 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=इंदोरीकर महाराजांची शैली कीर्तन परंपरेला बाधा आणणारी; सदानंद मोरे |url=https://www.lokmat.com/pune/indorikar-maharajs-style-do-not-suit-tradition-kirtan-sadanand-more/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Lokmat |date=19 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=More |first1=Sadanand |author1-link=Sadanand More |title=इंदोरीकरांवर चर्चा यापूर्वीच व्हायला हवी होती. |url=https://www.facebook.com/moresadanand/posts/1446022032245476 |website=Facebook |access-date=1 January 2021 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

He has been accused of promoting superstition.<ref>{{cite news |title=Majha Vishesh: इंदुरीकर महाराजांचं कीर्तन की अंधश्रद्धेचा बाजार? |url=https://marathi.abplive.com/videos/news/abp-majha-vishesh-indurikar-maharaj-statement-741294 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[ABP Majha]] |date=12 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>


==Controversies==
Teachers unions in [[Maharashtra]] expressed displeasure at swipes taken by Indurikar accusing teachers of being lazy.<ref name="teacher">{{cite news |last1=नेब |first1=वेदांत |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांची शिक्षकांची खिल्ली उडवणारी क्लिप व्हायरल, शिक्षक संघटनाची नाराजी |url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/teachers-union-upset-with-indurikar-maharaj-mocking-clip-viral-741894 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[ABP Majha]] |date=14 February 2020 |language=mr}}</ref>

Indurikar has made several controversial statements about woman. Some examples of these statements are:<ref>{{cite news |last1=बंगाळे |first1=श्रीकांत |title='इंदुरीकर महाराजांना महिलांशी काय प्रॉब्लेम आहे?' |url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-47207896 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] मराठी |date=8 March 2019 |language=mr}}</ref>
*"The wife of a man who does love marriage calls her husband by name. What a great shortcoming this is. We are men, men. Husband is husband. If my wife calls me single, why won't she gnash her teeth?"
*"No matter how heavy the sandals are, what do you wear around your neck? Where are the sandals? She is a wife. She must be of that size."
*"The less clothes there are on the body of the child, the more the child should be beaten."
*"Tell the maid's wives, what do you do? Shame on you."
*"Pori started dancing in front of Navradeva. At the wedding, check the family, who are yours?"
*"Parents, check your daughters' hands. See if there is a bangle. Or a drowned religion?"
*"Poryalabi was not left alone. She started falling in love with someone. We were in the same class and they said they fell in love. ''Kanphad'' (face) should be broken."

=== February 2020 case===
In February 2020, Indurikar received strong backlash for one of his statements that his made during his sermon in Ozar ([[budruk]]) in Ahmednagar. The preacher had reportedly said that ''"If a woman has intercourse on the even date, a boy is born. If a woman is on an odd date, a girl is born .... If intercourse is done at an inauspicious time, the child that is born would bring a bad name to the family. If the timing (of intercourse) is missed, the quality of output (child) will be sub-standard."''<ref name="Complaint filed"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=चौकर |first1=निखील |title=स्त्रीसंग सम तिथीला झाल्यास मुलगा आणि विषम तिथीला झाल्यास मुलगी होते, इंदुरीकर महाराजांचं वादग्रस्त वक्तव्य |url=https://marathi.abplive.com/news/maharashtra/notice-to-indurikar-maharaj-by-pcpndt-committee-on-controversial-statement-740918 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=ABP Majha |date=11 February 2020 |language=mr}}</ref>

An Anti-superstition NGO [[Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti]] sought to file case against Indurikar claiming his remarks on timing of intercourse and gender of child violated the [[Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994|Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act]] as well as the [[Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Act|anti Black-Magic Act]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Anti-superstition NGO wants FIR against Indurikar Maharaj |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/antisuperstition-ngo-wants-fir-against-indurikar-maharaj/1733696 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Outlook India |date=February 13, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Joshi |first1=Nandkumar |title=कीर्तनकार इंदुरीकर महाराजांवर गुन्हा दाखल करा; 'अंनिस'ची मागणी |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/ahmednagar-news/maharashtra-andhashraddha-nirmulan-samiti-demanded-filing-of-police-case-against-popular-marathi-kirtankar-nivrutti-maharaj-indurikar-over-his-recent-remarks/articleshow/74175934.cms |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Maharashtra Times |date=17 February 2020 |language=mr}}</ref> His ''kirtan'' in [[Kolhapur]] was abruptly cancelled.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kadam |first1=Ganesh Pandurang |title=इंदोरीकरांचा शिवाजी विद्यापीठातील कार्यक्रम रद्द; वेळेत पोहोचणार नसल्याचं कारण |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/kolhapur/kolhapur-indurikar-maharaj-cancels-kirtan-in-shivaji-university-after-protest-by-maharashtra-andhashraddha-nirmoolan-samiti/articleshow/74378813.cms |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Maharashtra Times |date=28 February 2020 |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shoumojit |title=Kolhapur varsity cancels controversial Marathi kirtankar’s talk |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/kolhapur-varsity-cancels-controversial-marathi-kirtankars-talk/article30946830.ece |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=29 February 2020 |location=Pune |language=en-IN}}</ref> Women's rights activist [[Trupti Desai]] threatened to throw ink on his face if a case wasn't filed against him soon.<ref>{{cite news |title=Activist threatens to blacken preacher’s face |url=https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/200220/activist-threatens-to-blacken-preachers-face.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=The Asian Age |date=20 February 2020}}</ref>

Indurikar apologized in a handwritten note saying he was tendering an apology if anyone's sentiments were hurt by his remarks.<ref name="apology"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Preacher Indurikar Maharaj apologises for remarks |url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/11234558_Preacher-Indurikar-Maharaj-apologises-for-remarks.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Press Trust of India |agency=PTI |date=February 18, 2020 |location=Aurangabad}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांनी 'त्या' वक्तव्यावर व्यक्त केली दिलगिरी |url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-51519558 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] मराठी |date=16 February 2020 |language=mr}}</ref><ref name="case filed"/> He added that some people unhappy with his work were causing additional trouble for him.<ref>{{cite news |title=People unhappy with my work troubling me: Nivrutti Maharaj |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/people-unhappy-with-my-work-troubling-me-nivrutti-maharaj/1736554 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[Outlook India]] |agency=PTI |date=17 February 2020}}</ref> While answering a notice from the health department, Indurikar flip-flopped claiming that he made no such statements and there was no event held on dates in question.<ref>{{cite news |title=‘मी तसं बोललोच नाही’; इंदुरीकर महाराजांचा त्या वक्तव्यावरून यू-टर्न |url=https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra-news/indurikar-maharaj-clarification-on-that-statement-bmh-90-2090215/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Loksatta |date=21 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

State minister [[Bachchu Kadu]] announced that there will be no charges filed against Indurikar.<ref>{{cite news |title=No Case Against Preacher Indurikar Maharaj On Odd-Even Theory For Boy-Girl Child: Maharashtra Minister |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/no-case-says-maharashtra-minister-after-preachers-odd-even-theory-for-boy-girl-child-2181745 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[NDTV]] |agency=PTI |date=February 18, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=शेख |first1=अजहर |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांसंदर्भात बोलले बच्चू कडू |url=https://www.timesnowmarathi.com/maharashtra-news/aurangabad-news/article/nivrutti-maharaj-indurikar-bacchu-kadu-shivratna-shete-osmanabad-news-in-marathi/281568 |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Times Now Marathi |language=mr-IN |date=February 18, 2020}}</ref>

On 19 June 2020, a [[First information report]] was registered in a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court in Sangamner, Ahmednagar.<ref name="Complaint filed">{{cite news |title=Complaint filed against Indurikar Maharaj for ‘violation’ of PCPNDT Act |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/maharashtra-complaint-filed-against-indurikar-maharaj-for-violation-of-pcpndt-act-6478050/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |date=26 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="case filed">{{cite news |last1=Banerjee |first1=Shoumojit |title=Case filed against Marathi preacher over ‘odd-even’ remark for girl-boy child |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/case-filed-against-marathi-preacher-over-odd-even-remark-for-girl-boy-child/article31928163.ece |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=The Hindu |date=26 June 2020 |location=Pune |language=en-IN}}</ref> He was summoned to be present in court in August.<ref>{{cite news |last1=गाडेकर |first1=मनोज |title=मुला-मुलीच्या जन्माबाबत इंदोरीकर महाराजांचे वक्तव्य, संगमनेर कोर्टाने सुनावणी पुढे ढकलली |url=https://www.tv9marathi.com/maharashtra/indorikar-maharaj-summoned-to-present-in-sangamner-court-253126.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=TV9 Marathi |date=7 August 2020 |location=शिर्डी |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Indurikar lives in Ozar (Bk) in [[Sangamner taluka]] in [[Ahmednagar district]] with his wife ''Shalinitai Deshmukh'' and two children.<ref name="personal life">{{cite web |title=Kirtankar Indurikar Maharaj Biography in marathi (इंदुरीकर महाराज्यांचे जीवन चरित्र) |url=https://www.marathimadhe.in/2020/06/indurikar-maharaj-biography-in-marathi.html |access-date=1 January 2021 |date=June 9, 2020 |language=mr-IN |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124161114/https://www.marathimadhe.in/2020/06/indurikar-maharaj-biography-in-marathi.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is the founding president of ''Dnyaneshwar Mauil Bahu-uddesiya Sevabhavi Sanstha'' in Ozar (Bk), Sangamner.<ref name="writ">{{cite web |title=WRIT PETITION NO. 4255 |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/34703970/ |website=Indian Kanoon |access-date=31 December 2020 |date=2016}}</ref><ref name="apology">{{cite news |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांचा माफीनामा; वाचा दिलगिरीचं सविस्तर पत्रक |url=https://www.loksatta.com/maharashtra-news/indurikar-maharaj-apologize-his-statement-nck-90-2087948/ |access-date=1 January 2021 |work=Loksatta |date=18 February 2020 |language=mr-IN}}</ref><ref name="bangale"/> He runs a school in the village and is a known philanthropist in his region.<ref name="bangale">{{cite news |last1=बंगाळे |first1=श्रीकांत |title=इंदुरीकर महाराज यांची मुलाखत मी घ्यायला गेलो तेव्हा... |url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-47839597 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=9 April 2019 |location=अहमदनगर |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='इंदुरीकर महाराजांचं समाजकार्य लाजवाब, पण त्यांनी महिलांचा आदर करावा' |url=https://www.bbc.com/marathi/india-47507513 |access-date=7 February 2021 |work=BBC News मराठी |date=9 March 2019 |language=mr}}</ref>

In 2019, there was a brief speculation that he may join politics with the [[Bharatiya Janta Party]],<ref>{{cite news |title=इंदुरीकर महाराजांचे राजकीय 'किर्तन'; थोरातांना शह देण्यासाठी भाजपचा डाव |url=https://www.esakal.com/paschim-maharashtra/indurikar-maharaj-may-be-contest-assembly-election-bjp-215423 |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=www.esakal.com |date=14 September 2019 |language=mr-IN}}</ref> but he quickly clarified that he won't ever contest in elections.<ref>{{cite news |title='समाजसेवेचे व्रत हाती घेतले आहे, राजकारणात कधीच उतरणार नाही', निवृत्ती महाराज इंदुरीकरांचे स्पष्टीकरण |url=https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/indurikar-maharaj-would-stand-in-upcoming-assembly-election-roomers-1568457698.html |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=Divya Marathi |date=14 September 2019 |language=mr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=मुख्यमंत्री भेटीबाबत इंदोरीकर महाराजांनी केला खुलासा, म्हणाले.... |url=https://www.esakal.com/paschim-maharashtra/indorekar-maharaj-reveals-about-cms-visit-215507 |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=www.esakal.com |date=14 September 2019 |language=mr-IN}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:People from Ahmednagar district]]

Indurikar Maharaj - Revision history

Cornelius R at 05:02, 14 November 2025