>Ekabhishek at 20:02, 31 May 2021

2021-05-31T20:02:15Z

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{{short description|Indian writer and poet}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name =
| image = Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar.jpg
| imagesize = 200
| alt = 5
| caption = Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar portrait
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1912|02|27}}
| birth_place = [[Pune]], Maharashtra
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1999|03|10|1912|02|27}}
| death_place = [[Nashik]], Maharashtra
| occupation = Poet, author, marathi poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, humanist
| nationality = Indian
| notable_works = ''Vishakha'' (1942)<br />''Natsamrat''
| awards = 1974 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] in Marathi<br />1987 [[Jnanpith Award]]
| website = {{url|http://kusumagraj.org}}
}}

'''Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar''' (27 February 1912 – 10 March 1999), popularly known by his pen name, '''Kusumāgraj''', also known as '''Vi. Vā. Shirwadkar''', was an eminent [[Marathi language|Marathi]] poet, playwright, novelist, short story writer, apart from being a humanist, who wrote of freedom, justice and emancipation of the deprived,<ref name="sa">{{cite book|title=Modern Indian literature, an anthology, (Volume 2)|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1R2Pa3f7r0C&q=Vishnu+V%C4%81man+Shirw%C4%81dkar&pg=PA846|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=81-7201-324-8|page=846}}</ref> 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.<ref name="ib"/> 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]],<ref>{{cite book|title=Masterpieces of Indian literature, (Volume 1)|editor=K. M. George|publisher= National Book Trust|year=1997|isbn=81-237-1978-7|page=927}}</ref> apart from his play, ''Natsamrat'', which has an 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)<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web |url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6U68ulwpb?url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref> and the [[Jnanapith Award]] in 1987;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jnanpith.net/page/jnanpith-laureates |title=Bharatiya Jnanpith |website=Jnanpith.net |date=1940-08-31 |access-date=2016-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714004820/http://jnanpith.net/page/jnanpith-laureates |archive-date=14 July 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> he also served as the President of the [[Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan]] held at [[Margao]] in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/mar/10viva.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180227043830/http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/mar/10viva.htm|archive-date = 27 February 2018|title = Rediff on the NeT: Marathi poet-playwright Kusumagraj, 87, passes away}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Kusumagraj (विष्णु वामन शिरवाडकर / कुसुमाग्रज) was born into a [[Deshastha Brahmin]] family <ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AsU7R69gqDIC|title=The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 95|publisher=Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press|page=31|year=1974|quote=Marathi literature is strewn with Deshastha writers. Some of the luminaries are B. S. Murdhekar, the neo classical poet and critic; the popular dramatists Acharya P. K. Atre, V.V.Shirwadkar; the poet and story writer G.D.Madgulkar popularly known as the "Modern Walmiki” of Maharashtra, Sahitya Akademi Award winners G. T. Deshpande, Laxmanshastri Joshi, S. N. Banhatti, V. K. Gokak and Mugali all belong to this community.}}</ref> on 27 February 1912 in [[Pune]] as Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar. He even published some of his poetry under this name in 1930s. Upon being adopted somewhat late in life in 1930s, his name was changed to Vishnu Waman Shirwadkar. He later adopted the sobriquet 'Kusumagraj'. He pursued his primary education in Pimpalgaon and high school education in the New English School of Nashik, which is now called [[Rungta High School|J.S. Rungtha High School]] of Nashik. He passed matriculation from [[Mumbai University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kusumagraj.org/kusumagraj/parichay.php |title=Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan — Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar |website=Kusumagraj.org |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref> In 1944, he married Manorama (née : Gangubai Sonawani) ; she died in 1972).<ref name="kusumagraj1">{{cite web|url=http://www.kusumagraj.org/kusumagraj/jivanpat.php |title=Welcome to kusumagraj Pratishthan — Web Site of Kusumagraj / Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar |website=Kusumagraj.org |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref>
He was associated with Rajaram College, Kolhapur. Noted critic Keshav Rangnath Shirwadkar (1926-2018) was his younger brother. <ref>https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/nashik-north-maharashtra-news/nashik/k-r-shirwadkar-passed-away-brother-of-kusumagraj/articleshow/63467219.cms</ref>

==Career==
While Shirwadkar was at the H. P. T. College in [[Nashik]],<ref name="cafenasik1">{{cite web|url=http://www.cafenasik.com/entertainment-and-recreation/news/12020675-hpt-college-to-host-smaranrang.html |title=12020675-HPT College to Host 'Smaranrang' | News |website=Cafenasik.com |date=2012-02-18 |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref> his poems were published in the ''Ratnakar '' (रत्नाकर) magazine.<ref>[http://www.kusumagraj.org/kusumagraj/parichay.phphttp://www.kusumagraj.org/kusumagraj/jivanpat.php]{{dead link|date=February 2016}}</ref> In 1932, at the age of 20, Shirwadkar participated in a [[satyagraha]] to support the demand for allowing the entry of the [[Dalit|untouchables]] in the [[Kalaram Temple]] at [[Nashik]].<ref name="kusumagraj1"/>

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.<ref name="kusumagraj1"/> In 1934, Shirwadkar obtained a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in Marathi and English languages, from the H. P. T. College in [[Nashik]].<ref name="cafenasik1"/>

Shirwadkar joined Godavari Cinetone Ltd. in 1936 and wrote the [[screenplay]] for the movie ''Sati Sulochana'' (सती सुलोचना). He also acted in the movie as Lord [[Lakshmana]].<ref>[http://www.nashik.com/dadasaheb-phalkehttp://www.kusumagraj.org/kusumagraj/jivanpat.php] {{dead link|date=February 2016}}</ref> However, the film failed to be a success.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nashik.com/dadasaheb-phalke |title=Dadasaheb Phalke — Nashik.com — A complete guide of Nashik city |website=Nashik.com |date=1913-05-03 |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref>

He later worked as a journalist. He wrote in periodicals such as ''Saptahik Prabha'' (साप्ताहिक प्रभा), ''Dainik Prabhat'' (दैनिक प्रभात), ''Saarathi'' (सारथी), ''Dhanurdari'' (धनुर्धारी), and ''Navayug'' (नवयुग). 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."<ref name="ie"/> 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.<ref>{{cite book|last=Das|first=Sisir Kumar |title=History of Indian Literature: .1911–1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy (Volume 1) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&q=Kusumagraj&pg=PA58|year=1995|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=81-7201-798-7|page=90}}</ref>

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 ''Natsamrat'' , styled after Shakespeare's play [[King Lear]] , was first staged in 1970, with [[Sriram Lagoo]] as the lead.<ref name="ie"/> In 1946, he wrote his first novel ''Vaishnav'' (वैष्णव) and his first play ''Doorche Dive'' (दूरचे दिवे).<ref name="kusumagraj1"/> From 1946 to 1948, he also edited a weekly called ''Swadesh'' (स्वदेश).<ref name="kusumagraj1"/>

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.<ref name="kusumagraj1"/>

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]]). He also adapted ''[[Othello]]'' in 1960.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/Criticism/shakespearein/india6.html |title=Shakespeare in India (6) :: Internet Shakespeare Editions |website=Internetshakespeare.uvic.ca |date=2006-06-07 |access-date=2016-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185732/http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/Criticism/shakespearein/india6.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He also worked as a lyricist in [[Marathi cinema]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geetmanjusha.com/marathi/lyricswriter/49.html |title=कुसुमाग्रज - Kusumagraj — Marathi Lyricist Lyricswriter |website=Geetmanjusha.com |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="ie">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990313/iex13048.html|title=A master craftsman|last=Gohkale|first=Madhav|date=13 March 1999|work=Indian Express}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Shirwadkar was also an active participant in the [[Samyukta Maharashtra Movement]].<ref name="kusumagraj1"/>

==Awards and recognition==
To honour his work in Marathi Literature, every year the birthday of Kusumagraj, 27 February, is celebrated as "Marathi Bhasha Din" (मराठी भाषा दिन).<ref name="kusumagraj1"/>

* 1960 - President of Mumbai Marathi Granth Sangrahalay annual function
* 1960 - State Govt. for ''Marathi Mati'' 'मराठी माती' (काव्यसंग्रह)
* 1962 - State Govt. for ''Swagat'' 'स्वगत' (काव्यसंग्रह)
* 1964 - State Govt. for ''Himresha'' 'हिमरेषा' (काव्यसंग्रह)
* 1964 - President of [[Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan]], [[Margao]], [[Goa]]
* 1965 - Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award 1965 by All India Nātya Parishad
* 1966 - State Govt. for the play ''Yayati ani Devyani'' 'ययाति आणि देवयानी'
* 1967 - State Govt. for the play ''Vij mhanali Dhartila'' 'वीज म्हणाली धरतीला'
* 1970 - President of Marathi Natya Sammelan, Kolhapur
* 1971 - State Govt. for the play ''Natsamrat'' 'नटससम्राट'
* 1974 - [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] 1974 for his writing of the play ''Natsamrat'', an adaptation of ''[[King Lear]]''
* 1985 - Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award from Akhil Bhartiya Natya Parishad
* 1986 - The honorary degree of [[D.Litt.]] by [[Pune University]]
* 1987 - [[Jnanpith Award]]  — a prestigious literary award in India, in recognition of his literary achievements
* 1988 - Sangeet Nātya Lekhan Award
* 1989 - President — Jagtik Marathi Parishad, Mumbai
* 1991 - [[Padmabhushan]] award in the field of Literature & Education by the then President of India - [[R. Venkataraman]].
* 1996 - A star named as "Kusumagraj" in the galaxy

==Death==
He died on 10 March 1999 in Nashik,<ref name="ib">{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990311/ige11083.html|title=Kusumagraj is dead|date=11 March 1999|work=Indian Express}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> where his home also served as the office of the 'Kusumāgraj Pratishthān''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990313/ige13052.html|title=Act of will – Kusumagraj signs off with a flourish|date=13 March 1999|work=Indian Express}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Writings==
'''Collections of poems'''
* ''Vishakha'' (1942)
* ''Himaresha'' (1964)
* ''Chhandomayi'' (1982)
* ''Jeewanalahari'' (1933)
* ''Jaicha Kunja'' (1936)
* ''Samidha'' (1947)
* ''[[Kana (marathi poem)|Kana]]'' (1952)

* ''Marathi Mati'' (1960)
* ''Wadalwel'' (1969)
* ''Rasyatra'' (1969)
* ''Muktayan'' (1984)
* ''Shrawan'' (1985)
* ''Prawasi Pakshi'' (1989)
* ''Patheya'' (1989)
* ''Meghdoot'' (1956 Marathi translation of Kalidas' ''Meghdoot'', which is in [[Sanskrit]])
* ''Swagat'' (1962)
* ''Balbodh Mevyatil Kusumagraj'' (1989)

'''Edited collections of poems'''
* ''Kāwyawāhini''
* ''Sāhityasuwarna''
* ''Pimpalapān''
* ''Chandanawel''
* ''Rasyātrā'', poems chosen by Shankar Vaidya and [[Poet Borkar]], and with a long scholarly introduction by Vaidya

'''Collections of stories'''
* ''Phulawāli''
* ''Chhote Āni Mothe''
* ''Satāriche Bol Āni Iter Kathā''
* ''Kāhi Wruddha, Kāhi Tarun''
* ''Prem Āni Mānjar''
* ''Appointment''
* ''Āhe Āni Nāhi''
* ''Wirāmachinhe''
* ''Pratisād''
* ''Ekāki Tārā''
* ''Wātewaralyā Sāwalyā''
* ''Shakespearechyā Shodhāt''
* ''Roopareshā''
* ''Kusumāgrajānchyā Bārā Kathā''
* ''Jādoochi Hodi'' (for children)

'''Plays'''
* ''Yayāti Āni Dewayāni''
* ''Weeja Mhanāli Dharateelā''
* ''Natsamrāt''
* ''Doorche Diwe''
* ''Dusarā Peshwā''
* ''Waijayanti''
* ''Kounteya''
* ''Rājmukut''
* ''Āmche Nāw Bāburāo''
* ''Widushak''
* ''Ek Hoti Wāghin''
* ''Ānand''
* ''Mukhyamantri''
* ''Chandra Jithe Ugawat Nāhi''
* ''Mahant''
* ''Kaikeyi''
* ''Becket'' (translation of ''The Honour of Go''d by Jean Anouilh)

'''One-act plays'''
* ''Diwāni Dāwā''
* ''Dewāche Ghar''
* ''Prakāshi Dāre''
* ''Sangharsh''
* ''Bet''
* ''Natak Basat Āhe Āni Itar Ekānkikā''

'''Novels'''
* ''Waishnawa''
* ''Jānhawi''
* ''Kalpanechyā Teerāwar''

==Works in translation==
* ''The Saint in the Cellar: selected poems''. Tr. by S. A. Virkar. New Native Press, 2003. {{ISBN|1-883197-18-X}}.

==Visualisation of works of Kusumagraj==

The translation of Meghadūta by Kusumagraj was visualised by watercolour artist Nana Joshi. These visualisations were published in the Menaka Diwali issue in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|last=Joshi|first=Nana|title=A Visual Interpretation of Kalidas' Meghadūta|url=http://www.joshiartist.in/kalidas-meghaduta/|work=Joshi Artist|access-date=1 January 2014}}</ref>
''Natsamrat'', a play written by V.V. Shirwadkar for which he won several accolades, was also adapted on screen by director [[Mahesh Manjrekar]] with veteran actor Nana Patekar as ''[[Natsamrat]]'' (2016), after successful runs of the play's theatre adaptations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starkut.com/blogs/natsamrat-nana-patekar.html |title=Epic Marathi dramas that are being recreated on silver screens |website=Starkut.com |date=2015-12-31 |access-date=2016-02-27}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Marathi Language Day]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.kusumagraj.org ([[Marathi language|Marathi]] website)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20190203001836/https://www.kusumaavali.org/ ([[Marathi language|Marathi]] website)]
* [https://www.marathimati.com/p/marathi-bhasha-diwas.html Marathi Bhasha Diwas]

{{Jnanpith Award}}
{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1990–99}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Recipients of the Jnanpith Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi]]
[[Category:Marathi-language writers]]
[[Category:Marathi-language poets]]
[[Category:People from Nashik]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in literature & education]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian male short story writers]]
[[Category:Indian humanists]]
[[Category:Indian lyricists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian short story writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan]]

In Marathi literature, Ajram created literary works. Or. It has come to light that many times more literature has been neglected than the published literature of Shirwadkar and Kusumagraj.
While this neglected literature was in the city, neither the rulers nor the establishment established in the name of Kusumagraj wanted to take notice of it. Kusumagraj wrote extensively in all genres of Marathi literature. It includes all types of stories, poems, plays, one-act plays, children's literature.
Vs. Or. Before writing under the name Shirwadkar, Kusumagraj also wrote extensively under the name of Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar of Purvashram. However, only the literature published in the form of his book came before the public. Literary genres like essays, personifications, travelogues, children's poems written by him are still neglected and uncollected. In this literature 189 poems, 13 children's poems are ignored

Kusumagraj - Revision history

>Ekabhishek at 20:02, 31 May 2021