Writer-Fighter Madhavi Desai no more
GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 15 July 2013 17:53 IST
Madhavi Desai, renowned Marathi writer and a freedom fighter, expired today morning. She was 80.
Desai, who had been living in Bandora village of Ponda taluka in Goa for several years, had recently shifted to her daughter – Mira Tarlekar - in Belgaum few months ago.
She expired in Belgaum after brief illness.
She will be cremated tomorrow morning at 11 in Belgaum.
Desai was a daughter of famous theatre personality Bhalji Pendharkar.
She had married famous Marathi writer Ranajit Desai and her autobiography – Naach Ga Ghuma (नाच ग घुमा) – on their marital relationship had raised a controversy.
The autobiography had received many coveted awards and it has also been translated into other Indian languages.
Mira, her daughter, is also an eminent Marathi poet.
Madhavitai, as she was popularly known, had also participated and jailed in a Satyagraha during Goan liberation struggle.
She had also played active role in the Belglaum border issue and had played a lead role in organising Marathi Sahitya Sammelan of Marathi writers in border areas in Karoli village of Belgaum.
Gomant Soudamini (गोमंत सौदामिनी), her book profiling 64 eminent women of Goa, is a historical document Desai has created.
She had also written biography on the life of the vocalist Smt. Anjanibai Malpekar entitled ‘Kanchan Ganga’.
She had also written script, dialogues and story for the Marathi film ‘Ghe Bharari’.
Madhavitai’s writings received real momentum since 1982, with her contribution in almost all the forms of literature including novels, poetry and stories.
She had also received Goa Kala Academy’s prestigious literary awards for her novels on two occasions - for ‘Prarthana’, in 1995 and ‘Seemaresha’ in 2004.
Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has condoled Madhavitai's death, stating that her noteworthy books in Marathi deserve a a mention in the literary world.
“In Madhavitai’s passing away, Goa and Marathi literature has lost a respected and creative personality”, said Vishnu Wagh, chairman of Goa Kala Academy, in his condolence message.
Wagh will attend the funeral tomorrow, on behalf of Goa government.
Desai has written following books:
असं म्हणू नकोस, भारत माझा देश आहे, धुमारे, फिरत्या चाका वरती, गोमन्त सौदामिनी, हरवलेल्या वाटा, कांचनगंगा, कथा सावलीची, किनारा, नकोशी, नियती, परिचय, प्रार्थना, सागर, सीमा रेषा, शाल्मली, शुक्र चांदणी, सूर्यफुलांचा प्रदेश, स्वयंसिद्ध आम्ही, विश्वरंग, नाच ग घुमा.
