Kusumagraj

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Vishnu Vāman Shirwādkar (Marathi: विष्णु वामन शिरवाडकर) (February 27, 1912 - March 10, 1999), popularly known by his pen name, Kusumāgraj (Marathi: कुसुमाग्रज), was an eminent Marathi poet, writer and humanist in India. He was born in and spent most of his life in the city of Nasik in Maharashtra, India.

1 Life
2 Writings
3 References
4 External links

[edit] Life

At his age 20, Shirwadkar participated in a nonviolent resistance march --satyagraha-- in support of compelling Brahmin priests in charge of a local prominent temple in Nasik to provide free access to the temple to people who belonged to the suppressed "untouchable" (Harijan) community. In the past, the priests had not allowed free temple access to that community under the Hindu caste system, which used to be observed much more vigorously then in India. Throughout his life, he either participated in or led many movements in Nasik to counter social or political injustice of some or other kind. In 1950, he founded in Nasik an Organization for Social Good --Lokahitawādi Mandal. While temperamentally he ranged from reclusive to exclusive, he had a keen social sense and championed the cause of the downtrodden without jumping himself into ground level activities. But his main claim to fame was his genius as a poet and writer.

In 1987, Kusumagraj was presented with the Jnanpith Award --a prestigious literary award in India-- in recognition of his literary achievements, and in particular his writing of the play, Natasamrāt. (In 1974, he had received Sahitya Academy Award for "Natasamrāt".) He received Rām Ganesh Gadkari Award of All India Nātya Parishad in 1985. Pune University conferred on him the honorary degree of D.Lit. in 1986. In 1988, he received Sangeet Nātya Lekhan Award. Indian Govt had decided to confer Padmabhushan to him in late 1980s, but he rejected the offer, saying that he had already received the highest award, Jnan Peeth, in his field, and there was no point in overcrowding the list of Padmabhushan awardees.

An organization named ''Kusumāgraj Pratishthān^[1] was formed in Nasik in 1990 with the objective of encouraging various cultural activities and helping the needy belonging to traditionally suppressed communities.

[edit] Writings

Collections of Poems

Vishākhā
Himareshā
Chhandomayi
Jeewanalahari
Jāichā Kunja
Samidhā
Kinārā
Marāthi Māti
Swagat
Wadalwel
Rasayātrā
Muktāyan
Shrāwan
Prawāsi Pakshi
Pātheya
Meghdoot (Marathi Translation of Kalidas' "Meghdoot", which is in Sanskrit)

Edited Collections of Poems

Kāwyawāhini
Sāhityasuwarna
Phularāni
Pimpalapān
Chandanawel
Rasyātrā, poems chosen by Shankar Vaidya and Poet Borkar, and with a long scholarly introduction by Vaidya.

Collections of Stories