Shanta Shelke
| Shanta Shelke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 19 Oct 1922 |
| Died | 6 June 2002 (aged 79) |
Shanta Janardan Shelke (Marathi: शान्ता शेळके) (born October 19, 1922; died June 6, 2002) was a Marathi poet and writer. Apart from this, she was a journalist, a professor, a composer, a story writer, a translator, a writer of child literature, someone who presided over literary gatherings, and more.
Some of her compositions became immortal either as stand-alone poetic works or as songs sung by Marathi greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosale and Kishori Amonkar, to name a few.
Background
Shanta Shelke was born in Indapur, Pune. She was educated in Pune's Sir Parshurambhau College (S. P. College). She completed her M.A. in Marathi and Sanskrit and stood first in Bombay University. During this time, she also won the Na. Chi. Kelkar and Chiplunkar awards.
She spent 5 years working as assistant editor of the weekly Navyug run by Acharya Atre. She then moved to Nagpur to work as a professor of Marathi in Hislop College, Nagpur. She retired after long service from Dayanand College, Mumbai and settled in Pune.
During her working career in Mumbai, she also served in
- The Film Censor board
- The Theatre examination board
- The Govt. book award
Her work
She contributed extensively to Marathi literature in the form of poems, stories, novels, character sketches, interviews, critiques, introductions, etc. She also helped translate English cinema and wrote for newspaper columns.
News paper columns
Some such newspaper columns were later converted into books. Examples include:
- Ek pani (एक पानी)
- Translation: Single pager
- Madarangi (मदरंगी)
- Janta Ajanata (जाणता अजाणता)
- Translation: Knowning Unknowingly
Lalit Literature
She also produced lalit literature like
- Anandache Jhad (आनंदाचे झाड)
- Translation: The tree of happiness
- Pavsaadhicha Paus (पावसाआधीचा पाउस)
- Translation:The rain before the rains
- Sansmarane (संस्मरणे)
- Translation:Memories
- DhoolPati (धूळपाटी) - an introspective autobiography.
- Avad Nivad (आवड निवड)
- Translation: Likes dislikes
- Vadildhari Manase (वडीलधारी माणसे) - a collection of character sketches.
- Translation: Father figures
Novels
She penned novels like:
- Odh (ओढ)
- Dharma (धर्म)
- Punarjanma (पुनर्जन्म)
- Chikkhaldrayancha Mantrik (चिखलदर्यांचा मांत्रिक)
- Nararakshas (नरराक्शस)
- Bhishanchaya (भीषण छाया)
- Majha Khel Mandu De (माझा खेळ मांडू दे)
- Vijhti Jyot (विझती ज्योत)
Poetical and song collections
Though children's literature was her favourite subject, she gained popularity as a poetess and music composer. Some of her famous song collections include:
- Varsha (वर्षा)
- Godan (गोदन)
- Rupasi (रूपसी)
- Janmajanhavi (जन्म्जान्हवी)
- Kalyanche divas fulanchya rati (कळ्यांचे दिवस फ़ुलांच्या राती)
- Toch Chandrama (तोच चन्द्रमा)
- Purvasandhya (पूर्वसंध्या)
- Ityartha (इत्यर्थ)
She touched all forms of literature except comedy and playwriting.
Songs
Apart from her contributions to the Marathi literature, Shanta Shelke was equally famous for writing lyrics for Marathi songs. She penned songs for more than 300 films.
She wrote her first song for the film Ram Ram Pavna (राम राम पव्हण) in 1950. Her initial songs captured the imagination of her audience and made her a household name:
- Reshmachya Reghanni (रेशमाच्या रेघांनी) - a marathi Laavani.
- Je ved majala lagale (जे वेड मजला लागले)
- Pavner Ga Mayela Karoo (पवनेर ग मायेला करू)
Some of her memorable creations include:
- Sung by Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
- Kaanta Rute Kunala ( a Marathi "Ghazal")
Translations
She translated the following works:
- Japanese haiku to produce Panyavarchya Paklya (पाण्यावरच्या पाकळ्या).
- The Sanskrit work by poet Kalidasa Meghdoot into Marathi.
- A Novel by Virendra Bhattachrya's Novel into Lokanche Rajya (लोकांचे राज्य)
- A Novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott into Chaughijani (चौघीजणी)
Awards and recognitions
- Soor Singaar award for her song Mage ubha mangesh (मागे उभा मंगेश, पुढ़े उभा मंगेश)
- Govt. of India award of excellent for song-writing for her cinema Bhujang (भुजंग)
- Ga Di Madgulkar award in 1996.
- Yashvantrao Chawan Pratishan Award in 2001, for her contribution to Marathi literature.
Death
Shanta Shelke died of cancer, on June 6, 2002.
External links
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