2 PMs & 2 Maharashtra stalwarts at Marathi lit meet 71 years apart

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the 98th edition of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi Literary Meet) at Talkatora Stadium in Delhi on Friday in the presence of over 2,500 attendees, he will mark a date with history.

He will be the first PM to inaugurate the annual literary meet since the formation of the state in 1960 and the second after Jawaharlal Nehru to inaugurate the prestigious event.
The event is the first sammelan after the Union govt made Marathi a "classical language" in October 2024, following sustained efforts by Marathi language lovers.
Nehru inaugurated the sammelan in 1954 which was also in Delhi. Veteran politician and thinker from Pune Kakasaheb Gadgil was the chairman of the reception committee, and he shared the dais with Nehru. In the chair was eminent Sanskrit scholar Tarkateerth Laxmanshastri Joshi, also a Puneite.
Former PM P V Narasimha Rao spoke in chaste Marathi at the 76th sammelan in Karad in 2003.

On Friday, PM Modi will address literature enthusiasts in the presence of veteran politician from Maharashtra, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, chairman of this year's reception committee.
The three-day conclave from Feb 21-23, which is returning to Delhi after 71 years, will not only witness the presence of writers and authors from Marathi literature but also from other Indian languages.
Eminent author Tara Bhawalkar, who writes on folk literature, folk culture, tradition and folk art, drama research and sant literature, is the president of the 98th sammelan.
She said that Marathi writing saw women's participation only after the 1970s when they began to express themselves. Bhawalkar added that women have been putting forth their independent opinions through a long tradition of oral narratives. "Examples of this have been poems by women sants. Though they didn't know how to read and write their oral narratives were revolutionary," she said.
Members of Pune-based organisation Sarhad which has organised the 98th edition of the sammelan said that there is a sense of pride in holding this historic event in the country's capital, as it is an opportunity to showcase Marathi literature and culture on the national platform.
Sarhad's chief Sanjay Nahar said that it is not a "political event," though Modi and Pawar will be at the inaugural session. Pawar has a long association with Marathi literature and has been active in Delhi's political circles for many decades, he added.
After Pawar took over as chairman of the reception committee, he invited Modi who agreed. Nahar said, "Maharashtra has a special connection with Delhi for centuries. Talkatora Stadium where the meet will be held was the base camp for the Peshwas during their north India campaigns. In recent history, many politicians from Maharashtra have played key roles in Delhi's political circles. We are looking forward to the literary meet as a platform to take Marathi literature to the national level and showcase Maharashtra's rich cultural base and progressive thoughts."
Since its inception in 1878, this literary meet has been held at various locations in the state and outside where it has always garnered a huge response. The event missed several years; hence this year is the 98th sammelan.
Its 145-year legacy has been carried forward by many stalwarts. Social reformer Mahadev Govind Ranade was the first president and prominent personalities, including Laxmanshastri Joshi, P K Atre, Vasant Kanetkar, Go Ni Dandekar, Pu La Deshpande and Vyankatesh Madgulkar followed him.
Nahar said, "The sammelan has always been a 'successful event' because stalwarts who attended guided society with progressive thoughts. The events have social messages and a rich Marathi culture."
Many sammelan presidents have touched upon social messages and progressive thoughts. Hence, the sammelan has connected people to literature and books and raised social and contemporary issues, Marathi literature follower Vilas Patil said.
The demand for "classical language" for Marathi was raised at a sammelan. It has also highlighted the agrarian crisis, farmers' suicides, supported Marathi schools and writers and freedom of speech, said Pune-based artist Chaitanya Kulkarni.