Balwant Moreshwar Purandare

Babasaheb Purandare
Babasaheb Purandare
Born Balwant Moreshwar Purandare
(1922-07-29) 29 July 1922
Pune, India
Nationality Indian
Occupation Historian, writer, fictional novelist
Children Madhuri, Prasad, Amrut
Parent(s) Moreshwar Purandare

Balwant Moreshwar Purandare (born 29 July 1922) Pune[1]), popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare, was born on Nag Panchami, is a writer and theatre personality from Maharashtra, India. His works are mostly based on the events related to the life of Shivaji, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire; as a result he is termed as Shiv-Shahir[2] ("Shivaji's bard"). He is mostly known for his popular play on Shivaji, Jaanta Raja which was popular not only in Maharashtra but also in Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Purandare has also studied the history of the Peshwas of Pune. He is also known for his significant contribution along with Madhav Deshpande & Madhav Mehere as senior party leaders in the early-1970s of Shiv Sena along with Bal Thackeray. In 2015, he was awarded with Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Maharashtra's highest civilian award.[3]

Works

Babasaheb Purandare Wax Statue
Babasaheb Purandare Wax Statue at Wax Museum, Lonavala.

Purandare had started writing stories related to the period of Shivaji's reign at a very young age, which were later compiled and published in a book titled "Thingya" ("Sparks"). His other works include books titled Raja Shiva-Chatrapati (राजा शिवछत्रपती) and Kesari, and a book on life of Narayanrao Peshwa. But the most well-known of his works is the drama, Jaanata Raja, a widely popular play on Shivaji Maharaj published and first staged in 1985. Since then the drama has been staged over 864 times in 16 districts of Maharashtra, Agra, Delhi, Bhopal, and the United States. Originally written in Marathi, this work was later translated into Hindi.[1][4] This drama is performed by over 200 artists, as well as elephants, camels and horses. Generally the performance of this drama begins around Diwali each year.

For his works, in the field of drama, he was awarded the Kalidas Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government for the year 2007-08.[1]

Personal life

His wife, Nirmala Purandare, is a veteran social activist. She runs Vanasthali organisation in Pune. Her work for rural women, child development is renowned. He has a daughter and two sons.

Babasaheb Purandare in Abu Dhabi 2011

Criticism

Maratha outfit that has been protesting against Purandare believes that he has sullied the reputation of Maratha warrior Shivaji through his writings. They also, protested when Maharashtra government decided to award Maharashtra Bhushan to the writer.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kalidas Samman to Shri Purandare". Department of Public Relations, Madhya Pradesh Government. 20 November 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 Dec 2011.
  2. ↑ Śālinī Pāṭīla (1987). Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D. S. Chand & Co. ISBN 978-81-219-0269-4. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Purandare awarded "Maharashtra pradushan"". Indian Express. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  4. ↑ "Janta Raja' to be staged in the US: Baba Purandare". 2 November 2007. Retrieved 16 Dec 2011.
  5. ↑ Kumar, Krishna (20 August 2015). "Writer Babasaheb Purandare receives 'Maharashtra Bhushan' despite protests". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
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