EVEN as personalities like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, NCP (S-P) chief Sharad Pawar and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who are known for their oratory skills were present, 86-year-old Tara Bhavalkar stole the limelight as she emphasised the role of Marathi language and the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in the modern world during the inauguration of the 98th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi on Friday.
“When the Sahitya Sammelan started, it was considered to be one which belonged to few select classes of people…Mahatma Phule had criticised the sammelan, saying it belongs to the upper class and has nothing to do with the labour class….Today, it has become all-encompassing,” said Bhavalkar, the current president of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan.
Bhavalkar debunked those who called themselves educated, but do not have wisdom. She said after the British era ended, a question that was being discussed was who should be called the educated? “It was believed that those who can read and write are educated. …After the British era, schools and colleges were set up and people started learning. The labour class and women started learning. Till that time, it was thought that all are uneducated. Today, if someone has not attended school, he is termed as illiterate…. However, just reading and writing does not mean that one has wisdom. An educated person without wisdom is meaningless,” she said.
Bhavalkar’s speech went down well with the crowd as they applauded her fulsome.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were impressed by her oratory and knowledge of the Marathi language. ”Chhaan (good..,” the Prime Minister told her. “When I said ‘chhaan’ to her, she replied in Gujarati…,” said the Prime Minister. The Chief Minister said, “I don’t think I need to speak now that Tara Bhavalkar has delivered such an admirable speech and when the Prime Minister is still to speak,” he said.
Books drawing crowds…
Besides the octogenarian Tara Bhavalkar who won the hearts of the literary community as well as the people from different walks of life, books written in Marathi in different subjects also were lapped up by the visiting crowd. Several stalls have been set up at the Talkatora stadium–the main venue of the sahitya sammelan.
Among the best sellers include ‘Chhaava,’ written by Shivaji Sawant. The Hindi movie of the same name has created quite a buzz in the country. Even the Prime Minister made a mention of it during his speech at the Vigyan Bhavan.
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“We have almost run out of the ‘Chhaava’ copies…we will have to bring in more copies…Besides Chhaava, even ‘Mrutunjay,’ is also popular among the visitors,” said Balaji D of the Shivam Sahitya, a publishing house which has put up a stall at the Sahitya Sammelan venue.
BARTI (Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute) has also put up a stall at the venue. BARTI is selling books at nearly 70-80 per cent discount. The best seller book of BARTI was ‘The Constitution of India.’ Vaishnav Hazare, a student who is preparing for UPSC exam, said, “The cost of the book is nearly Rs 470 and I have got for Rs 70.”
One of the prominent visitors was P D Patil, Chancellor of the Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth. He went around the stalls and selected a few books. “I love reading books…I have selected a few of them,” Patil said as he interacted with the literary community.
Ramrao Satvekar, Narsinha Pant Wangmay Stall, Balekundri, Belgaum, said, “People are evincing interest in books especially the spiritual kind.”
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Sachin Dhankude of Kothrud, Pune, who has set up a stall to sell his books on election symbol said, “I am getting response from the crowd. I am explaining to them the futility of election symbols…I am happy that the sahitya sammelan has given me an opportunity to showcase my thoughts and ideas.”
Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis.
Professional Legacy
Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles.
Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change.
Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities.
Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees.
Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area:
1. Political Shifts & Alliances
"Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala.
"BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls.
"Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections.
"NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections.
2. Civic & Administrative Accountability
"PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions.
"93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads.
3. Social & Labor Issues
"As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra.
"Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse.
Signature Beat
Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport.
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