Satara, Maharashtra’s literary cradle, prepares for 99th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

Preserving autonomy and breaking the mould

Prof Milind Joshi, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, said this will be the first Sahitya Sammelan held in Satara after the Marathi language received the classical language status in 2024.

The official website, https://www.abmsssatara.org, was inaugurated by Shrimant Chhatrapati Shivendrasinharaje Bhosale at the Sammelan office in Janata Sahakari Bank. Working President Vinod Kulkarni said the intent is to make this a successful convention from a technological standpoint, ensuring “transparent administration”.

Treasurer Nandkumar Sawant highlighted the goal of providing comprehensive information to the Marathi community abroad and facilitating digital documentation.

The new platform features Satara’s rich literary tradition, including stalwarts like Yashawantrao Chavan, B C Mardhekar, Kavi Yashwant, and Principal Shivajirao Bhosale.

The literary discussions will focus on contemporary works like Shahū Patole’s ‘Ann He Apūrṇa Brahma’ and Amol Palekar’s ‘Aivaj Ek Smrūtibandha’. The programme will also include interviews with figures like Sahitya Akademi award winner Anuradha Patil and Loksatta editor Girish Kuber, alongside a felicitation of Laxman Gaikwad, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiography ‘Uchalya’.

(Story by Meenakshi Jawale — intern with The Indian Express.)