literary festivals like Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (ABMSS) connect one end of the country with the other, besides giving an opportunity to exchange languages, cultures and heritage, according to Union Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Minister was speaking on Sunday, the concluding day of the three-day 88th edition of Marathi literary Festival at Ghuman village in Gurdaspur district which bears an association with Marathi Saint Namdev.
Saint Namdev, an important saint of the Bhakti movement from Maharashtra, is believed to have spent the last years of his life at this nondescript village. His 61 shabads were included in the Guru Granth Sahib, a holy scripture for the Sikhs. “The warmth of relations between Marathi and Punjabi that Saint Namdev fostered are strong even today and this is the prime reason Marathi language is celebrating itself on the Punjab’s land at village Ghuman at the Marathi literary Fest,” he said.
While paying tributes to Saint Namdev, he said the literary and spiritual relations, which he set rolling between Marathi and Punjabi will last till eternity. Javadekar said he was participating in this event not as an Union Minister but as a literary aficionado.
Appreciating the efforts of ‘Sarhad Sanstha’ (Pune) in holding this festival at Ghuman, he said that the event would prove to be a milestone in development of Marathi language. Expressing gratitude to the Punjab Government for conducting this event, he said he was thankful to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on behalf of entire Maratha community for their hospitality. Javadekar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has extended his warm affection for this literary fest underway at Ghuman.
STAllS REMAIN CENTRE OF ATTRACTION FOR BOTH MARATHIS, PUNJABIS
As the three-day literary Fest witnessed serious discussions on Marathi literature on one side, various colourful stalls, on the other, remained the centre of attraction for both the Marathis and Punjabis. An exhibition of different books on literature was the main attraction and people were seen buying books. Punjabis were especially attracted towards the Marathi stalls of Khadi and enthusiastically bought stuff.
Besides, to facilitate Punjabis, Maharashtra Government had also put up posters carrying vital information and literature pertaining to its state in Punjabi language. It is for the first time in the history of Punjab that the two States with different cultural backgrounds were gelling so well.
SEMINAR ON MODERN TECHNIQUE, FUTURE OF PRINTED lITERATURE HElD
A seminar on Modern Technique and Future of Printed literature, held on Sunday on the concluding day of three-day literary extravaganza, was presided over by Dr Keshar Deshmukh.
The event also saw participation of Shripad Aparajit, Narendra lanjevar, Madhavraje Chosalkare, Mahendra Munjal and others dignitaries from Maharashtra. Deshmukh, speaking at the event, said in times of modern competition, “youngsters are no longer deeply interested in reading. Rather computers, mobile phones and WhatsApp have replaced books. Youngsters should use modern technology as well as continue reading the best of literature available”. Different speakers at the event presented their notions about advantages of using modern technology and their disadvantages and added that nothing can replace books and literature.
KAVI DARBAR HElD ON THE CONClUDING DAY
The fest, being held at Shiromani Bhagat Namdev’s land of meditation in village Ghuman, witnessed akavi darbar on the concluding day. Sahit Mahamandal Maharashtra’s former president Dr Usha Tambe was the chief guest at the event, while Sarvshree Uday Kangre and Deepak Kandeekar were especially present at the event. Marathi literature admirers too were present in a large number at the event. Speaking at the event Tambe stated that the main motive of kavi darbar was to encourage new poets.
She added that apart from 70 new poets, 70 established poets too are participating in this event. The poets read out poems in varied subjects at the kavi darbar.