Classic Poetry Series

Shanta Shelke
- 0 poems -
Publication Date:
2012
Publisher:
PoemHunter.Com - The World's Poetry Archive
www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 2
Shanta Shelke (19 October 1922 - 6 June 2002)
Shanta Janardan Shelke (Devanagari: ) was a gifted
Marathi poetess and writer. Apart from this, she was a journalist, a
professor, a composer, a story writer, a translator, a writer of child literature,
someone who presided over literary gatherings, and more.
Some of her compositions became immortal either as stand-alone poetic
works or as songs sung by Marathi greats like Lata Mangeshkar, Asha
Bhosale and Kishori Amonkar, to name a few.
Background
Shanta Shelke was born in Indapur, Pune. She was educated in Pune's Sir
Parshurambhau College (S. P. College). She completed her M.A. in Marathi
and Sanskrit and stood first in Bombay University. During this time, she also
won the Na. Chi. Kelkar and Chiplunkar awards.
She spent 5 years working as assistant editor of the weekly Navyug run by
Acharya Atre. She then moved to Nagpur to work as a professor of Marathi in
Hislop College, Nagpur. She retired after long service from Dayanand
College, Mumbai and settled in Pune.
During her working career in Mumbai, she also served in
The Film Censor board
The Theatre examination board
The Govt. book award
Her Work
She contributed extensively to Marathi literature in the form of poems,
stories, novels, character sketches, interviews, critiques, introductions, etc.
She also helped translate English cinema and wrote for newspaper columns.
Awards and Recognitions
Soor Singaar award for her song Mage ubha mangesh (
, )
Govt. of India award of excellent for song-writing for her cinema Bhujang
()
Ga Di Madgulkar award in 1996.
Yashvantrao Chawan Pratishan Award in 2001, for her contribution to
Marathi literature.
Death
www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 3
Shanta Shelke died of cancer, on June 6, 2002.
Works:
News Paper Columns
Some such newspaper columns were later converted into books. Examples
include:
Ek pani ( )
Translation: Single pager
Madarangi ()
Janta Ajanata ( )
Translation: Knowning Unknowingly
Lalit Literature
She also produced lalit literature like
Anandache Jhad ( )
Translation: The tree of happiness
Pavsaadhicha Paus ( )
Translation:The rain before the rains
Sansmarane ()
Translation:Memories
DhoolPati () - an introspective autobiography.
Avad Nivad ( )
Translation: Likes dislikes
Vadildhari Manase ( ) - a collection of character
sketches.
Translation: Father figures
Collection of Stories
She produced story collections like:
Anubandh ()
Kachkamal ()
Kaveri ()
Jahaj ()
Gulmohar ()
Premika ()*Mukta ()
Savashna ()
Basari
Novels
She penned novels like:
Odh ()
Dharma ()
Punarjanma ()
Chikkhaldrayancha Mantrik ( )
Nararakshas ()
Bhishanchaya ( )
Majha Khel Mandu De ( )
Vijhti Jyot ( )
Poetical and Song Collections
Though children's literature was her favourite subject, she gained popularity
as a poetess and music composer. Some of her famous song collections
include:
Varsha ()
Godan ()
Rupasi ()
Janmajanhavi ()
Kalyanche divas fulanchya rati (
)
Toch Chandrama ( )
Purvasandhya ()
Ityartha ()
She touched all forms of literature except comedy and playwriting.
Songs
www.PoemHunter.com - The World's Poetry Archive 4
Apart from her contributions to the Marathi literature, Shanta Shelke was
equally famous for writing lyrics for Marathi songs. She penned songs for
more than 300 films.
She wrote her first song for the film Ram Ram Pavna (
) in 1950. Her initial songs captured the imagination of her
audience and made her a household name:
Reshmachya Reghanni ( ) - a marathi
Laavani.
Je ved majala lagale ( )
Pavner Ga Mayela Karoo ( )
Some of her memorable creations include:
Sung by Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
Kaanta Rute Kunala ( a Marathi "Ghazal")
Translations
She translated the following works:
Japanese haiku to produce Panyavarchya Paklya (
).
The Sanskrit work by poet <a
href="http://www.poemhunter.com/kalidasa/">Kalidasa</a> Meghdoot into
Marathi.
A Novel by Virendra Bhattachrya's Novel into Lokanche Rajya (
)
A Novel Little Women by <a
href="http://www.poemhunter.com/louisa-may-alcott/">Louisa May
Alcott</a> into Chaughijani ()