On December 15, 2023, Dr. Tara Bhawalkar, a senior writer and researcher, received the Dr. Sunil Deshmukh Maharashtra Foundation's Dilip V. Chitre Sahitya Lifetime Achievement Award. This award recognizes her dedication to learning, thinking, research, and writing. She has enriched Maharashtra's intellectual world through her hard work and knowledge.
Early Life and Education
Tara Bhawalkar was born in Pune in 1939. Her father's job required frequent transfers, so she studied in different places. She completed her post-graduation in Arts. After that, she started as a school teacher. Later, she taught at the college level.
Early Career and Interest In Theater
While teaching, she founded an amateur theater group in Sangli. She also won an acting award in a state drama competition. Later, she took up theater research. Her Ph.D. thesis was on the development of Marathi mythological plays. It was recognized as the best thesis at Pune University. This study led her to write critical books.
Dr. Tara Bhawalkar Age, Wikipedia, Biography, Education, Cast, Speech, Husband, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Tara Bhawalkar |
| Born | 1939, Pune |
| Education | Post-graduation in Arts |
| Career | Teacher (school and college level), Theater Researcher, Scholar of folk literature and culture |
| Awards/Recognition | Dilip V. Chitre Sahitya Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), President of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference (2024), Lokmat Durga Jeevanga Gaurav Puraskar (2024) |
| Key Contributions | Extensive writing and research in folk literature, especially focusing on women's perspectives. Contributions to Marathi theater and encyclopedias. Served as president of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference in Delhi in February 2024. |
| Literary Work | Authored 41 books, including 'Sitavan'. Contributed to Marathi Vishwakosh, Samajvidnyan Kosh, Marathi Wangmayakosh, and Marathi Granthakosh. |
| Other activities | Founded an amateur theater group in Sangli and won an acting award. Traveled throughout the country due to her involvement in theater, gaining exposure to folk art, Sant literature, and the thoughts of female saints. |
| Quotes | "Nobody is untouched in today’s times". Spoke about the importance of control of the means of production and quoted poems of women saints and ordinary women expressing liberal ideas. |
| ** दिल्ली साहित्य संमेलना** | President of the 98th All India Marathi Literary Conference in Delhi. The conference marked a historical event as it returned to the national capital after 70 years. |
Journey into Folklore
Later, she became more interested in folklore. She followed the path of Durga Bhagwat and Dr. Ra. Chi. Dhere in her research and writing. She explored the images of women in Indian culture. She also searched for the inner thoughts of women. She proved that Indian folk culture is a tradition of mothers. She co-researched and wrote the book 'Mahamaya' with Dr. Dhere, whom she considered her guru.
Literary Works and Contributions
Tara Bhawalkar wrote 41 books, including 'Sitavan'. She also wrote in various forms such as creative writing, translations, and lectures. She contributed to the Marathi Vishwakosh (Encyclopedia), Samajvidnyan Kosh (Sociology Encyclopedia), Marathi Wangmayakosh (Literature Encyclopedia), and Marathi Granthakosh (Book Encyclopedia).
Contributions to Marathi Literature and Theater
Dr. Tara Bhawalkar has made significant contributions to Marathi literature and theater. Her work includes the study of folklore, with a focus on women's perspectives. She has also explored various aspects of Marathi theater, including mythological plays and folk theater forms.
Awards and Recognition
She was the president of the first Marathi Women's Literature Conference. She has received many awards for her literary works. This Lifetime Achievement Award honors the tradition of thought and research in Maharashtra. The 'Padmashri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Sahitya Seva Lifetime Achievement Award' is a salute to her work in folk literature.
Detailed Exploration of Literary Contributions
Dr. Bhawalkar's work involves finding scattered folk literature. She interprets women's lives and folk culture from it. She also presents theoretical frameworks. She has written extensively on folk literature, poetry, and drama. Her books include 'Aakalan Ani Aaswad', 'Loknagar Rangbhumi', and 'Lokasahityachya Abhyas Disha'.
Connection to Theater and Folk Literature
Since her college days, theater has been her favorite subject. She combined it with the study of folk literature. Although she has a deep knowledge of folk culture, she always applies scientific standards to everything. She brought the female consciousness in folk literature to the forefront.
Understanding of Sita in Folk Ramayana
This understanding helped her to understand Sita, who is central to the folk Ramayana. Dr. Bhawalkar has explored the development of mythological plays, folk plays, Dashavatar, and Yakshagana. She has also contributed to the Marathi Vishwakosh, Marathi Wangmayakosh, and Marathi Granthakosh.
Educational Career
In her educational career, she went from being a secondary school teacher to a professor and Ph.D. guide. Dr. Bhawalkar stays away from publicity. She is always busy with writing, research, and review. This award honors Dr. Bhawalkar's life and her expression of folk consciousness.
Acharya Bal Shastri Jambhekar: A Pioneer of Modern Maharashtra
Acharya Bal Shastri Jambhekar, born in 1812 and died in 1846, was a remarkable figure in the early 19th century. He was a master of Marathi, Sanskrit, English, mathematics, astronomy, and natural sciences.
Jambhekar's Achievements
Jambhekar wrote articles in Marathi and English. He also edited the first Anglo-Marathi weekly and the first Marathi monthly magazine. He contributed scholarly articles to the Journal of the Bombay Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Jambhekar was a social reformer who held independent views on public questions.
Resemblance to Ranade
Contemporaries felt that if he had lived longer, he would have been a Ranade or even greater. Mr. Jambhekar's biography was a challenging task.
Bal Shastri Jambhekar: Early Life and Education
Bal Shastri Jambhekar was born in a period of stagnation in Western India. He belonged to the first generation of English-educated Maharashtrians. He quickly embraced the New Learning. He made the New Learning available to his non-English-speaking compatriots.
Contributions to Education and Journalism
He wrote textbooks in Marathi on various subjects. This was part of his duties as an Educational Officer. He edited the first Anglo-Marathi weekly and the first Marathi monthly magazine for some years.
Social Reform and Independent Views
Bal Shastri was a social reformer who held fast to his Hindu religion and culture. He was not a sycophant and expressed independent views on public questions.
Legacy and Remembrance
His life is an inspiration. He died prematurely in 1846, but his achievements are remarkable. He was proficient in multiple languages and contributed to various fields.
Tara Bhawalkar's Speech in Delhi
In February 2025, Dr. Tara Bhawalkar gave a speech in Delhi. She spoke about who is progressive and who is not in front of Modi and Pawar.