Shanta Shelke

Shanta Janardan Shelke (Devanagari: शांता शेळके) (Born October 19, 1922. Died June 6, 2002) was a gifted Marathi poetess and writer. Apart from this she has been a journalist, a professor, composer, story writer, translator, written child literature, presided over literature gatherings and more.

Some of her compositions became immortal as either 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 a 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, criques, introductions, etc. She also helped translated English cinema and wrote for newspaper columns.

News paper columns

Some such newspaper columns were later converted into books. Examples include:
*Ek pani (एक पानी)
**Translation: Single pager
*Madarangi (मदरंगी)
*Janta Ajanata (जाणता अजाणता)
**Translation: Knowning Unknowingly

Lalith Literature

She also produced "lalit" literature like
*Anandache Jhad (आनंदाचे झाड)
**Translation: The tree of happiness
*Pavsaadhicha Paus (पावसाआधीचा पाउस)
**Translation:The rain before the rains
*Sansmarane (संस्मरणे)
**Translation:Memories
*DhoolPati (धूळपाटी) - an introspective autobiography.
*Avad Nivad (आवड निवड)
**Translation: Like dislikes
*Vadildhari Manase (वडीलधारी माणसे) - a collection of character sketches.
*Translation: Father figures

Collection of stories

She produced story collections like:

*Anubandh (अनुबंध)
*Kachkamal (काचकमळ)
*Kaveri (कावेरी)
*Jahaj (जहाज)
*Gulmohar (गुलमोहर)
*Premika (प्रेमिका)*Mukta (मुक्ता)
*Savashna (सवाष्ण)

Novels

She penned novels like:

*Odh (ओढ)
*Dharma (धर्म)
*Punarjanma (पुनर्जन्म)
*Chikkhaldrayancha Mantrik (चिखलदर्यांचा मांत्रिक)
*Nararakshas (नरराक्शस)
*Bhishanchaya (भीषण छाया)
*Majha Khel Mandu De (माझा खेळ मांडू दे)
*Vijhti Jyot (विझती ज्योत)

Poetical and Song Collections

Though child literature was her favourite subject, she gained popularity as a poetess and music composer. Some of her famous song collections include:

*Varsha (वर्षा)
*Godan (गोदन)
*Rupasi (रूपसी)
*Janmajanhavi (जन्म्जान्हवी)
*Kalyanche divas fulanchya rati (कळ्यांचे दिवस फ़ुलांच्या राती)
*Toch Chandrama (तोच चन्द्रमा)
*Purvasandhya (पूर्वसंध्या)
*Ityartha (इत्यर्थ)

She has touched all forms of literature except comedy and playwriting.

ongs

Apart from her contributions to the marathi literature, Shanta Shelke was equally famous for giving lyrics to marathi songs. having penned songs for more than 300 films.

She wrote her first song for the film "Ram Ram Pavna" (राम राम पव्हण) in 1950. Her initial songs captured the imaginations of her audience and made her a household name:

*Reshmachya Reghanni (रेशमाच्या रेघांनी) - a marathi Laavani.
*Je ved lagale majala (जे वेड लागले मजला)
*Pavner Ga Mayela Karoo (पवनेर ग मायेला करू)

Some of her memorable creations include:

*Sung by Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki
**Kaanta Rute Kunala ( a Marathi "Ghazal")

*Sung by Asha Bhosale, Music by Hridaynath Mangeshkar
**Hi vaat door jate (ही वाट दूर जाते, स्वप्नामधील गावा)
**Jivalaga rahile re door ghar majhe (जिवलगा, राहिले दूर घर माझे)
**Mage ubha mangesh (मागे उभा मंगेश, पुढ़े उभा मंगेश)
**Rutu Hirva, Rutu Barva ( ऋतू हिरवा, ऋतू बरवा)
*Sung by Lata Mangeshkar
**Ganaraj Rangi Nachto (गणराज रंगी नाचतो)
**Majhya Saranga, Raja Saranga (माझ्या सारंगा, राजा सारंगा)
**Mi dolkar dolkar, dolkar daryacha raja (मी डोलकर, डोलकर, डोलकर दर्याचा राजा)
**Vadal vara sutla ga (वादळ वारं सुटलं गं)
*Others
**Jain vicharit ranfula (जाईन विचारीत रानफ़ुला)
**Vadal vara sutla ga (वादळ वारं सुट्ल गं)

For some time she wrote songs under the pen-name Dr. Vasant Avasare.

Translations

She translated the following works:

*Japanese haiku to produce "Panyavarchya Paklya" (पाण्यावर्च्या पाकळ्या).
*The Sanskrit work by poet Kalidasa "Meghdoot" into Marathi.
*A Novel by Virendra Bhattachrya's Novel into "Lokanche Rajya" (लोकांचे राज्य)
*A Novel "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott into "Chaughijani" (चौघीजणी)

Awards and Recognitions

*"Soor Singaar" award for her song Mage ubha mangesh (मागे उभा मंगेश, पुढ़े उभा मंगेश)
*Govt. of India award of excellent for song-writing for her cinema "Bhujang" (भुजंग)
*Ga Di Madgulkar award in 1996.
*Yashvantrao Chawan Pratishan Award in 2001, for her contribution to Marathi literature.

Passing Away

Shanta Shelke died of cancer, on June 6, 2002

External links

* [http://www.marathiworld.com/sahitya/sahitik/shantabai.htm Marathiworld.com - Shirmati Shanta Shelke]
* [http://www.screenindia.com/20020802/rmara.html Screen - Marathi cinema loses a creative songwriter]