List of Marathi people

This page is a list of Marathi people. The Marathi people are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India.

Historical

Marathas, prior to 1818.

Rulers

* Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj - Founder of the Maratha Empire
* Chattrapati Sambhaji Maharaj - Son of Shivaji; Second Emperor of Maratha Empire; "Dharmaveer".
* Rajaram I Chatrapati Rajaram Maharaj- Son of Shivaji;
* Chattrapati Shahu Maharaj - Fourth "Chattrapati"
* Peshwa Bajirao - Prime minister of the Maratha empire, oversaw northern expansion
* Rani Lakshmibai - The Rani of Zansi. Name at birth Manikarnika Moropanth Tambey.
* Shrimant Maharaja Sir Sayajirao III Gaekwad - Ruler of Baroda
* Shrimant Sardar Malharrao Holkar - Ruler of Indore
* Rajmata Ahilyabai Holkar - Queen of Malwa
* Gautamiputra Satkarni aka "Shalivahan" - A Satavahana emperor, defeated Vikramaditya and started Shalivahan Shaka Calendar still used by Maharashtrians
* Serfoji II - Maratha King of Thanjavur; well-known for his pioneering work in ophthalmology
* Srimant Mahadji Shinde Srinath Bahadur - Ruler of Gwalior state; "de-facto" ruler of much of India
* Shrimant Govindrao Nanasaheb Patwardhan - Ruler of Miraj and Sangli states; "de-facto" ruler of southern Maharshtra
* Shrimant Parshuramrao Bhausaheb Patwardhan - Ruler of Jamkhandi State; commander in chief of the Maratha Empire

Politics

* Hemadri alias Hemadpant - Prime Minister of Yadavas of Devgiri
* Lokmanya Tilak Great freedom fighter
* Yashwantrao Chavan - First Chief Minister, Maharashtra,Former Deputy Prime Minister of India
* Babasaheb Ambedkar - Architect of Indian Constitution. Received Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1990
* Pratibha Patil, President of India and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces
* C D Deshmukh - First Finance Minister of India.
* Vilasrao Deshmukh - Current CM, Maharashtra
* Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar - RSS leader
* Dr. K. B. Hedgewar - Founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
* Dr Pandurang Purushottam Shirodkar - Freedom Fighter,First Speakar of Goa assembly
* Pramod Mahajan - Senior leader, Bharatiya Janata Party
* Shivraj Patil - Current Home Minister of the Republic of India
* Sharad Pawar - Founder of NCP, head of the Board of Control for Cricket in India
* Vasantdada Patil - Former CM, Maharashtra
* Vasundhara Raje - Current CM, Rajasthan
* Pratapsinh Rane - Current CM, Goa
* Dutta Samant - Communist trade union leader
* Vinayak Damodar Savarkar - Freedom Fighter; Revolutionary; Creator of political "Hindutva"
* Sushil Kumar Shinde - Former CM, Maharashtra
* Balasaheb Thackeray - "Hindu Hriday Samrat" ; Founder of Shiv Sena
* Raj Thackeray - Youth Leader ; Founder of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
* Lokmanya Tilak - (1856 - 1920) National leader of pre-Gandhi era
* Pandit Raghunath Vinayak Dhulekar - Member of Parliament, 1952, Jhansi, Speaker, Vidhan Parishad, 1958, Uttar Pradesh,
* Gopal Krishna Gokhale - Political Guru of Mahatma Gandhi
* Ram Ganesh Agarakar - Pre-Independence leader
* Madhu Dandawate - Socialist leader
* Shripad Dange - Communist leader
* Balasaheb Kher - Former CM
* Nanasaheb Kunte first speaker of LokSabha/Senate of Pt. Nehru
* Maharani Gayatri DeviGranddaughter of Sayajirao Gaekwad and Maharani of Jaipur
* Balasaheb Desai Former CM of Maharashatra
* Vasantrao Naik Former CM of Maharashtra
* Annasaheb P. Shinde Former Union Minister
* Annasaheb M.K.Patil Former Union Minister for state

Activists

* Baba Amte - Activist Worked for people suffering from Leprosy. Awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1986
* Vinoba Bhave - Gandhian activist. Awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1983
* Anna Hazare - Gandhian activist; Anti-corruption crusader
* Nanaji Deshmukh - Social worker active in Indore
* Nirmala Deshpande - Gandhian activist; Worked for peace in south Asia
* Medha Patkar - 'Narmada Bachao' fame
* Priyanand Agale-'ECO Needs Foundation' president; worked on environment protection & reduction of poverty

Reformers

* All Saints of Maharashtra
* Vishwanath (Tatyasaheb) Kore - He is considered the father of farmers co-operative culture. He established the affluent WARNA empire transforming warnan-nagar into a self contained industrial and educational hub through the co-operative movement.
* Gopal Krishna Gokhale - He established the Servants of India Society and represented Indian interests in the Imperial Legislative Council. Mahatma Gandhi considered him his "guru".
* Dhondo Keshav Karve - Maharshi Karve fought for the upliftment of women, started a college for them and established the first Indian University for women, named SNDT Women's University. He was awarded Bharat Ratna in 1958
* Raghunath Karve - Pioneer of Family Planning and Birth Control clinics in India
* Gadge Maharaj - He dedicated his life for fight against social evils. He built inns, schools, animal shelters and medical centres. Cleanliness was his mantra
* Jyotiba Phule - Mahatma Jyotiba Phule started education for women and struggled hard for the upliftment of the depressed classes (April 11, 1827 — November 28, 1890).
* Mahadev Govind Ranade
* Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj - Prince of Kolhapur, known for his social work.
* Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil-Worked to spread education to the last person
* Dr.Babasaheb Ambedakar outstanding work for untouchables
* Vithal Ramaji Shinde Selfless work for the removal of untouchability and other suppressed
* Sharad Joshi Great work for farmers
* Shripad Dange Revolutionary communist leader against cast, religion etc
* Nanasaheb Parulekar Great work for orphanage, Founder of marathi Daily Sakal
* Dr.Datta Samant selfless Trade unions leader.
* Ram Ganesh Agarkar Reformist
* Dr. Dattaprasad Dabholkar - Propagated scientific, progressive and realistic education among school children
* Shyam Manav --keeps alive torch of Ratioanlist thinking in society started by Phule,Ambedkar removing superstitious thoughts from the mind of ordinary people of rural as well as urban Maharashtra.
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagannath_Shankarshet] Nana Shankarsheth - Architect of Modern Mumbai, Promoted Sanskrit language education by giving away prestigious Scholorships

Eminent Scholars

Academics

* Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar - Orientologist on whose name BORI is named
* Dr. Pandurang Vaman Kane - Sanskrit scholar. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University. Recipient of Bharat Ratna 1963
* Professor Dattatreya Gopal Karve - Professor and economist. First Principal of the Brihan Maharastra College of Commerce.
* Irawati Karve - Doctorate in Anthropology from Berlin University in 1930
*Professor Kumud Pore- An exceptional teacher and an orator, both in English and Marathi.Economist, social reformer and a great moral and intellectual support to number of NGOs in Maharashtra
* Colonel Prakash Khandekar - Retired Army Officer and mentor to over 500 officers in the Indian Army
* Professor Pramod Khargonekar [ [http://www.eng.ufl.edu/about/administration/deansoffice/ppk/index.php UF College of Engineering: Office of the Dean ] ] - Dean, College of Engineering at the University of Florida, and well known researcher in the field of control systems.
* Wrangler R. P. Paranjpe - First Indian to become a Senior Wrangler at Cambridge University. He sacrificed higher salaries and worked as the principal of Fergusson College for over twenty years
* Professor Suhas Patankar - Inventor of the groundbreaking SIMPLE algorithm for solution of Navier-Stokes equation that revolutionalized the world of Computational Fluid Dynamics.
* Professor S.V. Kogekar Principal, Fergusson College, Pune (1957-1964) and Principal of BMCC (1949-50).Beloved Prof of Economics and Political Science. He was an exceptional teacher and an orator, both in English and Marathi. Known for speaking his mind without mincing any words. He was blacklisted for his Kale Memorial Lecture in 1976, during the Emergency, against the extension of the term of the Parliament.

Science and Technology

* Shreeram Shankar Abhyankar - Mathematician. Known for his contributions to singularity theory and Abhyankar's conjecture
* Dr. Vijay P. Bhatkar - Founder and Former Executive Director of the Center for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), member of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet of the Indian government and recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award. Instrumental in developing India's first supercomputer, the Param10,000
* Ashok Gadgil - Inventor of UV-disinfection method
* Anil Kakodkar - Director of BARC and Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Atomic Energy
* D. R. Kaprekar - Mathematician. Famous for his work on Number Theory
* Narendra Karmarkar - Mathematician. Renowned for developing Karmarkar's algorithm
* Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar - Director, CSIR
* Dr. Jayant Narlikar - Prominent Astrophysicist His work on conformal gravity theory with Sir Fred Hoyle, called Hoyle-Narlikar theory, demonstrated a synthesis can be achieved between Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity and Mach's principle.
* Prof. Abhay Ashtekar- known for 'Ashtekar Variables'. He is also regarded as a founder of the theory of Loop quantum gravity
* Dr. Sarang A. Kulkarni - Well known Marine Biologist, Scuba Diving Instructor in the country. Youngest scientist to be President of Marathi Vidnyan Parishad at the age of 31. He has discovered several unknown underwater marine biodiversity hotspots in the country.

Finance and Economics

* C. D. Deshmukh - Third Governor of Reserve Bank of India
* Dr Narendra Jadhav - a principal advisor to the RBI and a former advisor to the executive director at the IMF,Currently VC - Pune University
* K.G. Ambegaonkar- Governor of Reserve Bank of India in 1957
* B.N. Adarkar- Governor of Reserve Bank of India in 1970

Literature

* 'Riyasatkar' Govind Sakharam Sardesai - Great Historian and Writer.
* 'Mahamahopadhyaya' Datto Vaman Potdar - Historian and Editor.
* Arun Kolatkar - well known Poet.
* Vasant Gurjar - Poet
* Bhalachandra Nemade - well known novelist. First novel is "Kosala". Other novels include bidhar, Jarila and Jhool.
* Ram Ganesh Gadkari One of the best Playwriter
* Vasant Kanetkar One of the best Playwriter
* Acharya Atre - Popular satirist, editor, activist, writer, also known for his work in "Maharashtra Ekkikaran Chalwal".
* Satish AlekarBrilliant playwriter of Theater Academy
* Vishram Bedekar Novelist
* Malati Bedekar Feminist story writer.
* Jaywant Dalvi - Acclaimed playwright
* Govind Dandekar
* Hamid Dalwai - Acclaimed novelist and social activist
* P.L. DeshpandePu La Deshpande-FamousMarathiwriter, Playwriter,actor, musician
* Na Gha (NG) Deshpande - Poet
* Dr. Shirish Gopal Deshpande - Poet & Novelist
* Mahesh Elkunchwar
* Gangadhar Gadgil - Popular writer
* Chi.V.Joshi Marathi P.G.Woodhouse
* V. P. Kale - Famous writer known for his touching stories on middle class
* Vinda Karandikar - Jnanapeeth awardee
* G.A.Kulkarni Great Short stories
* Madhu Mangesh Karnik Great writer.
* Irawati Karve Writer, Critic
* Datta Raghunath Kavthekar
* Arun Kolatkar-Great poet of 20th century marathi poetry
* V.S. Khandekar - Jnanapeeth awardee
* Ga Di Ma - Modern Valmiki of India
* Vyanktesh Madgulkar Very brilliant writer whose stories are translated in Russian
* Na Dho Mahanor - Popular poet
* Shahir Sable - Famous "Shahir", known for his popular song "Jai Jai Maharashtra Mazaa"
* Namdeo Dhasal-worldclass dalit poet
* Shivaji Sawant
* Shahir Shaikh - Famous poet and "Shahir", known for his work in "Maharashtra Ekkikaran Chalwal".
* Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar - "Kusumagraj"-Jnanapeeth awardee
* Vijay Tendulkar - Controversial but acclaimed playwright
* D.M.Mirasdar Brilliant writer on rural characters.
* Harshad Sarpotdar - Talented Writer
* Ratnakar Matkari - Supernatural story writer
* Shayam Manohar
* Dilip Chitre-One of the Great poet, translator,filmmaker, thinker,critic-Should ger 1st Literary Nobel price for marathi.
* Ravindra Godbole - Writer and Publisher
* Mangesh Narayanrao Kale
* Sachin Ketkar-Surrealistic poet. Trandlated Recent Marathi Poetry Anthology-Live Update
* Saleel Wagh - Influential poet, Published 3 books.
* Anirudha punarvasuFamous writer. His stories are always about sophisticated people.
* Shankar Patil Famous Brilliant writer on rural characters and a well-known story-teller.
* Vishwas Patil-Wrote famous book "PANIPAT"
* Daya PawarAutobiographical writer of "Balut"
* Mangesh Padgavkar- Famous Marathi poet
* Bahinabai Chaudhari- Famous Marathi (Ahirani language) poet
* Hemant Divate-Pathbeaking and Influential Poet and Editor/Publisher of Poetry.
* Manya Joshi-pathbreaking new generation poet
* Sandeep Deshpande-new generation poet
* Vilas Sarang
* Gangadhar Mahambare Very classical poet
* Shanta Shelke Classical Poet
* Arun Sadhu Non Fictional writer. Biographies, journalistic work,
* RamShastri or KanetakerNon Fictional writer .Nazi bhasmasuracha udayasta etc.
* Sant Tukadoji Maharaj Classical rural poet- Well known Sahityik and Bal-sahityakar.
* Prof.Dr.Sharad Rane "Kandil" well known novel. Bal-sahitya puraskar of Maharashtra Government for his book "Pachamukhi Pandu"
* Dr, Shriniwas Janardan Kashalikar: Over 40 books, novels, travellogues, popular science philosophy [Namasmaran, Shambhavi, Bhovara, Suryashodh, Sahasranetra,stress management, kamajeevan, superliving, arogyadeep, smiling Sun etc and artcles and scientific research papers.
* Rajendra Joshi Writer- Freelance Journalist.
*Rahul Bhide-well known for his artistically gory books.
* Shobha De - Well known Novelist & Columnist
* Suresh Bhat - Famous Poet
*Mr. Ranjit desai - He is famous for his novel Swami & Radhey. He is form a village Kowad-Kini in tahasil Chandgad, Dist kolhapur.

Music

* Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande,(August 10, 1860 – September 19, 1936) was an Indian classical musician widely acclaimed to have brought in a renaissance in Indian music.
* Asha Bhosle, (born September 8,1933)- Belongs to the legendary Mangeshkar family
* Lata Mangeshkar (born September 28, 1929)- Recipient of Bharat Ratna in 2001
* Hridayanath Mangeshkar- Music director (and brother of Asha Bhosle and Lata Mangeshkar)
* Pandit Suresh Haldonkar - Indian Classical Vocalist
* Pandit Prabhakar Karekar
* Pandit Babanrao Haldonkar - Indian Classical Vocalist
* Pandit Vasantrao Kadnekar - Indian Classical Vocalist
* C. Ramchandra,( or Ramchandra Chitalkar), (1918-1977)- Hindi film Music director
* Laxmikant Kudalkar,(1937-1998) - of the duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal
* Jatin Lalit - Music composers for films such as Khiladi
* Sudhir Phadke(25 July 1919 Kolhapur - 29 July 2002)- Legendary Marathi music composer, composed music for "Geet Ramayan"
* Ramlaxman - Music composer of hits like Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hai Kaun
* Ashok Patki - Popular Marathi music composer
* Suresh Wadkar - Popular trained classical singer
* Devaki Pandit - Popular trained classical singer
* Sadhana Sargam - Popular Bollywood playback singer
* Anuradha Paudwal - Popular devotional and Bollywood playback singer
* Ajit Kadkade - Popular folk vocalist
* Kishori Amonkar,(born April 10, 1931) - Classical singer
* Arun Date - Legendary Marathi playback singer
* Milind Ingle - Marathi and Hindi Music
* Bal Gandharva [famous singer]
* Haribhau Deshpande [famous 'Organ player']
* Vasantrao Deshpande
* Master. Krushanarao Phulambrikar [famous singer]
* Sawai Gandharva [famous singer]
* Sawani Shende-Sathaye Famous Indian Classical Singer and Poet
* Rahul Deshpande
* Vamanrao Deshapande
* Balakrushnabua Ichalakaranjikar
* Satyashil Deshpande
* Salil Kulkarni Famous Musician
* Arun Paudwal Gread Music Director of Marathi Cinemas
* Anand Modak Music director Theatre Academy
* Sudesh Bhonsle The voice behind many of Amitabh Bhachan songs

Pop Music

* Abhijit sawant - The first Indian Idol
* Avdoot Gupte
* Swapnil Bandodkar - singer
* Rahul Vaidya - Indian Idol runner-up
* Mahesh Tinaikar - Lead vocalist/guitarist of popular Indian rock band Indus Creed
* Prajakta Shukre
* Mangesh Borgaokar
* Ganesh Hegde--Postar
* Suhas Chavan [http://www.nirvanfoundationtrust.org/people_suhas.html Hindustani Music]

Sports

* Abhijit Kunte - Chess Grandmaster
* Ajit Agarkar- National and Mumbai cricket team bowler
* Ajit Wadekar - Cricketing batsman, former Indian captain
* Anjali Vedpathak Bhagwat - Former World No.1 ranked Rifle sharp-shooter
* Bapu Nadkarni - Bombay and India cricketer
* Bhagyashree Thipsay - Chess Champion
* Chandrakant Pandit - Former India Wicket Keeper
* Chandu Borde - Former Indian Cricketer batsman
* Dilip Sardesai- National and Bombay cricketer
* Dilip Vengsarkar - Cricketing batsman; First batsman to score three back-to-back centuries at Lord's
* Eknath Solkar- National and Bombay cricketer
* Gaurav Natekar - Former Davis Cup player
* Khashaba Jadhav - First Indian Olympic medalist
* Kiran More - Former India Wicket Keeper and chairman, selection committee
* Lisa Sthalekar - Vice captain of Australian women's cricket team born in Pune
* Nandu Natekar - Badminton champion, first Indian to win a title abroad - the Men's singles in the Selangor International Tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1956. The first Arjuna Award winner in 1961.
* Nikhil Kanetkar - Badminton player
* Pravin Amre- Attacking batsman
* Pravin Thipsay - Grandmaster
* Sachin Tendulkar - cricketing batsman former Indian captain, scorer of most Test and ODI centuries, most ODI runs in history, known as Little Master to Cricket world
* Sandeep Patil - Former India Cricketer
* Sanjay Manjrekar - Indian cricket batsman
* Sunil Gavaskar - Cricketer batsman, former Indian captain who was the leading run-scorer in Test cricket and was the first to reach 10,000 runs in test cricket.
* Surendra Chavan - First Maharashtrian to climb Mt Everest
* Rahul Dravid - Marathi but settled in Karnataka, cricketing batsman former Indian captain, known as "The Wall" to Cricket world.
* Tushar Khandekar - Hockey Forward, often referred to as "The Goal Poacher" ref
* Vijay Hazare - Cricketing batsman
* Vijay Manjrekar - Indian cricket batsman
* Vinod Kambli - Cricketing batsman
* Virdhawal Khade - Asian Champion in Swimming
* Narayan Rao Joshi - Chess Champion
* Prakash Kamble -Mr. India title winner. Pune
* Prakash Koyande-Mr. India title winner, Runner up at Mr. Asia. Mumbai
* Jimmy Patel -Mr. India title winner .Pune
* Dr.Vedprakah Dhand -Mr. India title winner. Pune

Wrestlers

*HindKesari Chaboo pandhari Ranboke A very famous wrestler of AhmadNager
*HindKesari Shreepati Khanchanale Famous Wrestler Who won against sadik Punjabi
*HindKesari Ganpat Andalkar Famous Wrestler Who won against Goga Punjabi, Also Asian games winner.
*Hindkesari Marooti Mane A very famous Wrestler from Sangli and a national champion.
*Khashaba Jadhav First Olympic medal for India in 1952
*Prof.Khaniwale 7 Dan/ Degrees BlackBelt in 1936 Judo (Japanese Martial Art Wrestling) He started Judo first time in India at Pune.
*Isha Khade - National level swimmer & cyclist

Bureaucracy

* Madhavrao Godbole - Union Home Secretary who resigned during Babri demolition citing incompetence of Government. His integrity and intellectual honesty is legendary.
* N Vittal - Former CVC (Chief Vigilance Commissioner) of India. He is a Tanjore Maharashtrian, currently staying in Chennai.
*V.B. Samant-CEO of Vical Incorporated. Biotechnology company based in La Jolla, California
* B G Deshmukh - Secretary to PM (Rajiv Gandhi)

Marathi Journalists

* Rajdeep Sardesai - Sr Journalist and Editor of CNN-IBN
* Kumar Ketkar
* Suresh Dwadashiwar
* Govind Talwalkar
* Dinkar Raikar
* Avinash Mantri
* Prakash Pohare
* Shailesh Pande
* Mahesh Mhatre
* Pavin Tokekar
* Shrikant Bojewar
* Rajeev Khandekar
* Bharatkumar Raut
* Sukrut Khandekar
* Rahi Bhide
* Sanjay Raut
* Rajendra Joshi
* Nikhil Wagle
* Shrimant Mane
* Siddharth Vinayak Patankar

Others

* Vijay Kelkar - Advisor to Minister of Finance
* Anandi Gopal Joshi - Anandibai Joshi was the first Indian woman doctor to be educated in USA. Anandibai Joshi's life spans just about twenty-two years, from 1865-1887.
* Ramdas Padhye - Puppet Master. Was Asian representative at Marilyn Monroe Puppet Fest in 2006
* Sharad Upadhye - Famous Astrologer
* Dr Subodh Kerkar - World famous artist
* Dwarkanath Kotnis - A well-known doctor in China who helped Chinese communists army during the World War II. A well-known doctor in China who helped the Chinese and died in 1942 at the age of 32.
* Bharat Dabholkar - Adman, Actor, Director and producer. The brain behind Amul commercials.
* Rajdeep Sardesai - Sr Journalist and Editor of CNN-IBN
* Vishnu Bhagwat - Former Navy Chief of India
* Bhushan Ghokale - Vice-chief, Indian Air Force
* Arunkumar Vaidya - Chief of Army Staff from 83 through 86
* Chota Rajan - Underworld Gangster
* Ravi Paranjape - Painter, illustrator
* Dinesh D'Souza - Writer, public speaker
* Atul Kasbekar - Famous photographer - Man behind KINGFISHER SWIMSUIT CALENDARS. Website - www.atulkasbekar.com
* Gautam Rajadhyaksha - THE famous photographer! He is cousin brother of Shobha De. Guru of Atul Kasbekar
* Harsha Bhogle - Famous commentator

FILM
* Madhuri Dixit
*Nana Patekar
*Ritesh Deshmukh
*Sivaji Satam
*Namarata Shirodkar
*Mahesh Mangelkar
*Rema Lagoo
*Tanuja [mother of Kajol(popular Hindi actress]

See also

* List of Marathi poetsRaosaheb Ghuge -Leading marathi poet

Trainers-Vinay Kelkar - Trainers for life's change

References