Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar

IAST |Vishnu Sakhārām Khāndekar (January 19, 1898 – September 2, 1976), was an eminent Marāthi writer of India.

Early life

Khandekar was born in Sāngli, Mahārāshtra. His father was a "munsif" in Sangli principality. In his early life, he was interested in acting in dramas and staged several dramas in his school days.

Professional and literary life

In 1920, Khandekar started working as a school teacher in a small town, "Shirode", in the present-day Sindhudurg district of the Konkan region in Maharashtra. He worked in that school until 1938. While working as a teacher, Khandekar produced in his spare time abundant Marathi literature in various forms. In his lifetime, he wrote sixteen novels, six plays, around 250 short stories, 50 allegorical stories, 100 essays, and over 200 critiques. His generation of writers was much influenced by Haribhau Apte.

Honors and awards

In 1941, Khandekar was elected as the president of the annual "Marāthi Sāhitya Sammelan" (Marathi Literary Confernce) [ [http://sangli.gov.in/htmldocs/prominet_personalities1.htm Sangli district website – Prominent Personalities] ] . In 1968, the Government of India honored him with a Padma Bhushan award in recognition of his literary accomplishments. Two years later, he was also honored with the fellowship of the Indian Sāhitya Akādemi [ [http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/fello.htm Sahitya Academy website – fellowship list] ] . The Shivāji University at Kolhāpur, Maharashtra conferred on him an honorary degree of D.Litt. In 1998, the Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honor.He was honored with prestigious Jnanpeeth award in 1974 for his work "Yayaati"

Major works

Khandekar's novel, "Yayāti", received three prestigious awards: A Maharashtra State Award (1960), a Sāhitya Akādemi Award (1960), and a Jnānpith Award (1974) [ [http://www.sahitya-akademi.org/sahitya-akademi/awa10313.htm Sahitya Academy website – Marathi awards list] ] [ [http://jnanpith.net/laureates/index.html Jnanpith website – list of laureates] ] .

Khandekar's other novels are as follows:
*"Hrudayāchi Hāk" (1930)
*"Kānchan Mruga" (1931)
*"Ulkā" (1934)
*"Don Mane" (1938)
*"Hirwā Chāphā" (1938)
*"Don Dhruwa" (1934)
*"Rikāmā Dewhārā" (1939)
*"Pahile Prem" (1940)
*"Kraunchawadh" (1942)
*"Jalalelā Mohar" (1947)
*"Pāndhare Dhag" (1949)
*"Amrutawel"
*"Sukhāchā Shodh"
*"Ashru"
*"Soneri Swapne Bhangaleli"

Movies and television serials

Several movies and television serials have been made based on the works of Khandekar. The movies include:
*"Chhāyā"........... [Marathi] (1936)
*"Jwālā".............. [Marathi and Hindi] (1938)
*"Devatā"............ [Marathi] (1939)
*"Amrut".............. [Marathi and Hindi] (1941)
*"Dharmapatni"... [Marathi and Hindi] (1941)
*"Pardeshi"......... [Marathi] ) (1953)

Khandekar wrote the dialogue and screenplay for the Marathi movie "Lagna Pahāwe Karoon" (1940).

Notes

External links

* [http://www.vskhandekar.org website on V.S. Khandekar]