Shakuntala Paranjpye

Shakuntalā Parānjpye (January 17, 1906 - May 3, 2000) was an Indian writer and a prominent social worker. She was a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council during 1958-64, and was a nominated member of Indian Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Parliament) during 1964-70 [ [http://164.100.47.5:8080/members/alphabeticallist_all_terms.asp?alphabet=P Members Of Rajya Sabha Since 1952] Rajya Sabha website.] [ [http://rajyasabha.gov.in/publ/golden_jubi/nominated%20.htm Rajya Sabha website] Nominated members] [ [http://rajyasabha.gov.in/publ/golden_jubi/nominated%20.htm NOMINATED MEMBERS OF RAJYA SABHA] ] . In 1991, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Bhushan title in recognition of her pioneering work in the field of family planning since 1938. The recent low population growth rate in Maharashtra is largely attributed to her work [ [http://www.indianodysseys.com/women/wp_mod2.asp Great Modern Women of India] indianodysseys.] .

Biography

Shakuntala Paranjpye was the daughter of Sir R. P. Paranjpye, who was India's first Senior Wrangler (Cambridge) (mathematics), an educationist, and India's High Commissioner to Australia during 1944-1947. Shakuntala took her Tripos in mathematics from Cambridge University in England in 1929. She received a Diploma in Education from London University the next year [ [http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Davis/Names/Paranjpye_Shakuntala.html Shakuntala Profile] Graduates of the University of Cambridge.] .

Shakuntala worked in the 1930s with the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/15374687.cms Sai speak!] The Times of India,8 Jul 2002.] . In the 1930s and '40s, she also acted in some Marathi and Hindi movies. (See "Acting" below.) Her most noted role was in V. Shantaram's Hindi social classic, "Duniyā Nā Māne". (This movie was remade in its Marathi version as "Kunku" [ [http://www.indianetzone.com/2/v.shantaram.htm V. Shantaram] Profiles at indianetzone.] .)

Shakuntala wrote many plays, sketches, and novels in Marathi. Some of her work was in English. (See "Authorship" below.)

A Hindi children's movie, "Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo" [imdb title|id=0999927|title=Yeh Hai Chakkad Bakkad Bumbe Bo] , which was based on a Marathi story by Shakuntala was released in 2003 [ [http://www.upperstall.com/chakkadbakkad.html yeh hai chakkad bakkad bumbe bo] upperstall.] .

Personal life

Shakuntala was married for a short time to a Russian painter, Youra Sleptzoff. She had a daughter, Sai Paranjpye, by him in 1938 [http://www.asha-foundation.org/women/women/sai_paranjpe.php Sai Paranjpye at ASHA] ] . Soon after Sai's birth, she divorced Youra, and reared Sai in her own father's household.

Sai Paranjpye is a noted Hindi movie director and screenwriter. She is known for her comedies and children's movies. In 2006, the Government of India awarded her the Padma Bhushan title in recognition of her artistic talents [http://india.gov.in/myindia/padmabhushan_awards_list1.php Padma Bhushan Awardees] Shakuntala Pranjpye, 1991, Maharashtra, Social Work. Sai Paranjpye, Arts, Maharashtra, 2006.] .

Acting

Shakuntala had acting roles in the following movies:

Ganga Maiyya (1955)
Ramshastri (1944)
Jawani Ka Rang (1941)
Paisa (1941)
Stree (1938)
Duniya Na Mane (1937)
Jeevan Jyoti (1937)
Kunku (1937)
Sultana Chand Biwi (1937)
Bahadur Beti (1935)
Kali Waghan (1935)
Typist Girl (1935)
Bhakta Prahlad (1934)
Bhedi Rajkumar (1934)
Partha Kumar (1934)
Sairandhri (1933)

Authorship

* Three years in Australia, (English), Poona, 1951. [http://www.booksandcollectibles.com.au/book.php3?book_id=219880988& Three Years In Australia] Item: 13460, booksandcollectibles.] .
* Sense and nonsense. (English), New Delhi, Orient Longman, 1970. [http://www.worldcatlibraries.org/search?q=au%3AShakuntala+Paranjpye&qt=hot_author]
* Kāhi Āmbat, Kāhi Goad, (Marathi), Pune, Śrīvidyā Prakāshan, 1979.
* Desh-Videshichyā Lok-Kathā, (Marathi)

References

External links

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