Babasaheb Purandare

Balwant Moreshwar Purandare (29 July 1922 – 15 November 2021), popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare, was an Indian historian and theatre personality from Maharashtra, India. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India's highest second-civilian award on 25 January 2019. His works are mostly based on the events related to the life of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire; as a result he is termed as Shiv-Shahir[3] ("Shivaji's bard"). He is mostly known for his popular play on Shivaji, Jaanta Raja which was popular not only in Maharashtra but also in Andhra Pradesh and Goa. Babashaeb Purandare has also studied the history of the Peshwas of Pune. He is also known for his significant contribution along with Madhav Deshpande and Madhav Mehere as senior party leaders in the early-1970s of Shiv Sena along with Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray.[4] In 2015, he was awarded the Maharashtra Bhushan Award, Maharashtra's highest civilian award.[5]

Shiv-Shahir

Babasaheb Purandare
बाबासाहेब पुरंदरे
Born
Balwant Moreshwar Purandare

(1922-07-29)29 July 1922[1][2]
Shukrawar Peth, Pune, British India
Died15 November 2021(2021-11-15) (aged 99)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Nationality•  British India (1922-1947)
•  India (1947-2021)
Occupation(s)Historian, writer, orator
Political partyShiv Sena
Spouse
Nirmala Purandare
​
(died 2019)​
Children3
AwardsPadma Vibhushan (2019)
Maharashtra Bhushan (2015)
Kalidas Samman (2007-08)

Works
Babasaheb Purandare Wax Statue
Babasaheb Purandare Wax Statue at Wax Museum, Lonavala.

Purandare had started writing stories related to the period of Shivaji's reign at a very young age, which were later compiled and published in a book titled "Thinagya" ("Sparks"). His other works include books titled Raja Shiva-Chatrapati and Kesari, and a book on life of Narayanrao Peshwa. But the most well-known of his works is the drama, Jaanata Raja, a widely popular play on Shivaji published and first staged in 1985. Since then the drama has been staged over 1000 times in 16 districts of Maharashtra, Agra, Delhi, Bhopal, and the United States. Originally written in Marathi, this work was later translated into Hindi.[1][6] This drama is performed by over 200 artists, as well as elephants, camels and horses. Generally the performance of this drama begins around Diwali each year.

For his works, in the field of drama, he was awarded the Kalidas Samman by the Madhya Pradesh government for the year 2007–08.[1]

Personal life

He belonged to the Noted Deshastha Rigvedi Purandare Family. He married Nirmala Purandare. His wife Nirmala Purandare (1933–2019) was a veteran social activist. She founded Vanasthali organisation in Pune.[7] She was known for working amongst rural women, and in the area of child development. Her brother, Shree Ga Majgaonkar, and Babasaheb Purandare had very close association in the field of literature. Babasaheb Purandare has a daughter (Madhuri) and two sons, Amrut and Prasad. All his children are active in Marathi literary field.[8] Madhuri Purandare, his daughter, is a renowned writer, painter, and singer.[9]

Purandare died from pneumonia on 15 November 2021, at the age of 99 in a hospital in Pune.[4][10][11]

Criticism

Political workers that had been protesting against Babasaheb Purandare alleged that he has sullied the reputation of Maratha warrior-king Shivaji through his writings. They also filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court, in protest when the Maharashtra government decided to award Maharashtra Bhushan to the writer. However, the Bombay High Court, dismissed the PIL, calling it a "publicity stunt", ruled that the petition lacked "substance" and fined the petitioners Rs 10,000 for wasting the court's time.[12]

References
  1. "Kalidas Samman to Shri Purandare". Department of Public Relations, Madhya Pradesh Government. 20 November 2007. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  2. Babasaheb Purandare turns 99, wishes pour in
  3. Śālinī Pāṭīla (1987). Maharani Tarabai of Kolhapur, c. 1675-1761 A.D. S. Chand & Co. ISBN 978-81-219-0269-4. Retrieved 9 August 2013.
  4. Banerjee, Shoumojit (15 November 2021). "Babasaheb Purandare, historian and authority on Chhatrapati Shivaji, passes away at 99". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. "Purandare awarded "Maharashtra Bhushan"". Indian Express. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
  6. "Janta Raja' to be staged in the US: Baba Purandare". 2 November 2007. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  7. "Social activist, educationist Nirmala Purandare dies in Pune". The New Indian Express. 21 July 2019.
  8. "Noted social activist, educationist Nirmala Purandare dies in Pune". 21 July 2019.
  9. https://jyotsnaprakashan.com/illustrators/english-illustrators/madhuri-purandare-2
  10. "मोठी बातमी | शिवशाहीर बाबासाहेब पुरंदरे यांचे निधन". 24taas.com. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  11. "Historian, Padma Vibhushan Awardee Babasaheb Purandare Dead; 'Pained Beyond Words,' PM Modi Says". News18. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  12. Kumar, Krishna (20 August 2015). "Writer Babasaheb Purandare receives 'Maharashtra Bhushan' despite protests". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  13. "Noted historian Babasaheb Purandare passes away". Deccan Herald. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
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