P. L. Deshpande Biography 
Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande, popularly known as P. L. Deshpande was a Marathi writer, fulm and stage actor and humorist. He was also known as a music composer, harmonium player, singer, and orator. He was also known as "Maharashtrache laadke vyaktimatva". He has received numerous awards Sahitya Akademi Award (Marathi), Sahitya Akademi fellowship, Punya bhushan, Padma bhushan and Maharashtra Gaurawa Award. A park in Pune has been named after him.
Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande was born on November 8, 1919 in Gaodevi area in Mumbai. Later the family got settled in Pune. He studied at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya and later studied at Fergusson College in Pune and Willingdon College in Sangli. He learnt harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye. He learnt Hindustani classical music also. After the death of his first wife, he married Sunita Thakur, an accomplished writer. Both have worked as teachers at Orient High School, Mumbai. Before taking film and writing as profession, Deshpande has also worked as a college professor in Belgaum.
He has also worked in Doordarshan (1959), the time when it has started functioning. He was the first person to interview the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on Indian television. He received training from BBC UK for a short time later. His travelogue "Apoorvai" was based on these experiences. He was a social worker also, who preferred to add the name "Muktangan" to any kind of donation. He was known most as a humorist. His well noted comedy books include - Nasti Uthathewa, Batatayachi Chal, Golaberij, Asa Mi Asami and Marathi Wangmayacha Galeev Itihas. His travelogues were written during the period, 1960s and 1970s. Vangachitre, Apoorvai, Poorvarang and Jaave Tyanchya Desha are his popular works.
His plays include one act plays and children plays as well. Mothe Mase Aani Chhote Mase, Aamhi Latike Na Bolu, Tujhe Ahe Tujapashi, Bhagyawan, Pudhari Pahije, Eka Jhunja Waryashi, Wayam Motham Khotam, Porawaya and Teliphonacha Janma are a few among those works. He has also written a biography on Gandhiji.
Published: N/A
Updated: January 08, 2014
