Shanta Shelke

Shanta Shelke Biography

Shanta Shelke was a noted Marathi writer, journalist, professor and poet. As a writer, her collections include – poems, children works, translations, stories, character sketches and many more. She was a song composer also and her songs were sung by great names like Lata Mangeshkar, Kishori Amonkar and Asha Bhosle. During her working career in Mumbai, she also served in Film Censor board, Theatre examination board and Govt. book award. She used to translate English movies for newspaper columns. She has worked as assistant editor of the weekly Navyug for 5 years.

Shanta was born on 19 Oct 1922 in Indapur, Pune. She was educated in Sir Parshurambhau College, Pune. Later she did post graduation in Sanskrit and Marathi and was the first rank holder of Mumbai University. She also won the Na. Chi. Kelkar and Chiplunkar awards during the same period. Then she worked as assistant editor of the weekly Navyug. After 5 years, she moved to Nagpur and worked as Marathi faculty in Hislop College. She retired after long service from Dayanand College, Mumbai and settled in Pune.

Her works in Marathi include - poems, stories, novels, character sketches, interviews, critiques and introductions. She used to translate English films for Marathi newspaper columns and a few of them have been later published as books. Ek pani, Madarangi and Janta Ajanata are a few such translation works. She also produced lalit literature like Anandache Jhad (The tree of happiness), Avad Nivad  (Likes dislikes), Vadildhari Manase (Father figures), Pavsaadhicha Paus (The rain before the rains), Sansmarane (memories) and Dhool Pati - an introspective autobiography.

Her published novels are Dharma, Odh, Chikkhaldrayancha Mantrik, Vijhti Jyot, Nararakshas, Punarjanma and Majha Khel Mandu De. Some of her famous song collections include Godaan, Varsha, Kalyanche divas fulanchya rati and Purvasandhya. She has never attempted playwrights and comedies.

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Updated: February 18, 2014