Sunita Deshpande

Sunita Deshpande Biography

Sunita Deshpande was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, who has also acted in a few movies. She was fondly called Sunita bai by people. She was also a prolific correspondent. The great writer and humorist Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, popularly called P. L. Deshpande was her husband, who has always acknowledged her contribution in his literary and other accomplishments. They shared 54 years of married life till he passed away in 2009. Sunita died 9 years later, just one day before the birth anniversary of her husband.

She was born as Sunita Thakur on 3 July 1926. She met P. L. Deshpande for the first time in 1945 and got married one year later. Though Sunita has been an avid reader since young, her glorious journey as a writer began in her late years, in her mid-40s. Her memoirs - Aahe Manohar Tari was published in 1990. The book won several awards and was translated to many languages including English, Kannada, Hindi and Gujarati. Priya G A, Manyanchi Maal, Soyare Sakal, Manatala Avkash and Samantar Jeevan are other noted works. She also recited poems at ‘Kavya Sandhyas’ (poem concerts) alongside her husband at many occasions. Noted dramatist and writer Jaywant Dalvi was a good friend of Deshpande couple.

Though she was a prolific writer of her own talents, she preferred to stay as the shadow of her beloved husband. Sunitabai took part in the independence movement and also acted in a Marathi film Vande Mataram (1949). She was also associated with many social activities like Narmada Bachao Andolan and donated generously for noble causes. She also took efforts in publishing her husband’s works after his death. She has acted in a few Marathi films and plays as well. Sunder mee honaar, Raajemaster, and Rajamaataa Jijaabai are her noted works as a stage actress. She is the recipient of first "G A Kulkarni Award". She used to write letters to her pal friend G. A. Kulkarni.

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Updated: February 20, 2016