Mangesh Padgaonkar

Mangesh Padgaonkar Biography

Mangesh Padgaonkar is a noted Marathi poet and lyricist from Maharashtra. He received Sahitya Academy Award in 1980 for his collection of poems Salam. Most recently in 2013, Indian government honoured him with Padma Bhushan. The M.P. Literary Conference Award in 1956, The Maharashtra State Award in 1953 and 1955, Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2008 and Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Puraskar in 2013 are the major honours received by him. Ashi pakhare yeti, Akherche yetil mazya hech shad othi, Asa bebhan ha wara, Bhatuklichya khelamadhali raja aanik rani, Dhuke datlele udas udas, Sang sang bholanath, Savar re, Shabd shabd japun thev, Bhavbholya bhaktichi hi ek tari, Shravanat ghananila barasla, Dolyamadhale aasu musati, Bhet tuzi mazi smarate and Diwas tuze he phulayache zopalyavachin zulayache are among his most popular songs.

He was born on March 10, 1929 in Vengurla of Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra. He completed Master’s in Marathi and Sanskrit from the University of Bombay. He worked as faculty in Ruia College for some years and later joined as an editor at the U.S. Information Service for about 2 decades. His literal career started at the age of 14 and thus as a poet, he completed 70 years right now. "Tuz pahile tav pahile, he pushpa rudayatale" was his first poem. Apart from writing poems, he has also penned lyrics for many Marathi movies. He penned University of Pune’s theme song “Punyamayee De Amha Akshar Vardaan in the year 1984. In 2012, he was also honoured with “Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Puraskar” by University of Pune.

During 1960s and 1970’s, he along with Vinda Karandikar and Vasant Bapat has participated in many recital concerts and thus familiar faces in the literary world. Dharanrtya, Sharmishtha, Kavyadarshan, Utsav, Salam, Gajhala, Bhatake Pakshi, Triveni, Udasabodh, Kabira, Vatratika, Vidushak, Moru, Mira and Sutti Eke Sutti are among his published poetry works.

Padgaonkar died in Mumbai on 30 December 2015, after a brief illness, at age 86.

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Updated: February 14, 2016