Shivaji Sawant

Shivaji Sawant Biography

Shivaji Sawant was a Marathi writer best known as a fictional writer and novelist. He was also an academician by profession. He was a recipient of several honours including prestigious Moortidevi Award in 1994. He was the first Marathi writer to receive this honour. Shivaji Sawant is famous for his Marathi novel, Mrityunjay, which sold over a 100,000 copies in Marathi. The novel earned him the nickname, Mrityunjaykaar, and also numerous literal awards. This celebrated novel has been translated into many languages including Hindi and Malayalam. The novel based on character Karna from Mahabharata. He was also a recipient of Fie Foundation Award in 1996.

Shivaji Sawant was born on 31 August 1940 in Aajra, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. He belonged to a middle-class farmer’s family. He studied at Vyankatrao High School Ajara, of his village. After completing his formal education, he taught at Rajaram Prashala school, Kolhapur for 20 years. Later he worked as editor with Maharashtra education department's monthly magazine Lokshikshan for six years in Pune. Sawant was married to Mrinalini, and had one son and one daughter.

He has served as the vice-president of Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad since 1995. He was president of Baroda Sahitya Sammelan in 1983. He wrote on politics and history. His plays include – Mrityunjay, Chhava and Glimpse of the Past. Chhava, Mrityunjay, Yugandhar etc are his published novels. His other works include – Kavadase, Purushottamnama, Kanchan Kan, Krantisihachi Gavran Boli, Ladhat, Ashi Mane Ase Namune etc. He passed away in Goa on 18 September 2002, aged 62. He died of cardiac arrest. He was campaigning for the post of President of 76th All India Marathi Literary Conference, when death took him away.

Published: January 05, 2020

Updated: January 05, 2020