Shripad Narayan Pendse

Shripad Narayan Pendse Biography

Shripad Narayan Pendse was a renowned writer belonging to Marathi literature, best known as a novelist. He lived during the period, 5 January 1913 – 24 March 2007. He authored the famous novel Rathachakra which received Sahitya Akademi Award in 1963. Garambicha Bapu, Haddapar and Tumbadche Khot are other popular novels authored by Pendse. His famous novel Garambicha Bapu has been translated to English titled Wild Bapu of Garambi in 1969. Apart from novels, he published a collection of short stories titled Jumman in 1956. He has also authored many plays, non-fictional articles and one autobiography - Shri Na Pendse-Manus Ani Lekhak in 1974.

Shripad Narayan Pendse was born on 5 January 1913 in Murdi Taluka Dapoli, present day Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He was born into a Chittapavan Konkanastha Brahman Community. Pendse settled in Mumbai in 1924, permanently during his childhood days. As a writer he was most active in the 1960s and 1970s, termed as his glorious era in writing. He mostly wrote novels, though he authored plays, short stories, articles etc. He is also known by the names – Pendseena, Shirubhau etc in the literary circle.

In 1938, his first story was published in Sahyadri magazine. In 1941, his first book, 'Khadkabar Hariwal' was released. Later, the novel Elgar was published on the Hindu-Muslim riots. The novel 'Haddapar' made him a popular novelist among the masses. The novel 'Rathchakra' written in 1962 earned him Sahitya Academy Award two years later. On Rockfeller Foundation Scholarship, he got opportunity to travel Europe and United States and communicate with many writers. He was accompanied by his wife. Pendse has received the prestigious 'Janasthan' award from Kusumagraj Pratishthan of Nashik. He died on March 24, 2007.

Published: January 07, 2019

Updated: January 07, 2019