Vasant Bapat

Vasant Bapat Biography

Vasant Bapat was a Marathi poet. He has also published books on travallegue, biography, Political parady and critique. He was born on July 25, 1922 in Karad in Satara district of Maharashtra. He died on September 17, 2002 aged 80. He has published more than 30 anthologies. His most noted works are Bijlee, Sethu, Akrav Disha, Sakina and Manasi. His full name is Vasant Vaman Bapat. His most popular poems are Sainya Chalale Pudhe and Uthung Aamuchi Uthar. He was former President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Parishad. He was the president of regional Sahitya Sammelan at Jalgaon, Mumbai. He has also served as the editor of a socialist magazine Sadhana from 1983 to 1988.

Bapad completed Master's degree in Marathi and Sanskrit literature from S. P. College in Pune in 1948. Till 1976, he worked as a faculty at several educational institutions. At first he joined National College, Mumbai followed by Ruia College. During the period, 1974-1982, he served as the Rabindranath Tagore Chair at Mumbai University. Bapat, Vinda Karandikar and Mangesh Padgaonkar were widely regarded as the magic trio of poets who were active at Kavi Sammelans at different towns and cities. Bapat participated in 1969 in an international poetry conference in Yugoslavia and has also served as an appointed member of Sahitya Akademi for 10 years.

A few of his noted poem collections include - Prawasachya Kawita, Rajasi, Sethu, Bijalee, Shinga Phunkale Rani, Shatataraka, Sakina and Manasi. His other major works except poetry include - Bara Gavache Pani (1967), Jinkuni Maranala, Taulanik Sahityabhyas (1981) and Wisajipantanchi Bakhar. He has also written a few works for kids of which the play, Bal Govind is popular. He was a freedom fighter too and has participated in Quit India Movement, for which he was imprisoned for 3 years.

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Updated: February 18, 2014