Rangnath Pathare

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Rangnath Pathare is a major Marathi novelist, critic and short story writer.

Biography

He was born at Javale, in Parner Tehsil of Ahmednagar District, which is a drought-prone area of western Maharashtra. He is from a family of Maratha farmers with little background in literacy and literature. His father fought in the second world war and returned to farming. However, Pathare believes that he has been strongly influenced by his mother's life and the work she did for the family in general, and for his education in particular. He had his schooling and higher education at Javale, Ahmednagar and Pune. He did M. Sc. in Physics from the Poona University. From 1973 he has worked as a lecturer in Physics, and for 10 years as a Head of the Department at Sangamner College, Sangamner, Dist. Ahmednagar. He retired from this job in 2010.

Javale, the small village in which Pathare was brought up, provided him with a rich cultural background. Right from his childhood, he developed a deep liking for reading, but he did not then plan to become a writer. He started his writing career rather late. His first piece of non-fiction writing was published in a Marathi Periodical, 'Samaj Prabodhan Patrika', in 1976, when he was 26. His first novel was published in 1982. Though he went on writing short stories and novels, and getting acclaim as a notable litterateur of the age, he tended to avoid sociability, especially mixing with his contemporaries in the literary circles. His writings, however, received immediate attention from critics and readers. The first novel, 'Dive Gelele Divas'(1982), was followed by a collection of short stories, 'Anubhv Vikne Ahet' in 1983, and a novel, 'Rath' in 1984. The novels, 'Chakravyuha' (1989), and 'Tokdar Savaliche Vartaman' (1991) were published in quick succession.

Career

His voluminous novel 'Tamrapat' shows a huge canvas of social, political, economic and cultural changes almost over a half-century, from the 1942 movement to the peak of progress of the co-operative movement in the eighties. 'Tamrapat' (1994) claimed many awards at the state level, and was finally felicitated with the 'Sahitya Akademi Award' in 1999. The novels 'Dukkhache Shwapad' (1995), 'Namushkiche Swagat' (1999) have also received wide acclamation. A feature film based on 'Dukkhache Shwapad' was made, in which renowned artist Kishor Kadam played a lead role. This film was selectively screened in the 'Pune International Film Festival' (2009). The international juries conferred 'the Best Actor Award' to Kishor Kadam for his work in this film. (He also acted in one more film screened there, viz 'Jogva').

In 'Namushkiche Swagat' Pathare highlights the point of view of a third world writer, expressing his concern about liberalization, privatization and globalization, and their effect on the world in general, and the masses of the third world countries in particular. He possesses a very strong social commitment and is closely associated with social activities. For Pathare, writing is the only way to express himself freely. It is the medium through which he can put his concerns into text. In recent times, he has also been expressing his social and literary concerns, which are inseparable, in various seminars, workshops, public lectures and so on. His novel, 'Bharchoukatil Aranyarudan' (2009) has claimed the attention of critics and common readers alike. About 100 of his stories have been published, some of which have been translated into Urdu, Hindi, English, Kannada, Sindhi, Konkani. He has also been writing critical essays, three collections of which have been published – 'Satvachi Bhasha'(1996), 'Astheche Prashna'(2000), 'Prashnankit Vishesh'(2008).

In August 1992 a two-day seminar on the writings of Rangnath Pathare was organized by Babasaheb Ambedkar Akademi of Satara, Maharashtra. Subsequently a book 'Tirkaspanatil Saralata' containing papers presented in the seminar and some more critical work on his writings edited by Rajan Gavas was published in 1995.

Pathare is aptly described as the writer of the Deccan Plateau by a well-known Marathi Playwright and Critic Go. Pu. Deshpande. He represents a generation that has witnessed major upheavals in the rural and semi-urban socio-cultural life of Maharashtra. Themes of his major works, including some short stories, reflect these changes in the life of the then upcoming educated youth of rural and semi-urban Maharashtra. This shift of focus from the urban elite-class life was naturally accompanied by some significant changes in his writing style. Concentrating almost exclusively on the fictional mode of writing, he experimented extensively with the narrative form and style. Especially, his short stories are well known for such fluidity of style. Thus, he was able to depict the dialectical relationship between the inner world and the outer social reality, to introduce 'the stream of consciousness' technique in a new light and to experiment with indirect speech, free direct speech and so on. He writes in a uniquely satirical tone, which comprises his unique contribution to humor and characterization in Marathi Literature. His writings show the necessarily social nature of human reality and various intricacies of social interaction. They show his commitment to an understanding of social reality.

An important conversation took place between Dilip Purushottam Chitre and Rangnath Pathare in the year 2000, which began with Chitre expressing his views about Pathare's writings and consolidated into a dialogue concerning literature, culture and arts in general. This has been published in the form of a book 'Pratyaya ani Vyatyaya' in 2009. This is a unique work of its kind in Marathi.

In September 2001 Pathare visited France as a member of the delegation of Indian Writers on the invitation of the Govt. of France. Pathare has been honored with several awards for literature, besides the Sahitya Akademi Award, including 4 Maharashtra State Literary Awards, Maharashtra foundation Award, Padmashree Vikhe Patil award, Damani Award and Priyadarshini Award to name a few. He has participated in many social and literary workshops at state and national levels.

Pathare has studied the life and work of 'Shankar Guha-Niyogi' and produced a book based on it in collaboration with Sumati Lande, poet, publisher and his friend. Maharashtra Foundation generously provided fellowship for this work.

In 2012 Pathare was appointed as a chairman of a committee to prepare a case for Marathi Language for ‘Classical Status’ by Govt. of Maharashtra. This report was prepared with extensive study of the relevant documents and has been submitted to the Govt. of India in 2013.

Books Published

Novels

1. Dive Gelele Divas, Vishwamohini Prakashan, 1982
2. Rath, Granthali, 1984
3. Chakravyuh, Granthali, 1984
4. Haran, Majestic, 1990
5. Tokdaar Savaliche Vartaman, Majestic, 1991
6. Tamrapat, Majestic, 1994
7. Dukkhache Shwapad, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 1995
8. Namushkiche Swagat, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 1999
9. Tridha, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2004
10. Kunthecha Lolak, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2006
11. Bharchaukatil Aaranyarudan, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2008
12. Eka Aarambhache Prasthavik, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2013
13. Choshak Falodyan, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2014
14. Saatpatil Kulvruttant, Shabdalaya Prakashan, 2019

Short Story Collection

1. Anubhav Vikne Aahet
2. Spashtavaktepanache Prayog
3. Ishwar Mrutatmyas Shanti Devo
4. Gabhyatil Prakasha
5. Chitramay Chatkor
6. Tivrakomal Dukkhache Prakaran
7. Shankhatala Manus

Essay and Criticism

1. Satvachi Bhasha
2. Astheche Prashna
3. Chhattisgadh: Niyoginche Aandolan Aani Sadyasthiti
4. Prashnankit Vishesh
5. Jagtikikaran Aani Deshivaad
6. Pratyay Aani Vyatyay Ek Sanwaad
7. Sanchit Aani Sangharsh
8. Aajchi Kadambari Nondi Aani Nirikshane

Translations by Rangnath Pathare

1. Kaviche Aakherche Diwas Aani Niragas Irendira
2. Kadambari Aani Lokshahi

Translation of Rangnath Pathare's Writings

1. The novel 'Dukkhache Shwapad' has been translated into Kannada by Chandrakant Patole
2. The novel 'Tamrapat' has been translated into Kannada by Krishna Rao, published by Sahitya Akademi, Delhi
3. The novel 'Tamrapat' has been translated into Hindi by Sunita Paranjpe

Books published about Rangnath Pathare's Writings

1. Tirkaspanatil Saratala
2. Namushkiche Swagat: Pratinidhik Samiksha
3. Konbhalagatacha Prawas Nivdak Rangnath Pathare
4. Samakalin Kadambarikaar: Bhalchandra Nemade Rangnath Pathare
5. Rangnath Pathare yanchya Sahityatil Stree Darshan

Awards

Rangnath Pathare received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1999 for his novel 'Tamrapat'. He is also a recipient of almost all major state level awards including 4 state government awards.

References

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