Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the 98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan on the 21st of this month. The literature festival brings together authors and critics in Marathi and other languages under the same roof.
This conference was first held in 1878 with renowned scholar and social reformer, Mahadev Govind Ranade as the President. But since 1926, this conference started to occur annually and brought scholars and eminent literary figures to discuss a range of topics, including the relevance of the Marathi language in the changing times.
98th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
This year, the President of the conference will be renowned Marathi folk literature, culture, traditions and theatre artist, Tara Bhawalkar. The conference is returning to the national capital after a gap of 71st years. The last time Delhi witnessed the Marathi conference was in 1954 with renowned lexicographic Tarkatirth Laxman Shastri Joshi as its president. At that time, the conference was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
“We need to have original research to be done and published in Marathi to generate interest amongst the people that is a growing trend towards English language and even the government is sanctioning new English medium school,” said Bhawalkar in an interaction with the media.
The three-day conference will be held at Tal Katora Stadium, which will be renamed as ‘Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Sahib Nagari’ for the duration of the event.
