I must be in 8th standard then, when I read Yayati, the first Dnyanpeeth award-winning novel in Marathi.
Stupid me then read and enjoyed the novel like anything.
I admired writer V S Khandekar for his illustrious fictional work; the way he narrated story of a king from Mahabharat eon- Yayati, who in his insatiable lust for carnal pleasure begs his son Puru to swap youth with infirmity.
It was Yayati, which brought me closer to Marathi literature. I then read other fictional work including Radhyey.
The creativity and freedom enabled these writers to produce some remarkably classic literature in Marathi. Great was the absence of any opposition to such novels, terming it ‘slanderous’. The charge of course would have been dismissed saying the “obscenity lies in the eyes of beholder”.
But now…
A controversy surrounds another great author Anand Yadav for his book SantSurya Tukaram.
Warakari sect leaders, unhappy over the alleged “casting aspersions on the character of Saint Tukaram” by author in his novel, heckled Yadav and demanded his resignation as president of Marathi literary meet.
Yadav withdrew his novel and tendered apology. But warakaris refused to budge. A threat to spoil the literary meet now lingers.
They have also issued a decree - whosoever wants to write on Saints should get their permission first.
Listening to the controversy annoyed me initially. Soon, the annoyance turned into amusement. Now it seeks to rebuild perception.
For the sake of opposing, Yayati is contemptuous since it portrays certain characters negative. But readers did not mind it. In fact the portrayal of certain persona woven with events in such way that character actually conquer at the end despite loosing everything. That makes the novel great.
In SantSurya Tukaram case the focus is excessively on those few paragraphs allegedly depict Tukaram in negative. This way a lager picture of Tukaram's character is completely being ignored. Also is the fact is its not the reference book but a novel where writer does enjoy some freedom.
Tukaram, the 17th century author throughout his life faced wrath from orthodox Brahmins for taking pen into hand.
That way Tukaram stood modern in thought.
Shall we too ?
UPDATES- Sadly, minutes before Yadav has tendered his resignation. The decision on his resignation will be taken by March 19.
