Every year, February 27 is celebrated as Marathi Bhasah Din, in the state of Maharashtra or Marathi Language day to mark the anniversary of renowned Marathi poet Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, who was popularly known by his pen name Kusumagraj.
He was one of the most influential poet, playwright, novelist and short story teller who wrote volumes about freedom, justice and the emancipation of the deprived in society. He wrote 6 volumes of poems, three novels, eight volumes of short stories, seven volumes of essays, 18 plays and six one-act plays.
Kusumagraj’s work inspired a generation of youngsters into the Indian Freedom Moment. He was the recipient of the 1974 Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi for Natsamrat, Padma Bhushan awardee in 1991 and Jnanapith awardee in 1987. He died on March 10, 1999 in Nashik.
Marathi Bhasha Din is observed to honour Kusmagraj’s contribution to Marathi literature and celebrate the state’s literature as the Marathai language contains some of the oldest literature of all modern Indo-Aryan languages.
The government initiated the 'Marathi Rajbhasha Gaurav Din' after Kusumagraj's demise in 1999. On this special occasion, two special awards for individuals taking initiatives to promote Marathi literature are also conferred on Marathi Bhasha Din.
To ring this day, here are a few images and wishes:
- विजयासाठी कविता माझी कधीच नव्हती,म्हणून नव्हती भीती तिला पराजयाचीजन्मासाठी हटून केव्हा नव्हती बसली,म्हणून नाही खंतही तिजला मरावयाची- कुसुमाग्रज
- जाता जाता गाईन मीगाता गाता जाईन मीगेल्यावरही या गगनातीलगीतांमधुनी राहीन मी- कुसुमाग्रज
- माझ्या मराठी मातीचालावा ललाटास टिळाहिच्या संगाने जागल्यादऱ्याखोऱ्यातील शिळा- कुसुमाग्रज
- माझं मराठीपण मी शोधलं सह्याद्रीच्या डोंगरातसंतांच्या शब्दात..इतिहासाच्या पानाततेव्हा हसून सारीजण म्हणलीतआम्ही शोधलं आमचं मराठीपणया भूमीवरील माणसांच्या मनात- कुसुमाग्रज
- मायबोली माझी मराठीतिच्यात मायेचा ओलावावेगवेगळ्या शब्दालंकारातघेते हृदयातील खोलावा- कुसुमाग्रज
SpotboyE Wishes You Happy Marathi Bhasha Din.