TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
BELGAUM/PONDA: Noted Marathi litterateur, freedom fighter and social worker Madhavi Desai (80) died in Belgaum early Monday morning.
Desai, who was residing in Goa since the last two decades, had relocated to Belgaum to be with her daughter and Marathi litterateur, Meera Tarlekar, since the last couple of months.
According to information from the family, Desai was admitted to the KLES Hospital here following brain hemorrhage and was taken to her residence on Sunday night. She breathed her last on Monday at 4.30 am. She is survived by three daughters and grand children.
Daughter of late Balaji Pendharkar, the doyen of Marathi Cinema, Madhavi Desai has over 35 noted publications including novels, short stories, poetry compositions and various forms of literature to her credit. She also wrote screen play for films.
Her autobiography ‘Nach Ga Ghuma’ and other works have won several awards. She was also instrumental in starting the Marathi Literary meet (Sahitya Sammelan) at Kadoli near Belgaum.
Despite being married to noted Marathi litterateur Ranjit Desai, Madhavi Desai had established her own identity in social and literary field. She also inspired women from Belgaum and Goa in building women’s organizations. Her mortal remains have been placed at her daughter Meera Tarlekar’s residence in Bhagyanagar here. The funeral will be held in Belgaum on Tuesday at 11 am.
Litterateurs, politicians and noted personalities from Maharashtra and Goa are expected to visit Belgaum to pay their last respects to Desai.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has condoled the death of noted Marathi writer, Madhavi Desai.
In his condolence message, Parrikar expressed “deep despair” on hearing about the demise of the noted writer. “Her noteworthy books in Marathi, deserves mention to in the literary world,” Parrikar said.
St Andre Andre and Kala Academy Chairman Vishnu Surya Wagh will attend the funeral on behalf of the State.
PWD and Transport Minster Sudin Dhavlikar said Madhavi Dessai, who was residing at Bandora-Ponda since the last several years, was a social worker who had imbibed cultural values in children for which she took classes for students during vacation.
GPCC President Subhash Shirodkar said Dessai had brought into her literature various issues faced by the common man. “She also worked for women’s empowerment and has provided a stage for women in the field of literature. Her demise is a big loss to literature and it will take a long time to fill that void,” said Shirodkar.
