Nagpur: Noted litterateur and novelist from Nagpur, Dr Ravindra Shobhane, was unanimously elected as President of the 97th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan to be held at Amalner in February 2024.
The announcement was made by Dr Usha Tambe, Chairperson of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, in Pune on Sunday afternoon. As soon as the news reached Nagpur, several personalities in literary circles started showering greetings upon Dr Shobhane.
Born on May 15, 1959 at Kharsoli in Nagpur district, Dr Ravindra Keshavrao Shobhane did his MA in Marathi, BEd, and later PhD. He retired as Professor from Dhanwate National College, Nagpur. Dr Shobhane is a renowned litterateur and a novelist. So far, his 11 novels have been published since 1983. The latest one is ‘Holi’ published by Majestic Publishing House in 2021. ‘Uttarayan’,‘Savvis Diwas’, and ‘Pandhar’ are among his most celebrated novels and have been translated in English and Hindi respectively.
National Association for Blind has brought out talking books of his works ‘Vartaman’, ‘Padgham’, ‘Pandhar’, ‘Chireband’, and ‘ Chandrotsav ’ . Bharatiya Jnanpith has included his story ‘Is Shahar Mein Har Shakhs’ in the Best Stories series, and this story was telecast on Doordarshan in television series ‘Ek Premkahani’ directed by Basu Chatterji. Sahitya Akademi gave Dr Shobhane travel fellowship in 1994. He served as Consulting Member (Marathi Language) on Sahitya Akademi from 2008 to 2012, Member of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal in 2011-12, Member of Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya aani Sanskruti Mandal.
He has been convener of Sahitya Sammelan Samiti of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh (VSS) from 2007. During this tenure so far, 14 Vidarbha level literary meets have been organised. He was President of VSS’ first Yuva Sahitya Sammelan in 2003. Besides, he was President of Suryoday Sahitya Sammelan at Jalgaon, Samarasta Sahitya Sammelan at Ambejogai, 22nd Marathi Pradhyapak Parishad of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, and Akhil Bharatiya Sarva Sant Sahitya Sammelan at Amravati.
A widely acclaimed litterateur, Dr Ravindra Shobhane has several awards and honours to his credit. Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Maharashtra Government, Kamgar Kalyan Kendra, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, Maharashtra Foundation (US), Samaj Prabodhan Pratishthan, Aurangabad Municipal Corporation, Dr Anant and Lata Labhsetwar Pratishthan (US), Marathwada Sahitya Parishad, Pune Marathi Granthalaya, Shabdawel Pratishthan, Dr Girish Gandhi Pratishthan, Yashwantrao Chavan Sahityik aani Sanskrutik Pratishthan and others have conferred upon him several awards. Apart from novels, Dr Shobhane has to his profile anthologies of stories, collection of personality sketches, literary criticism.
