Noted Marathi poet and Jnanpith award winner Vinda Karandikar (91) passed away at a hospital here on Sunday morning.
A towering figure in Marathi literature, Govind Vinayak Karandikar — known by his literary name Vinda, in his lifetime of writing produced a rich oeuvre comprising poems primarily in Marathi and some in English. Shwetaganga (1949), Mrudgandha (1954), Dhrupad (1959), Jatak and Vrupika are his poetical works.
In 2003, he was awarded the 39{+t}{+h} Jnanpith award, the highest literary honour in India, for his collection of poems titled Ashtadarshane .
He was also awarded the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1996.
His other awards comprise the Keshavasut Prize, the Soviet Land Nehru Literary Award and the Kabir Samman.
Mr. Karandikar was also known for his delightful children's poetry.
He also wrote critical essays on literature and translated works into Marathi, Aristotle's Poetics being one of them.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan termed Karandikar's passing away “the end of an era” and “an irreparable loss” to the Indian literary world.
Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said, “The country will always remember him through his poems.”
