Marathi-Punjabi bond to last till eternity: Javedkar

GHUMAN: Union minister for environment Prakash Javedkar on Sunday said warm relations between Marathi and Punjabi fostered by Maharashtrian saint Bhagat Namdev were strong even now and that was the prime reason that Marathi language was celebrating itself at Ghuman in Punjab.
Clarifying that he was not participating on the concluding day of the 88{+t}{+h}Marathi Literary Festival as a Union minister but as a literary connoisseur, Javedkar said Bhagat Namdev had meditated in Ghuman for years together and constituted holy hymns that had become guiding light for the people to follow.He added that the literary and spiritual relation Bhagat Namdev had made between Marathi and Punjabi would last till eternity.
He appreciating the efforts of Sarhad Sanstha, Pune in holding this rich literary fest at Ghuman, stating that the event would prove to be a milestone in development of Marathi language. He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had extended warm affection for the literary fest.
A seminar on modern technique and future of printed literature was held on the concluding day of the three-day literary extravaganza. Dr Keshar Deshmukh said that in the times of modern competition, youngsters were no longer interested in reading. He suggested that youngsters should use modern technology as well as continue reading the best of literature available. The speakers said that over-use of gadgets would ultimately lead to the books getting lost in oblivion. Those who participated in the event included Shripad Aparajit, Narendra Lanjevar, Madhavraje Chosalkare, Mahendra Munjal and others dignitaries from Maharashtra.
Poetry recitation
A 'kavi darbar' was held in which poets including Kamlakar Gosle, Ashok Mali, Balaji Ingle, Sudhanshu Marathe, KK Deshpande, Prema Kulkarni, Madho Oujari, Kranti Maudev, Vidya Sagar Gwani, Prof Neelima Ahir, Anand Rao Patil, Anand Joshi, Mandakini Godbole, Abhijeet, Anil Pipe and others participated. Addressing the gathering, former president Sahit Mahamandal Maharashtra Dr Usha Tambe said that the main motive of 'kavi darbar' was to encourage new poets. Apart from 70 new poets, 70 established poets too were participating in the event she said. The poets read out poems in varied subjects at the 'kavi darbar'.
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