Marathi loses her most loved bard Mangesh Padgaonkar

"This is a big blow to the world of literature and to all of us who loved his poetry," a saddened Gulzar saab reacted to the passing away of veteran Marathi poet-lyricist and writer Mangesh Padgaonkar, who breathed his last at his Mumbai home at 9am on Wednesday. Unwell for the past three days, he had been on put of life-support.

Lyricist-poet Gulzar, who has translated Padgaonkar's works for a Harper Collins compilation, remembered him as being generous with praise for others' work. "In terms of his work, he was way senior to me, but he would still talk to me as an equal and praise me a lot. Vinda Karandikar, Padgaonkar and me were all very fond of writing children's poetry. Both Vinda and me have used the childish badbad (gibberish) in our work. Padgaonkar would be amused at this. Even as we are all sorrowful, I can only be thankful that he didn't suffer, unlike some of my other Marathi litterateur friends such as Dilip Chitre and Grace."

Bharat Ratna melody queen Lata Mangeshakar admitted that she was not as familiar with his literary work as with his lyrics. "I have had the privilege of singing all-time favourite Marathi songs such as Asa Bebhaan Haa Vaara, Shraavanaat Ghan Neela, Bhavbholya Bhaktichi Hee Ektaari. They were some of my own favourites too. The way he wrote, using simplest words to give expression to the most complex things in life, is the reason why his songs resonate with people across the spectrum."

She remembered how warmly he interacted with her whenever they met at an event or occasion. "The warmth and kindness with which he spoke to everyone around, unmindful of his own greatness, was really special. I pray for his soul to rest in peace." Mangeshkar also underlined how beautifully he captured the spirit of a child. "When my sister Meena was putting together an album of chldren's songs, I remember how all of us fell in love with his composition Saang Sang Bholanath."

Padgaonkar's daughter-in-law Charu choked on tears as she recounted how the poet treated her like his own daughter. "He could find humour in anything around. He had created a funny line about my name too. He would say, 'Hee Charu aani mee hicha saasra bichaaru (This is Charu and I am her father-in-law Bicharu). We are at a complete loss to think how we will get used to not having him around."

Padgoankar's body was kept for darshan at his residence and the last rites were performed with state honours at the Sion crematorium around 3pm. The poet is survived by wife Yashoda, two sons, a daughter and grandchildren. Born in coastal Maharashtra's Sindhudurg on March 10, 1929, Padgaonkar had composed his first poem when only 14. Over the next six decades, he would go on to create a body of work that would leave the literary and music world awestruck.

One of the most beloved literary personalities in Maharashtra, his works have made a permanent home in the hearts of millions. Apart from Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, Padgaonkar was the only other Indian poet whose translation of Shakespeare's works Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest and Julius Caesar have been kept at Shakespeare Memorial in Stratford upon Avon (the Bard's birthplace) in England. The US Library of Congress has acquired 31 of his 40 publications.

There is not a single day when FM radio stations don't get requests for his songs such as Bhet Tujhi Maajhi Smarte, Laazun Haasne Ann Haasun Te Pahaane, Tujhe Geet Gaanyasaathi Sur Laavu De, Ya Janmawar Ya Jaganyawar Shatada Prem Karawe, Kuthe Shodhishi Rameshwar, Shukratara Mand Wara, Asa Bebhaan Ha Vaara and Dole Kashasathi, Bhatukalichya Khelamadhali and Ek Hota Kau.

Whether Lata Mangeshkar, Sudhir Phadke, Asha Bhosale or Arun Datey, Padgaonkar's poetry was sung by the who's who of playback singing. His anthologies such as Gypsy, Shukratara, Salaam and his translation of compositions of Kabir and Mira are among the bestsellers in Marathi. In 1980, the Sahitya Akademi awardee was conferred a Maharashtra Bhushan (2009), followed by a Padma Bhushan four years later. He also presided over the 2nd International Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Dubai in 2010.

An indication of the universality of Padgaonkar's poetry came across poignantly a year ago when the mother of a gay son, who was publicly accepting his sexuality, had used the poet's' words to address the gathering. "Prem mhanje prem aste, tumche aamche same aste. (Love is love, its same for everyone)."