''Bhatkyachi Bhramanti'' (Journey of a tramp) was a weekly

column A column or pillar in architecture and structural engineering is a structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. In other words, a column is a compression member. ...

Pramod Navalkar Pramod Sachchidanand Navalkar (23 Jan 1935 – 20 Nov 2007) was an Indian politician and member of the Shiv Sena political party. A legislator for over thirty years, he served as cabinet minister in the Government of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999 ...

using the

pen name A pen name, also called a ''nom de plume'' or a literary double, is a pseudonym (or, in some cases, a variant form of a real name) adopted by an author and printed on the title page or by-line of their works in place of their real name. A pen na ...

of "Bhatkya" in the Sunday edition of ''

Navshakti ''Navshakti'' ( Marathi (मराठी) – नवशक्ति ) is a Marathi newspaper based in Mumbai, India. The newspaper has a circulation of 83,910 across the state of Maharashtra. This paper was started by S. Sadanand. P. R. Behere ...

'' that ran for a time-span of 52 years. It was first published on 2 December, 1956. The time-span of the column has found a mention in Limca Book of Records. In the column, Navalkar wrote about criminal gangs, gold

smuggling Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations. There are various ...

rackets,

prostitution Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...

dens,

barmaid A bartender (also known as a barkeep, barman, barmaid, or a mixologist) is a person who formulates and serves alcoholic or soft drink beverages behind the bar, usually in a licensed establishment as well as in restaurants and nightclubs, but a ...

s and other ''societal malices (''in his opinion), often using disguises to gain entry into exclusive areas. Navalkar wrote free of charge. The column exposed shocking aspects of

Mumbai Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...

's nightlife.

Ashish Rajadhyaksha Ashish Vithal Rajadhyaksha (born 12 March 1957) is an Indian film scholar, art curator and cultural theorist. He was a Senior Fellow at the Bangalore-based Centre for the Study of Culture and Society. Early life Ashish Vithal Rajadhyaksha was ...

is quoted in a doctoral thesis describing this column as an example of "territorial realism".

References

{{reflist Columns (periodical) 1956 establishments in India