Laxman Maruti Gaikwad (born July 23, 1952, Dhanegaon,
Latur District,
Maharashtra) is a famous
Marathi
Marathi may refer to:
*Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India
*Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people
*Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece
See also
*
* ...
novelist
A novelist is an author or writer of novels, though often novelists also write in other genres of both fiction and non-fiction. Some novelists are professional novelists, thus make a living writing novels and other fiction, while others asp ...
known for his best work ''The Branded'', a translation of his
autobiographical novel
An autobiographical novel is a form of novel using autofiction techniques, or the merging of autobiographical and fictive elements. The literary technique is distinguished from an autobiography or memoir by the stipulation of being fiction. Bec ...
''Uchalaya'' (also known as ''Ucalaya''). This novel not only gave him international recognition but he was also awarded the Maharashtra Gourav Puraskar, and the
Sahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India. Founded on 12 March 1954, it is supported by, though independent of, the Indian government. Its of ...
award for this novel. Considered a masterpiece in
Marathi literature, his novel for the first time brings to the world of literature the trials and tribulations of his tribe, Uchalya, literally the pilferers, a term coined by the British who classified the tribe as a criminal tribe. This book also brings in the problems faced by the
Dalits
Dalit (from sa, दलित, dalita meaning "broken/scattered"), also previously known as untouchable, is the lowest stratum of the castes in India. Dalits were excluded from the four-fold varna system of Hinduism and were seen as forming ...
in
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
. At present he is residing in Mumbai.
Other notable novels written by him include ''Dubang'', ''Chini Mathachi Divas'', ''Samaj Sahitya Ani Swathantra'', ''Wadar Vedna'', ''Vakila Pardhi'', ''Utav'' and ''A Swathantra Konasat''.
Social services
Gaikwad has been associated with social services for a long time. Since 1986, he was the president of the Jankalyan Vikas Sanstha and since 1990, he has been the president of the Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Organization, an organization associated with the welfare of Tribes. He has actively participated in the
Labor Movement and worked for the welfare of the
farmers, slum-dwellers and the other weaker-sections of the society.
Books published
#Uchalya
#He Swatantrey konasati
#Chini Matitil Divas
#Samaj Sahitya Ani Swatantrey
#Vakilya Pardhi
#Wadar Vedna
#Buddhachi Vippassanna
#Dhubang
#Dr. B.R. Ambedkaranchi Jivan Ani karya
#Utav
#Gav Kusa Baheril Mansa
Awards and honors
Gaikwad has won many awards. They are:
International awards
#SAARC Literary Award, 2001 by President of India
Government awards
#Youngest Sahitya Academy Award winner in 1988
#Maharashtra Gourav Puraskar in 1990.
#Best writer award from Government of Maharashtra in 2003
Other awards
#Pimpri Chinchwad Mahanagar Palika Award
#Pune Mahanagar Palika Award
#Gourav Sanman Puraskar from Nashik Municipality Corporation
#Maharashtra Kamgar Kalyan Mandal Sanman Puraskar
#Sahitya Ratna Anna Bhau Sathe Puraskar
#Gourav Sanman Puraskar from Bahujan Karmachari
#Maharashtra Foundation Puraskar for the best writer
#Gunther Sontheimer Memorial Award
#Samata Award
#Sanjivini Puraskar
#Panghanti Award
#Mukadam Award
#Galib Ratna Puraskar, Mumbai
#Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Puraskar
Honors
#Title of Stalwarts Limca Book of Records
#Many books are referred for studies in many universities and schools in India by students
#Drama Act was performed on Uchalya at National level
#Documentary film has been prepared by Govt. of India on Uchalya
Earlier government membership (ex-member)
#State and Central Government Literature Department Member
#National Human Rights Commission Member
#Sahitya Academy Convener
#State Backward Class Commission Member
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaikwad, Laxman
Marathi-language literature
Marathi people
Marathi-language writers
1956 births
Living people
Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Marathi