The 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan began in New Delhi Friday with Prime Minister Modi, who inaugurated the event, drawing applause from the audience after he poured NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar a glass of water.
PM Modi first adjusted a chair for Pawar, who was led from the podium to his seat on the dais, so that the NCP(SP) chief could sit comfortably. The Prime Minister then opened a bottle of water and poured a glass for Pawar.
While the Uddhav Sena chose to stay away despite being invited, leaders of other political parties, including Congress, attended the event. While BJP was represented by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Pratap Jadhav, MP of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, veteran Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde and Sharad Pawar — who is the sammelan’s reception committee head — made their presence felt. The sammelan has been organised by the Sanjay Nahar-led Sarhad, a Pune-based NGO, and the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal. The event is being organised in the national capital after 71 years.
“We had sent an invitation to Shiv Sena (UBT) like we did to other parties as well. The sammelan is for three days,” Narhar told this paper.
Congress leader Ulhas Pawar said, “I wanted to be part of the sahitya sammelan. I often visit literary events… I don’t know anything about the controversy. I don’t want to speak about it.” Shiv Sena’s Buldhana MP Prataprao Jadhav said, “We were invited for the event and I have made it.”
Referring to the controversy last week where Sharad Pawar had feliciated Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde “for his decisive leadership,” Narhar said controversies were part and parcel of the sammelan. “Without controversies, literary events don’t get the attention they look for. Controversies are an integral part of the sahitya sammelan,” he said.
Organisers had a hard time grappling with the overwhelming presence of Maharashtrians who travelled for the event. “We were expecting over 1,000 people from the literary community including authors, writers and enthusiasts. However, 2,900 have landed up in Delhi for the event. Our entire arrangement collapsed. We struggled for accommodation and ensuring proper food arrangements last evening. Our entire team salvaged the situation as we received help from various quarters,” said Nahar.
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The organisers had roped in a special train from Pune called the Mahadji Shinde Express. The train carrying 1,200 people arrived on Thursday morning.
Before the official inauguration of the sammelan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Vigyan Bhavan, a granth dindi (procession of books) was held. The dindi made its way to Talkatora stadium — the main venue for the event.
Enthusiasts had arrived for the event not just from Maharashtra and other parts of the state, but from foreign countries. “My wife and I have come from the US. I am going to release my book at the event,” said 80-year-old Mohan Ranade.
Sonika Chanu, a student from Manipur said, “I study in Pune… I admire Maharashtrian culture and tradition. I have come here as a volunteer… I wanted to get a feel of the literary event and therefore I have come to experience first hand experience the programme.”
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At Vigyan Bhavan, there were long queues to reach the hall much before the Prime Minister. The scheduled time of the event was 3.30 pm but it started around 4.30 when the Prime Minister entered the hall to a standing ovation.
The Prime Minister delivered his speech in Marathi.
