Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor passes away; CM Shinde, others mourn his death

Noted Marathi poet and lyricist Namdeo Dhondo Mahanor a Padma Shri recipient and popularly known as Na Dho Mahanor died in a hospital in Maharashtras Pune city on Thursday morning due to old agerelated ailments a family member said He was 81 Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Governor Ramesh Bais Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis NCP president Sharad Pawar and many other leaders expressed grief over his demiseNamdeo Dhondo Mahanor was admitted to the Ruby Hall Clinic here for the last few days and was on ventilator support his grandson Shashikant Mahanor told the PTI on ThursdayMaharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais expressed grief over the demise of Marathi poet and writer N D Mahanor In a condolence message the Governor said The works of poet lyricist and writer N D Mahanor reflected the life and aspirations of the common man His writing and poetry was realistic and touched the core of the heart Many of his lyrics are fresh in the memory of the people In his demise the State has lost a respected poet and writer who enriched the world of Marathi literatureBorn at Palaskheda in Aurangabad district in 1942 the poet and lyricist had been awarded Padma Shri the fourthhighest civilian award He had also been a member of the state legislative councilHe penned several popular poems and songs including Jagala Prem Arpave Ganga Wahu De Nirmal and Divelaganichi Vel and also wrote songs for Marathi movies like Ek Hota Vidushak Jait Re Jait Sarja and othersThe renowned poet had reminisced how custard apples cultivated in his farm came to be named after legendary singer Lata MangeshkarA large number of patrons called the fruit Latafal instead of sitafal the common name for the tropical fruit Mahanor had told PTIThe Padma Shri recipient had said the custard apples grown in his farm in Palaskheda village which is near the worldfamous Ajanta caves managed to stay alive despite the land being barren and the produce getting vandalised occasionally by animalsThis custard apple is among the sweetest and manages to withstand all odds just like Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar Despite her father dying early she took along her siblings worked hard and reached the peak he had saidShe has sung songs that I have written in films like Jait re Jait and others but that is not why I have named this variety of custard apples after her It is because even after facing all the odds the sweetness in Lata didis voice is peerless just like this fruit he addedMahanor is survived by two sons and three daughtersHis last rites will be performed at his native place Palaskheda in Aurangabad on Friday a family member saidCM Shinde in a tweet condoled the death of the poet saying he sang songs of the soil His literary works had an earthy aroma he said hellip pictwittercomLNorpSp8tCmdash Eknath Shinde mieknathshinde August 3 2023He was connected to the land but touched the sky with his literary works the CM saidHe was a recipient of the Krishi Bhushan award of the Maharashtra government I am thankful for the contribution made by Mahanor Shinde saidDeputy CM Fadnavis in a tweet said We have lost a poet who connected the human minds with nature We have lost a writer who took Marathi literature to a different height His poetries were centred around nature and womenMaharashtra has lost a great litterateur he addedNCP chief Pawar said Mahanor was born in an agrarian family and his childhood was spent in hardships and that it is why he became sensitive towards forests and natureBecause of that his creativity blossomed His writings ruled the hearts of Marathi people he tweetedMany movie songs written by him have mesmerised Marathi people Pawar saidHe also recalled Mahanors tenure as MLC saying his speeches used to touch peoples heartsNCP working president Supriya Sule said Na Dho Mahanors death is a personal loss to all of usHe kept alive the rich legacy of poet Bahinabai she saidLeader of Opposition in the state legislative council Ambadas Danve said Mahanors death is a big loss to the Marathi literary worldLok Sabha member from Osmanabad Omprakash Rajenimbalkar said We have lost a jewel of Marathi literature in the form of Na Dho Mahanor He connected the human minds with nature We have lost a farmer who very well knew the problems of farmersBJP national secretary Pankaja Munde said the demise of Na Dho Mahanor is a loss to the Marathi literary world He carried forward the legacy of poet Bahinabai she tweetedSenior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan said Mahanor expressed the pain of farmers through his poetry He also recalled his last meeting with Mahanor in Nanded last yearCongress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said Maharashtra has lost a poet who expressed the feelings of farmers of the state through his poemsNCP state president Jayant Patil said Mahanors poetry created a charm even among the youth of the 21st century He was not only a great poet but also a true farmer he addedFormer state minister Rajesh Tope said We have lost a poet with a sensitive mindwith PTI inputs