Vibrant SPCE

Heart Beats of SPCE: Part 4

Vibrant SPCE!

The Marathi Vangmay Mandal began its journey with great enthusiasm after its formation.

In its first meeting, Sanjay Deo, Pramod Sawant, and Mangesh Borase proposed that the inaugural program should be a grand one. After thorough discussion, we decided to host a Katha Kathan session by the celebrated Marathi writer, Va Pu Kale, an idea enthusiastically endorsed by Prof. R. M. Joshi. To invite Mr. Kale personally, Nitin Gadkari and I visited Sahitya Sahavas, a cooperative housing society in Kalanagar, Bandra West.

Sahitya Sahavas was home to prominent Marathi literary figures, including Shanta Shelake, Vinda Karandikar, Madhukar Toradmal, Vijaya Rajadhyaksha. Ramesh Tendulkar, the father of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar was staying with his family in Ushakal Building there.

Va Pu Kale's straightforwardness and practicality shone through during our interaction. He shared humorous anecdotes from his experiences with event organizers. His background with the Bombay Municipal Corporation provided him with a unique perspective, blending humor and practicality seamlessly.

The day of the event at the Gymkhana auditorium was unforgettable. The venue was packed, and Va Pu Kale, dressed smartly in his grey safari, exuded confidence. He greeted the students warmly and began with the humorous and thought-provoking story "Pant Vaidya," which revolved around a seemingly foolish character who cleverly used this perception to his advantage. The tale was met with immense applause. After a brief pause,Mr. Kale presented "Partner," a deeply touching narrative that resonated strongly with the audience. Both stories showcased his storytelling brilliance, ensuring the program's phenomenal success.

Building on this momentum, the Mandal organized a variety of events, such as poetry readings, mono acting, and debate competitions for students. Topics like:

 "Are love marriages more successful than arranged marriages?" 

“Hit ani hot natakachi samasya: aahe kinva nahi?" sparked lively discussions and enthusiastic participation.

Responding to a request from students, we arranged a poetry reading session with Ms. Shanta Shelake, the illustrious Marathi poetess known for her contributions in Marathi literature; and her herat touching Marathi Film Songs. Her simplicity and profound artistry captivated the audience. During the program, she read her poems, guided students on the essence of poetry, and shared her inspiring journey as a poetess, leaving a lasting impression on all present.

…And we were invited to participate in youth festival program arranged by Bombay University at Ruparel College at Mahim.

Established in 1952, Ruparel College has a legacy of over 70 years in shaping young minds and fostering academic excellence. It has remained a hub for cultural activities, nurturing talent across generations. Aishwarya Rai and Urmila Matondakar are its past students!

It was an honour for us to participate in such prestigious event!

We formed a team to participate in different cultural events, worked very hard. The famous poet Ratnakar Parmekar and Prof. S F Pendase guided and supported us. We finally reached to Ruparel College.

Our team performed well in the event. Performance of our team was well acclaimed by the audience.

During the festival, I presented two of my poems:

‘Mala Baghun Gali, tu Vruthach ka Hasali?’ (मला बघून गाली, तू वृथाच का हसली?) and ‘Smashan’ (स्मशान!), both of which had been published in Saptahik Lokprabha. 

Sharing my literary work on such a platform was both an honor and an unforgettable experience.

Additionally, I performed a solo acting piece-delivering the monologue of ‘Lalya’ (लाल्या) from ‘Ashrunchi Zali Fule’ (अश्रूंची झाली फुले !), a masterpice by the great Marathi writer Vasant Kanetkar. The powerful and emotional portrayal of Lalya's character resonated deeply with the audience.

We returned like heroes to our campus!

Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @ Pune, March 24, 2025