Marathi poet gifts books to Shakespeare Memorial

The Shakespeare Memorial at British town of Stratford upon Avon has received an unusual gift from Maharashtra - three books presented by octogenarian Marathi poet Mangesh Padgaonkar.

The books will form part of the Memorial's public collection. After Rabindranath Tagore, the next Indian poet to find a pride of place in the Memorial is Padgaonkar.

Padgaonkar, who was on a wheelchair, travelled from London to Stratford upon Avon, specially to gift the Marathi translation of 'The Tempest', 'Romeo & Juliet' and 'Julius Ceasar', his spokesman said last night.

These were received by the Memorial's Director of Learning, Dr Paul Edmondon. As a tribute to Padgaonkar's monumental work, Edmondon read out a few paragraphs from the Bard's works and Padgaonkar reciprocated by reading their Marathi translation.

Padgaonkar was taken to the highly-protected archives of the Memorial where he saw some of the oldest works on Shakespeare, one of them published just seven years after the death of the greatest playwright.

During the UK visit, Padgaonkar visited the Canterbury Cathedral and presented a copy of his translation of the New Testament to the Archbishop. Canon Clare received it on behalf of the Archbishop.

Padgaonka was felicitated by the Maharashtra Mandal on Saturday for receiving the "Maharashtra Bhooshan," highest civilian award of the state government.

Local members of the Mandal rendered a few of Padgaonkar's popular songs on the occasion. The function was organised by the Kale Trust of London and the Mandal.

An audio-visual based on Padgaonkar telling his life story was released on the occasion. The film is made by "Granthali", the influential literary movement in Maharashtra.