03 February,2009 09:03 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Rajmachi hills It is one of the virgin locations in the state and is situated 16-kms away from Lonavla.
To bring together the fort lovers, the first ever fort literary meet would be organised at Rajmachi hills this February
Rajmachi houses Manranjan and Shrivardhan, the two momentous forts and is frequented by numerous historians and writers.
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As forts are an intrinsic part of Maharashtra's past glory, the first ever Fort Literary Meet has been organised at Rajmachi hills, 16-kms away from Lonavla, on February 14 and 15.
The meet has been organised with an intention of bringing all the fort lovers together and would be held every alternate year.
Organised by Go Ni Dandekar Fort Lovers Association, the two-day event will be presided by Babasaheb Purandare, an 87-year-old veteran history scholar.
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"There's a lot of documentary films being made and Marathi literature been written on Shivaji Maharaj and the forts in Maharashtra," said Prof Vijay Dev, an organiser of the event.
According to him, there are 530 forts in 33 districts of the state excluding Vashim and Malshiras region. "Over 12 per cent of the state's population is situated around these forts and we need to bring them together," Prof Dev said.
He added that many architects, engineers and IT professionals in Pune are keen on joining this activity and they are expecting people living near these forts to attend the meet.
Release of new books related to forts, photo-exhibition and symposium related to the restoration of these historic places are planned during the meet.
Also, Ninad Bedekar, a noted historian and an engineer by profession, who has done an in-depth research on the engineering aspects involved in the construction of these forts construction, will speak in the meet.
530
The total number of forts in 33 districts of Maharashtra
12%
The state's population that lives around the forts
Fort and the man
Prabhakar Pendharkar's documentary film The fort and the man that was made in 1958 will also be screened during the meet. The film is based on Maratha ruler Shivaji and his forts.
The idea of making this film was proposed by Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of free India. Also, it was the first film that was made in India with the use of animation.
