Rich tributes paid to P Savlaram

Thane, Dec 26: Rich tributes were paid to the great Marathi poet late P Savlaram, who mesmerised the Marathi-speaking people and the society by his famous songs for years, at a function held here on Tuesday.

In the function, prominent persons from various fields were honoured by P Savlaram awards. Saamna editor and MP Sanjay Raut was the chief guest for the function and Thane Mayor Smita Indulkar presided over it. Among others present on the occasion were several Shiv Sena leaders, including the Sena MLA and district chief Eknath Shinde.

This year's P Savlaram Memorial award was given to music director Dashrath Poojari. The award comprises Rs 25,000 cash and citation.

The Ganga Jamuna award, named after the famous creation by Savlaram, who was also the President of the Thane Municipal Corporation and was responsible for the cultural development of the city, was presented to senior actress Rekha Kamath. The other awards were given to D K Soman, Subodh Deshpande, and Viju Mane for their various achievements.

In his speech, Mr Raut said the Thane Municipal Corporation should celebrate the function on a large scale as the great poet brought the name of Thane to limelight by penning famous songs.

He said the seeds of culture were still alive in Thane as compared to Pune and Mumbai, and this should be realized by one and all. The younger generation should get the benefit of the same and the TMC should play its role for the same.

Citizens should not not forget that it was Mr Poojari who got respect for the city of Thane due to his munificent works in the field of Marathi art and music, he said.

At the function, Mr Soman pointed out that Mr Poojari who had given his life for the propogation of Marathi songs and cherished the lives of millions himself was living in a pitiable condition in a small room in Dombivili.

Taking a serious note of the condition of Poojari, Mr Raut declared that it was only the Shiv Sena which could save the situation of Mr Poojari, saying that by the next P Sawlaram award function next year, the Sena would see to it that Poojrai moves into a owned house in Thane city.

UNI