Marathi literature will not be dented: Uddhav Thackeray

Nashik, Mar 8 (UNI) Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray today said that there was no need to worry about the ''survival of Marathi language in the changing times''.

''Words have greater strength and we have a huge treasure of words. Therefore there is no need to worry about th survival of Marathi,'' Mr Thackeray said while delivering the inaugural speech at the first All India Marathi Youth Literary Meet here today.

''Saamna'' Executive Editor Sanjay Raut, Bharatiya Vidyarthi Sena President Abhijeet Panse, Literary Meet President Kamlesh Walawalkar, Shiv Sena leaders Neelam Gorhe and Ravindra Mirlekar, and renowned young litterateur and actress Sampada Joglekar Kulkarni were also present on the occasion.

But Mr Raut, while speaking on the occasion, expressed grave concern over the declining reading habits of the youth and said this trend was ''tragic'. Mr Walawalkar too expressed concern but remarked that considering the creative potential of Marathi people, Marathi literature will surely prosper.

Mr Panse said the literary meet was an attempt to provide a platform to youth to express themselves. He also informed about ''Dhayadattak'' scheme undertaken by the Vidyarthi Sena, the students wing of the Shiv Sena, from July 27, 2007, wherein they adopted several widows of farmers who had committed suicide. The organisation had also arranged for marriage of the daughter of one such farmer, he informed.

A compact disc (CD) ''Amrutacha Vas'' of poems by Kusumagraj alias V V Shirwadkar was also released on the occasion.

A procession was also organised earlier in the day from the residence of Kusumagraj at Tilakwadi to the Meet venue at Prabodhankar Thackeray Sahityanagari.

UNI GB RN SKB2021