A literary convention of Marathi writers commencing in distant Punjab tomorrow underlines the deep cultural ties between Maharsthra and the northern state that share a common legacy in the revered saint-poet Namdeo.
Hundreds of delegates boarded a special train "Sant Namdeo Express" here for Ghuman in Punjab to attend the 88th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan being held from April 3 to 5.
The annual all-India literary event is being supported by state government, which has extended all assistance to the organisers - Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal, apex body of writers in Maharashtra, and "Sarhad", a voluntary social group.
Ghuman, in Amritsar district, is considered "karambhoomi" of 7th century saint poet Namdeo, who was born in Maharashtra but travelled across North India, particularly in present-day Punjab, where his verses in Hindi are included in the Sikh religious literature.
Namdeo's "abhangas" (devotional songs) written in Marathi are equally popular in Maharashtra where he is hailed as a pivotal link in the Marathi saint tradition of the "Warkari" sect marked by the annual pilgrimage of lakhs of people to temple town of Pandharpur in Solapur district.
The special train was flagged off by Maharashtra Minister Girish Bapat from Mumbai last night and Pune Mayor Datta Dhankawde was among those who saw off the delegates when it arrived here en route Ghuman.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Maharashtra counterpart Devendra Fadnavis are expected to attend the inaugural session of the prestigious literary event, according to the organisers.
Meanwhile, Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam today demanded that the event be telecast on Sahaydri channel of Doordarshan free of cost.
Nirupam, who has written a letter to the Centre in this regard, lamented that Sahaydri has asked Marathi Sahitya Board to pay a "hefty" fee to telecast the programme.
"Sahaydri had telecast the Dussera speech of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat free of cost, so why this biased and step-motherly treatment to Marathi language and literature?" he said in the letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Arun Jaitley.
The former Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai said the Board cannot afford to pay the amount (which he did not disclose) sought by the channel.
He said 11 crore Marathi-speaking people will miss the opportunity to watch the programme if it is not telecast on Sahaydri.
