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Famous Personalities From Nashik

Nashik is one of the holiest city in the country, was once the home of Lord Ram during his exile. Nashik has given few gem of personalities to the world from time to time. The Famous Personalities from Nashik have greatly influenced in various sectors like cinema, literature, poetry and also country's freedom fight. Here you can find the detailed info on the popular personalities of Nashik and their contribution in brief.

Dadasaheb Phalke - The father of Indian Cinema

Gem of Personalities from Nashik

Shri Dhundiraj Govind Phalke famously called as Dadasaheb Phalke is the pioneer of the Indian Film industry born in Nashik. He was born to a Sanskrit scholar on April 30th 1870 in Trimbakeshwar, which is just 30 kms away from Nashik. Dadasaheb Phalke is a multifaceted personality and he devoted his life for making silent movies. He was a student at the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay and Kalabhavan of Baroda where he learnt engineering, drawing, sculpture, photography and painting. After taking inspiration from the Lumiere brothers, he made his debut Indian silent movie Raja Harishchandra in the year 1913.

As a total he has made 95 movies and 26 short movies in the span of 19 years since 1932. He has not stopped his career after earning lot of money but pledged to spend it back in to the film industry. But then the time has changed, Dadasaheb Phalke also became victim to sound film technology and thus say good bye to films in 1937. The film creating techniques are unknown to the Indians during the initial stage of Dadasaheb Phalke. He frequently changed his role as a producer, screenwriter and director depends on the movies. When he started the film career, no one had considered this industry to flourish so much that many of people would be able to earn their livelihood from it, nor did anyone foresee the amount of good money transactions in it.

After stepping down from the film industry, he came back to Nashik for the rest of his life  and died in February 16th 1944. Dadasaheb Phalke award. In order to pay homage for Dadasaheb Phalke, the prestigious "Dadasaheb Phalke Award" is given to the persons who have greatly contributed to the Indian Cinema.

Famous works of Dadasaheb Phalke are: Satyavan Savitri, Mohini Bhasmasur, Shri Krishna Janma and Lanka Dahan


Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar - Great Freedom Fighter From Nashik


Famous People of Nashik

Shri Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, also called as Swatantryaveer Savarkar, was a fearless freedom fighter who made Nashik more popular on India’s freedom struggle map. He was a multifaceted personality and acted as a freedom fighter, writer, social reformer, dramatist, historian, poet, philosopher and political leader. Veer Savarkar was a great leader in the history of modern Indian, who neither followed fortune or pursued fame, nor individual greatness. Born to a family of zamindars on May 28, 1883 in the Bhagpur village near Nashik, he was one among the four children of Shri. Damodarpant Savarkar and Radhabai.

He went to the Shivaji School in Nashik for the primary studies and later took the Bachelor degree from Fergusson College Pune and B.A.L.L.B from London. His energetic spirit discovered an outlet through an association called the Mitra Mela later named as "Abhinav Bharat" shaped by him. He also established the Free India Society when he was in London to celebrate Indian festivals and critical occasions in our freedom struggle.

Savarkar was just 27 years of age he was requested 50 years imprisonment at the Andaman's jail since he was charged for abetting the murder of Mr. Jackson. In 1920, Tilak, Gandhiji and Vithalbhai Patel claimed for his freedom and subsequently on May 2, 1921 he was taken back to India's jail. At last he was discharged on January 6th, 1924 after which he worked hard to ensure support inter caste marriage, minority right, help Dr. Ambedkar in the battle for the untouchables and Hindi language promotion. He later joined Tilak's Swaraj Party and established the Hindu Mahasabha as a different political group and helped the nation's freedom struggle.

Famous writings of Veer Savarkar - Hindu Padpadashashi, Kale Paani, Maazi Janmathep, My Transportation for Life and a set of poems, novels and plays.


Shri Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar - Kusumagraj

The popular Marathi artist and author who has helped for the development of the Marathi writing. Kusumagraj or Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar is a poet, a cultural and social identity born in Nashik. His initial name was Gajanan Ranganath Shirwadkar, which was later changed after adoption. His writings were initially published through Balbodhmewa magazine when he was barely 17 years. Later these were published in Ratnakar magazine. In the year 1932, he took an interest in the Satyagraha for permitting untouchables to enter Kala Ram Temple.

Some of well acclaimed poem collections: Marathi Mati, Vishakha, Swagat, Yayati Ani Devayani, Himraesha, and Veej Mhanali Dhartila.

He has gained a long list of awards during his time period. Nonetheless, without a notice of the accompanying awards, one would not acknowledge why he is viewed as such an extraordinary writer and poet. He received Sahitya Academy Award for his play Natsamrat in 1974. Poona University honored him with the D.Lit. in 1986.  He got Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award of All India Natya Parishad in the year 1985. In 1988 he got Sangeet Natya Lekhan Award. Above all the awards the highly important award is the Dnyanpeeth Award by considering his incredible commitment to Marathi writing, which he got in 1988. He was the first person in Maharashtra to get Dnyanpeeth award.


Shri Samarth Ramdas Swami – A prominent Marathi saint

Marathi Saint Shri Samarth Ramdas SwamiTakli is a small village in Nashik, which is famous as the place for Saint Samarth Ramdas. He was a noticeable Marathi saint and religious artist. He is remembered as the spiritual teacher of Shivaji Maharaj. He was a famous devotee of the Lord Rama and Hanuman. He was a bramhachari all through his life and had really fled from his marriage to keep himself free from the obligations of Maya, and accomplish self acknowledgment. He likewise drilled physical yoga works out, Surya namaskara being his most loved and in addition meditation. Samarth Ramdas assembled 12 Hanuman sanctuaries in Maharashtra. He also put his hard efforts in helping Marathi literature through his works like Dasbodh, Shri Manache Shlok and Shri Maruti Stotra.


Shri. Vasant Kanetkar – The Marathi Natya (Drama) Samrat

Shri. Vasant Kanetkar is a prominent dramatist and writer who has worked for the future of Marathi theater. Maharashtra is one of the few states in our nation that revels in a rich convention in theater and Shri Vasant Kanetkar has made huge commitment to theater awareness among the people. Vasant Shankar Kanetkar was a writer who contributed much for the growth of Marathi language. He was born on March 20th, 1920 in the town of Rahimatpur in Nashik. Born to a well known artist S. K. Kanetkar and was an educator at the Willington College of Sangli. Sri Kanketkar was lucky to have been guided at first in the artistic tries of his childhood by the well known Marathi author V.V.Khandekar.

He published around 43 plays and 3 major novels. Kanetkar's plays are mainly based on the issues of middle class. He got a filmfare award for the film Aansoo Ban Gaye Phool in the year 1966. He was also honored with the prestigious Padma Shri by the government of India. Kanetkar was chosen as the president of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in year 1988. The Marathi Drama Samrat passed away on January 31st, 2000.

Some of his famous plays are: Raigadala Jenvha Jagyete, Vedyacheghar Unhat, Prema Tujha Rang Kasa, Lekure Udandjali, Matsyagandha and Himalayachi Sawali.


Anant Kanhere – Young Indian Freedom Fighter from Nashik

Anant Laxman Kanhere was one of the popular name in the Indian Freedom Struggle from Nashik. He was born in in a small town in Ratnagiri in the year 1891. He finished his preliminary education in Nizamabad and Indore and further studies at Aurangabad. Mr. Jackson was the collector of Nashik at the time of Anant Laxman Kanhere and he was exceptionally cruel and smothered the opposition to British developments, yet because of his great talks he had become a close acquaintance with the public, making them accept that slavery was beneficial for them. Hence Anant Laxman Kanhere and other freedom activist in Nashik plan to kill Mr.Jackson. Anant Kanhere and his associates planned to kill Mr.Jackson on his farewell day in Nashik.

As per their plan, Jackson was executed by Anant on December 21st, 1909 when the people of Nashik had organized a farewell for him at Vijayanand theater in Nashik. Just following four months of Jackson's murder the Bombay court gave the order to hang Anant Kanhere, at the age of 18 years in the Thane jail on April 19th, 1910.

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