Diwali Anka

Diwali Anka is a characteristic Marathi phenomenon. The stingy Marathi Manus takes little pains of buying a lot of books but library membership is more or less universal. And while writers write and publishers publish, there are many magazines available that are worth a mention. The magazines that otherwise come up with a paltry 20-30 page editions take a break after Diwali but for Diwali they lay out a pleasure of 200+ page edition! This contains anything and everything you want to read – of course depending on the magazines’ background. So, while “Shatayushee” (Live for 100 years) will publish grotesque pictures of ulcers and amputated diabetic feet, imploring people to eat less hot and sweet things, “Awaj” on the other side will make fun of everything with marvelous cartoons, double entendre and comical strips. Many a Marathi Manus has spent hours in local trains, buses, dimly lit rooms, libraries and even workplaces reading the Diwali Special edition! And doing what we do best – exchange a read copy of the edition for another magazine and discuss with imprudent arrogance the articles in the magazines.

I was beginning to think this tradition was on the wane but for the advertisements, I saw about the upcoming Diwali Editions. Our neighbor asked if we wanted to be a part of this small library that buys a select few editions and we all read, exchange and perhaps keep a copy or two for ourselves when everyone has finished reading. That was an emphatic yes from my parents! Yesterday, we got the first installment of the editions. My mother picked up Sadhana and Shatayushee.

A word about Sadhana – My father and some other family members subscribed to this magazine (a fortnightly to be precise). It gives away my families’ leftward-leanings! (My families’ I said; not mine!) Sadhana was founded by Sane Guruji – a Gandhian, philosopher, writer, teacher and politician. An eternally sensitive person, he could not take the politics and committed suicide. His thought leadership although socialist, was nevertheless progressive and immaculate. The tradition was later shouldered by the likes of NG Gore, SM Joshi, Prof. Madhu Dandavate and Pramila Dandavate, George Fernandis, Prof. GP Pradhan, Baba Amte, Mrinal Gore etc. Imminent personalities of Marathi Literature and thought-leaders like Vasant Bapat and Yadunath Thatte have been editors of this magazine. And right now, Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, the Anndhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (Let’s eradicate superstitions!) fame is the editor. I looked at the table of contents last night – it includes analyses by Govind Talavalkar, Kumar Ketkar, columns by Maruti Chitampalli, Prof. GP Pradhan, Sulakshana Mahajan, discussions by Dr. Shriram Lagu and Dr. Girish Karnad and article on Shanta Shelke and other big personalities, Children’s corner by Rajiv Tambe and Abhijit Ghorpade and much more. The likes of Dilip Prabhavalkar, Suhita Thatte, Medha Patkar and Dnyanada Naik are missing for some reason.

It should make interesting reading. I am looking forward to this weekend. After a long time, I will be reading something in Marathi!