For the first time in the state, the "State Level Poetry World Literary Conference" dedicated to poetry will be organized. This event, hosted by Kavyamitra Sanstha and Apeksha Masik Parivar, Pune, will take place on Sunday, February 9, from 9 am to 6 pm at the Uddyanprasad office in Sadashiv Peth.
The announcement was made by Rajendra Sagar, founder president of Kavyamitra Sanstha, and Dattatray Ubhe, founder editor of Apeksha Masik Parivar, during a press conference.
The conference will officially begin with an inauguration at 9:30 am. Senior social worker Suresh Kote will deliver the welcome address, while senior literary figure and entrepreneur Chandralekha Belsare will preside over the event. Rajendra Bandal, founder/chairman of Periwinkle Group of Institutes, will be the chief guest for the inauguration.
Notable chief guests attending the conference include senior social worker Nandkumar Valanj alias Babuji, social worker and Agriculture Officer Suresh Lunawat, retired Municipal Education Board center head Ujjwala Baddare, senior literary principal Shyam Bhurke, senior editor Dinkar Shiledar, and service-oriented entrepreneur Sushil Biyani.
This conference marks the silver jubilee of both Kavyamitra Sanstha and Apeksha Masik Parivar, Pune. It will feature two poet conferences across four sessions, including a comedy poet conference, a symposium on the world of poetry, and the presentation of several awards, including Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar, Sahitya Gaurav Puraskar, and Special Gratitude Awards. A souvenir commemorating the silver jubilee will also be published.
Key topics such as the history and significance of poetry, current developments in the field, and the contributions of veteran poets to Marathi literature will be discussed. The main objective of the conference is to provide a platform for poets, especially emerging ones, and to emphasize the unique importance of poetry.
The "Poet Conference" from 11 am to 1 pm will be chaired by senior poet and ghazal writer Dr DB Ingle, with around 24 invited poets and poetesses participating. From 2 pm to 3 pm, the symposium titled ‘The World of Poetry and the Development of Marathi Poetry’ will be chaired by Dr Sheetal Malusare, a descendant of literary figure and hero Subhedar Tanhaji Malusare. The session will feature keynote speakers Prof. Vijay Londhe and Prof. Anagha Thombre, with young poetess and presenter Sakshi Sagar as the moderator.
From 3 pm to 4:30 pm, the Lifetime Achievement and Literary Achievement Awards, along with Special Gratitude Awards, will be presented, with writer Dr. Suresh Vakchoure chairing the session. Former Vice Chancellor Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar, former Dean of Mahatma Phule Agricultural University Dr. Prakash Turbatmath, President of Shri Kshetra Mhasoba Devasthan Trust Madhura Bhelke, and renowned surgeon Dr. Sanjay Shivde will be present.
A comedy poetry gathering will be held from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm, chaired by senior poet Balkrishna Bachal. The chief guests for this session will be one-man artists Makarand Tillu and Pramathesh Jangam. Poets Ganesh Punde, Shriram Ghade, Devendra Gawande, IK Sheikh, Shamrao Sarkale, Jaywant Pawar, and Vibhishan Potre will present humorous poems. The conference will conclude at 5:30 pm.