PUNE: Renowned author, teacher Dattatray Maruti (Da Ma) Mirasdar passed away here on Saturday due to old age. He was 94.
Mirasdar was popular for different forms of writing, especially humour writing. He also wrote dialogues, screenplays for the Marathi movies. He along with Vyankatesh Madgulkar and Shankar Patil, both renowned authors, formed a trioka that mesmerised Marathi readers with their stories.
Some of his writings touched upon serious social issues. Among his popular works were Vyankuchi Shikavani, Mazya Bapachi Pend, Shivajiche Hastakshar, Bhutacha Janma, Mazi Pahili Chori and Haravlyacha Shodh. Mirasdari, a compilation of his humorous writings, is immensely popular among readers.
He also acted in a movie Ek Daav Bhutacha for which he also wrote the screenplay and story.
He was also the president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. During his lifetime. he received many awards, including the Maharashtra government’s Jeevan Gurav award.
Mirasdar was a schoolteacher and later also taught in a college and worked in the field of journalism.
He has over 24 storybooks to his credit and written screenplays for 18 moves. His story ‘Bhutacha janma’ is part of the Class XII Marathi syllabus.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that Mirasdar was well known in Maharashtra for his writings, teaching and storytelling skills. Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that Mirasdar started his career as a journalist and later remained a teacher for long. Former union minister Prakash Javadekar said, “While making people laugh, he also provoked them to think. He along with Venkatesh Madgulkar and Shankar Patil popularised storytelling.”
