Balwant Moreshwar Purandare

CONTEXT:

Speaking at the celebration to mark Centenary year of birth of Balwant Moreshwar Purandare, also known as Baba Saheb, Prime Minister paid rich tributes to the icon calling him for his sterling contribution of taking the life and history of Shivaji Maharaj to people.

FOR PRELIMS:

• It is impossible to imagine India’s form, its glory without Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. ‘Hindavi Swaraj’ of Shivaji Maharaj is an unparalleled example of justice for the backward and the deprived and a war cry against tyranny, stated PM
• Shri Purandare has been honored with Padma Vibhushan in 2019, the then Maharashtra Government decorated him with Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2015. Madhya Pradesh Government also saluted him by awarding him Kalidas award.
• The Prime Minister also recalled Baba Saheb Purandare’s contributions from the Goa Mukti Sangram to the Dadar Nagar Haveli freedom struggle.
• Balwant Moreshwar Purandare (born 1922), popularly known as Babasaheb Purandare is a writer and theatre personality from Maharashtra.
• His works are mostly based on the events related to the life of Shivaji, the 17th-century founder of the Maratha Empire; as a result he is termed as Shiv-Shahir ("Shivaji's bard").
• He is mostly known for his popular play on Shivaji Jaanta Raja.
• The Goa liberation movement was a movement which fought to end Portuguese colonial rule in Goa, India. The movement built on the small scale revolts and uprisings of the 19th century, and grew powerful during the period 1940-1961. The movement was conducted both inside and outside Goa, and was characterised by a range of tactics including nonviolent demonstrations, revolutionary methods and diplomatic efforts. However, Portuguese control of its Indian colonies ended only when India invaded Goa in 1961 and incorporated the territories into the Indian Union
• Dadra and Nagar haveli freedom movement: In the 1930s, when the anti-Portuguese movement in Goa started gaining momentum, it also caused similar movements in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Different parties like RSS, NLMO and AGD formed a United Front to lead an armed assault against the Portuguese officials at Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Eventually, the Portuguese fled, and the RSS and other organisations declared Dadra and Nagar Haveli independent of Portuguese rule on August 2, 1954.

Sources

• PIB
• The Indian Express
• The Hindu