Babasaheb Purandare, eminent historian and author who was admitted to Pune’s Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital on Saturday, passed away this morning, doctors confirmed. He was 99.
His health rapidly deteriorated since Sunday evening and he was in an extremely critical condition after having been put on ventilator in the intensive care unit.
He died around 5 am. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced a state funeral for Babasaheb.
In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said that Babasaheb Purandare left a major void in the world of history and culture.
“I am pained beyond words. The demise of Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare leaves a major void in the world of history and culture. It is thanks to him that the coming generations will get further connected to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. His other works will also be remembered,” PM Narendra Modi said.
“There was no fort, structure or historical area pertaining to Chhatrapati Shivaji that Babasaheb had not studied… He gathered every possible reference to the great King’s life and studied and researched him with an awe-inspiring sincerity as Babasaheb considered this to be the work of his life…his demise will leave an unfillable void in Maharashtra’s cultural, literary and artistic heritage,” CM Uddhav Thackeray said .
Earlier this year, Mr. Modi along with other political leaders had paid fulsome tributes to Mr. Purandare on the occasion of the historian having completed 99 years, with the Prime Minister greeting Mr. Purandare via a video message.
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were also among those who paid rich tributes to the historian while Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray visited Mr. Purandare’s residence to felicitate him in person.
Who is Babasaheb Purandare, historian known for works on Shivaji?
Historian Balwant Moreshwar Purandare, better known as Babasaheb Purandare.He was born in Pune on July 29, 1922 at Pune.
A Padma Vibhushan awardee, he was also a renowned theatre person known for his works on Chhatrapati Shivaji, especially his play based on the life of the Maratha warrior.
Babasaheb Purandare was also called Shiv Shahir (Shivaji’s bard) because he was an authority on Chhatrapati Shivaji.
Purandare started writing stories related to the Shivaji era from a young age. The stories were later compiled and published in the book titled “Thhiganya”, which means spark.
Raja Shivchhatrapati, Purandare’s popular two-part, 900-page magnum opus on Shivaji Maharaj in Marathi, was first published in the late 1950s and has since been a staple in Marathi households, going through numerous reprints over decades.
He conceived the plot of the popular drama ‘Jaanta Raja’ in 1985. The play, which was first staged the same year, had tremendous mass appeal.
Apart from Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, which he was conferred with in 2019, Purandare has received several awards such as Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Gaurav Puraskar, Shiv-Sahir Degree, Punya Bhushan, Jeewan Gaurav, Maharashtra Bhushan and Shiv Bhushan.