It is the first such festival since Marathi was conferred the classical language status by the Centre last year. Various governments had sat on the file until PM Modi approved the decision ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections.The Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena had recently expressed its displeasure over Sharad Pawar’s felicitation of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde as part of the literary festival. Presenting Shinde with the ‘Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Puraskar’, Pawar also praised him and his work. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said Pawar should have avoided attending such a programme as it could create confusion among alliance partners.However, NCP SP leader and MLA Jitendra Ahwad said that unlike other leaders, Sharad Pawar always keep politics aside while maintaining personal relationships. “Sharad Pawar is a veteran political leader and he never mixes politics and personal relationships. He is very clear about it. The sharing of the stage by Modi and Pawar at the Marathi literary event should be seen in that context only,” he added.The festival was first held in 1878 with noted scholar and social reformer Mahadev Govind Ranade as president. It has been held almost annually since 1926, bringing together scholars, critics and literary figures to deliberate on a range of issues, including the relevance of Marathi in changing times.
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