Praveen Bardapurkar

Praveen’s career as a journalist provided many opportunities to sensitively interact with the experiences of various people from all walks of life. These gave him fresh news, subjects for articles and seeds for stories. These, coupled with his experiments with style in his columns, created ‘The Diary’

Nondi Dairy Nantarcha (Coming Soon)

The Diary (Part I)

The Diary is a narration of the touching -and distanced from the routine- experiences of a journalist. The wide popularity of ‘The Diary’ has inspired ‘Granthali’ to compile and publish the narratives into a book form titled ‘The Diary- Part I’. It is a novel compilation. For the first time, it has brought before the readers not just a collection of such a journalistic experiences; but also the multiple facets of our society and a wide variety of characters, ranging from the rogues to the humane. The narratives being entirely free of subjective involvement and creative dominance, the book has turned out to be a genuine report of the social, political and cultural happenings of the last three and a half decade. The readers have loved it even more as it did not claim to be a historical record, a reference book or a study.

Two editions of ‘The Diary’ have been sold out in the last two years and the third edition is under print.

A second compilation, ‘Notes after the diary’( The Diary- Part II) is soon to be published by Granthali and has a foreword by a senior journalist and literary personality, Arun Sadhu. As per the tradition of Granthali, this volume will be made available at a concessional price. A long article reviewing the alterations that have come over, during the last 30 years, in the technology, skill and psychology of journalism should prove to be a signal contribution of ‘Notes After the Diary’.

(Both these books are available with Granthali (+912389 2445,+912447 4843granthali01@gmail.com), all the major bookshops, and also in the ‘e’ form.
for more details please visit here)

In the preface to ‘The Diary’, Senior most Editor and renowned writer Kumar Ketkar says,

Praveen Bardapurkar has been a witness to the social, cultural, and political upheavals of the last thirty years. This period has been one of massive upheavals. Praveen has met the many heroes, villains, and their protégés. Some were non-entities then who, later, became heroes and super heroes.

Praveen has taken a mental stock of their progress and has assessed them and awarded them their due place in modern history. There is no blowing of his own trumpet; nor self pity or self deception and is free of any conceit. As a result, these writings have acquired naturalness, a feel of contemporary history and fluidity.

This Diary is a ‘must read’ for every upcoming journalist, but its compass is beyond journalism, covers our wider socio-political ambit and, therefore, will broaden the minds of all sorts of readers.

CLOSE - UP

Writing of ‘Personality Sketches’ has been the result of a professional need. Human beings being a subject close to his heart, different personality traits of many individuals get automatically imprinted in Praveen’s memory. These unconscious studies have helped him hone the skills needed to successfully draw the personality sketches. This feature ‘Close-up’, started as a psychological need, brings into sharp focus some of his dear friends. The feature has given close ups of senior playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar; thinker Bhaskar Laxman Bhole; senior social worker Dr. Abhay Bang; painter and, for the last three decades, founder-promoter of Basoli -a movement for young painters- Chandrakant Channe; the successful hotelier Dhananjay Deodhar who tenaciously fought against the dictatorial attitude of the police; And the gifted photo-artist Vivek Ranade. On various occasions Praveen wrote about his politician-friends like Nitin Gadkari, Gopinath Munde, Chagan Bhujbal, R.S.Gawai, and Sudhakarrao Naik with great fondness. The editorials written after the demise of stalwarts like Bhaskar Laxman Bhole, Narayan Surve, the great orator Ram Shewalkar, and Shrikant Jichkar were appreciated as models of personality portraits. Praveen had to write articles on such close friends like Prakash Deshpande, Dorai Rajan, and Pramod Bhaagwat as a professional compulsion after their sad deaths.

Vijay Prakashan of Nagpur has brought out a collection of all these personality portraits in a book titled ‘Close-Up’. In his preface to that book, Senior Novelist and Editor Suresh Dwadashiwar writes, It’s often said that the sensitivity of journalists becomes benumbed by the shocks it has to face, day after day. But Bardapurkar has retained the freshness of his sensitivity even after long years of journalism. The personalities painted by such writers will naturally be full of life and give the same feel to his readers. All these pen portraits also create, in the reader’s mind, a portrait of Praveen Bardapurkar, and it is a natural outcome of such writings. The all observing, curious, sharp and yet unified personality of Bardapurkar has extremes of likes and dislikes. He is strongly opinionated about men as well as minds. The portraits of mother- Maai and father- Anna should be considered the strengths of ‘Close-Up’. These close-ups acquaint us with the development and poverty faced by Praveen, and it tells us about the immense struggle done by his mother against unfavourable odds. Maai and Anna are not just portraits. They are heart rending close-ups of human beings, presented with complete objectivity.”

The famous poet, Grace has written in a letter-cum-article about ‘Close-Up’ “In Close-Up, though you almost approximate the experience of a personal essay; you have maintained your objectivity and have not allowed it to become a close-up of the experience itself. The reason behind it, I feel, is the pure attraction for creativity that you have. The talented Mahesh Elkunchwar has already subtly noted this quality you have. While you can appreciate the stunning dramatic talent of Elkunchwar, you can hear with your mind the philosophical grasp of B.L.Bhole, you can also hear the soft tread of the gentle literary creative urge of Shewalkar and you have an eye for the magic lens of Vivek Ranade. In between, you also catch the painful nerve of your parents’ experiences.”

(Close-Up can be obtained from Sachin Upadhyaya, Vijay Prakashan, Hanuman Galli, Sitabuldi, Nagpur. Contact- Mobile: +919881700099, e-mail: vijayprakashan@gmail.com )

SAMAKAAL

The responsibility of publishing a Felicitation Issue, summarizing the multiple facets of Girish Gandhi, was given to Praveen along with Shubhada Fadnis. Girish Gandhi has been working actively and enthusiastically in the Domain of cultural and political life of Vidarbha. It was decided not to limit the issue only to honour Girish Gandhi, but to publish a reference volume summarizing the politics, social movements, drama, journalism, development and environment of Vidarbha in the last thirty years, highlighting the contribution of Gandhi to it. The analytical articles by Di. Bha. Ghumre, Bhaskar Laxman Bhole, Dr. Asha Sawadekar,Dr. Anil Pimplapure and Praveen gave ‘SAMAKAAL’ the value of a reference volume. Problems that cropped up at the eleventh hour did not allow inclusion of writings on literature, institutional culture of Vidarbha etc., and it could not have a mega volume.

Penetrating sketches of the personality of Girish Gandhi by Senior Social Worker and ex central cabinet minister Mohan Dharia and senior editor and novelist Suresh Dwaadashiwar are included in ‘Samakaal’.Other write ups by senior editor Shrikrishna Chandak, critic Dr.Akshaykumar Kale social worker Sanjay Nahar, and journalist Baal Kulkarni also adorn the issue.

(‘Samakaal’ can be obtained from Sachin Upadhyaya, Vijay Prakashan, Hanuman Galli, Sitabuldi, Nagpur. Contact- Mobile: +919881700099, e-mail: vijayprakashan@gmail.com )

AAI (Editor)

Contributor - Girish Karnad, Mahesh Elkunchwar, Aasha Bage, Yashwant Manohar, Sushilkumar Shinde, Suresh Dwadashiwar, Ha. Mo. Marathe, Rupa Kulkarni, Urmila Pawar, Praveen Bardapurkar, Indrajit Bhalerao, Sadanand Deshmukh, Shraddha Belsare- Jayashri Kharkar, Raja Shirguppe, Ashok Pawar, Vivek Ranade, Asaram Lomte, Aruna Sabane, Vidyatai Patil, Smita Patil
Publisher - Sadhana Prakashan, Pune

('AAI' can be obtained from Sadhana Prakashan, 431, Shaniwar Peth, Pune 431030. Contact No. : 020 24453636, e-mail : weeklysadhana@gmail.com)

GRACE NAVACHE GARUD (Editor)

Contributor - Di. Bha. Ghumre, Ramdas Bhatkal, Mahesh Elkunchwar, Suresh Dwadashiwar, Veena Alase, Narayan Kulkarni-Kavthekar, Dr. Shirish Gopal Deshpande, Arun Dhere, Shubha Gokhale, Praveen Bardapurkar, Vishwas Vasekar, Dinkar Bedekar, Baban Nakhale, Ashutosh Shewalkar, Shashikant Sawant, Shrikant Bojewar, Pralhad Jadhav, Satish Solankurkar, Shraddha Belsare-Kharkar, Dilip Gaur, Swanand Bedarkar, Amar Ramteke, Sudesh Hinglaspurkar, Prof. Vilas Jadhav, Ma. Go. Hastak, Dipak Agawan.

('Grace Navache Garud' can be obtained from Sachin Upadhyaya, Vijay Prakashan, Hanuman Galli, Sitabuldi, Nagpur. Contact Mobile : +919881700099, e-mail : vijayprakashan@gamil.com)

DiWAS ASE KI….

Praveen’s career with Loksatta moved him to Nagpur, Mumbai, Aurangabad, and back to Nagpur. He had ample opportunities to travel all over the country, and abroad also. He has been a witness to the social, political, cultural, and administrative events, especially in Vidarbha and Marathwada. He had a free access to the innermost chambers of power and was able to participate in many changes that came over in journalism and Loksatta. An open narration of all these experiences is ‘Diwas Ase ki’.

These experiences have been narrated without posing to be a prophet, nor is there any self-praise. This is a narration, of how these changes occurred, from the perspective of a journalist. It is neither a historical probe, nor are there any sweeping statements. Though this narration has, for the first time, shed light on many social, political, and cultural happenings, the book does not lay any claim to it. A specialty of ‘Diwas Ase Ki’ are the pen portraits of Senior Editors like Madhav Gadkari, Arun Tikekar, Suresh Dwadashiwar, and Kumar Ketkar. The portraits are small, but they have succeeded in highlighting their personality traits and styles of work. In dedicating ‘Diwas Ase Ki’ to these editors who had an active role to play in Praveen’s development as a journalist, Praveen has displayed an uncharacteristic humility that does not match his personality. About these editors, Praveen says,’ Anant Bhalerao, Di. Bha. Ghumre, Madhav Gadkari, Arun Tikekar, Dinkar Raykar, Arvind Gokhale, Suresh Dwadashiwar, and Kumar Ketkar were, after all, human Beings. They had different temperaments, styles, and thoughts but each one of them enriched my knowledge. When you enter a perfumery, you get the pleasant smell: even if you do not buy any. And that fragrance lasts long. The fragrance of what I got from these editors has come to stay with me. They may have had certain shortcomings. Albeit, I noticed some drawbacks in their behaviour but it will be inexpedient not to have gratitude for those who have given me riches of experience and knowledge.

(Publisher - Granthali and this book also available in e-book form.)

ADHALE MADHALE DIWAS

A man, who had lost his mental balance, threw his daughter into a well. to drink water. as she was thirsty……. and the girl died. The man was charged with murder and brought before law. The court sent the man to a mental hospital. After medical treatment the man recovered completely. In the meantime, the court acquitted him and ordered his release. But, due to red tape, the man had to live in the hospital for four more years after his acquittal. As a journalist, Praveen struggled to set him free. At long last the man was set free. Praveen was awarded ‘Bhalakar Bhopatkar Award’ for this news feature.

‘Adhale Madhale Diwas’ is a novel based on this true story. The novel is in the form of a diary of a disturbed journalist.

(Published by Rajas, the edition is sold out.)

PRIYADARSHINI

A compilation of the various articles published after the assassination of Indira Gandhi was published under the title, ‘Priyadarshini’. Two sditions of 5000 copies each were sold out in mere 15 days- a record.

Priyadarshini was co-edited by Pradeep Deshpande. (Published by Navasamaj Ltd.)

Other writings

Many articles for Felicitation issues and Diwali issues.

Poems, essays and personality sketches for Yugawani, Lokprabha, Lokrajya ,Granthasakha, Nagpur Patrika, Janawad and Loksatta.