How Literary Meets Became a Stage to Flex Political Muscle

In 1975, at the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Karad, held amid then prime minister Indira Gandhi's Emergency, noted cultural anthropologist and writer Durga Bhagwat, who chaired the event, said that politicians had no place on the dais at literary meets.

- Shrinivas Deshpande

PUNE: It prompted Congressman Yashwantrao Chavan, a minister in Gandhi's cabinet, to quietly step down from the stage and take a seat in the front row despite being the head of the reception committee. It was a defining moment as it underscored the literary meet's commitment to keep politics at bay.

Five decades later, the narrative has been rewritten. Despite its intent of being a congregation for authors, poets, and literary enthusiasts—especially in the backdrop of Marathi recently receiving classical language status—the invitation card of the 98th Sammelan to be held in Delhi next week lists over 15 political leaders in attendance, dwarfing the core of literary discussions.

The invite comes notwithstanding the recent controversy when deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde was felicitated by NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, from the Opposition coalition, in Delhi. It prompted criticism from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which accused Pawar of honouring a "traitor," referencing Shinde splitting the party in 2022.

Shinde was awarded a prize named after Mahadji Shinde, an 18th-century Maratha general who played a crucial role in establishing the Maratha empire in north India. The felicitation took place at an event organized by Sarhad, a Pune-based NGO and organizer of the main literary meet, in the run-up to the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan. Interestingly, Sharad Pawar is heading the reception committee for the meet, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate.

This is not the first time that Marathi Sahitya Sammelan stoked political controversies—many within literary circles have attributed this growing political influence to the soaring costs of organizing these events. With budgets reaching up to ₹8 crore, of which the state government funds only ₹2 crore, organizers have had to turn to politicians for financial and logistical support.