Maharashtra Govt to celebrate poet Narayan Surve's birth centenary in Oct 2026

The Maharashtra governmentrsquos Directorate of Cultural Affairs will organise events based on the literary legacy of poet Narayan Surve during his birth centenary year beginning in October 2026These events will celebrate labour literature across various locations in the state announced Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Ashish Shelar on Thursday at Prabhadevi Mumbai Shelar inaugurated the third anniversary of lsquoMarathi Athav Divasrsquo and the Surve Literature Conference at Ravindra Natya MandirShelar also declared that starting next year a personal award of Rs 50000 will be given annually at the Narayan Surve Literary Conference under lsquoMarathi Athav Divasrsquo to a writer who has made significant contributions to labour literatureThe daylong Surve Literature Conference presided over by senior theater artist Pramod Pawar honored longtime supporters of lsquoMarathi Athav Divasrsquo including Bhau Korgaonkar Dr Mahesh Keluskar and Ashok Naigaonkar Additionally emerging writers like Pradeep Awate Yogita Rajkar Madhukar Matondkar Sunil Ubale Sujata Raut and Safar Ali Isaf were felicitated with the lsquoJahirnama AwardrsquoRajneesh Rane the founder of lsquoMarathi Athav Divasrsquo expressed his satisfaction over the growing enthusiasm of philanthropic individuals across the state who are voluntarily coming forward to support the event held on the 27th of every monthAshish Shelar urges transfer of Centrally protected forts under ASI to Maharashtra GovernmentThe state is home to 54 Centrally protected and 62 state protected forts In his letter dated March 24 Shelar emphasised Maharashtrarsquos proactive role in safeguarding its heritage having undertaken extensive conservation efforts for the stateprotected fortsMaharashtrarsquos Cultural Affairs Minister Advocate Ashish Shelar has written to Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat urging the transfer of Centrally protected forts under the Archaeological Survey of India ASI to the Maharashtra Government for enhanced conservation and developmentThe state is home to 54 Centrally protected and 62 state protected forts In his letter dated March 24 Shelar emphasised Maharashtrarsquos proactive role in safeguarding its heritage having undertaken extensive conservation efforts for the stateprotected forts Reaffirming its commitment the state cabinet in its meeting on February 18 expressed its strong intent to actively participate in the preservation of Marathaera forts that hold immense historical and emotional significanceThe great Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharajrsquos forts stand as enduring symbols of valour resilience and Maharashtrarsquos rich heritage These historic marvels which continue to inspire generations hold immense cultural and emotional significance for the people of the state the government saidShelar highlighted Maharashtrarsquos recent initiative of leading a delegation to International Council on Monuments and Sites ICOMOS Paris to present the proposal under the theme lsquoMaratha Military Landscape of Indiarsquo for inclusion of 12 historic forts in the prestigious United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO World Heritage Sites List The forts include Raigad Rajgad Pratapgad Panhala Shivneri Lohagad Salher Sindhudurg Suvarnadurg Vijaydurg Khanderi Fort and Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu The delegation had Janhawij Sharma Additional Director General Conservation and World Heritage ASIShelar underscored that Maharashtrarsquos Directorate of Archaeology and Museums is fully equipped to undertake conservation work through its empanelled contractors and conservation architects specialised in heritage conservation The government he asserts can undertake heritagefriendly tourism initiatives and involve CSR donors for fort maintenance through initiatives like the lsquoMaha Varasarsquo and lsquoVaibhav Sangopanrsquo schemes