Anant Kanekar – Marathi writer from Maharashtra

Anant Kanekar (1905–1980) was a famous Marathi writer from Mumbai. He wrote poetry, personal essays, travelogues, plays, short stories, and also wrote dialogues for a few Marathi films – Manus and Adami both released in 1939. In 1933, Kanekar co-founded Natya Manvantar, a play troupe to promote the art, and wrote a few plays too.

Anant Kanekar was a lawyer and professor by profession

Anant Atmaram Kanekar was born in Mumbai on 2 December 1905. He completed his school studies from Chikitsak Samuha Shirolkar High School in Girgaon, Mumbai. Later he graduated from Mumbai University and completed law studies too. He practised law for 4 years and left it in 1935 soon after he turned an established writer.

His first poetry collection Chandarat was published in 1933, and personal essays following year. After leaving his profession, he worked as an editor of two magazines. In 1941 he started his career as a lecturer in Khalsa College in Mumbai, and after 5 years moved to Siddarth College, where he served as professor for many years till retirement.

He lived in Sahitya Sahavas at Kala Nagar, one of the allotted writers’ colony by government and the nearby Anant Kanekar Marg was named after him. He also played an important role in the foundation of the colony.

Major works of Anant Kanekar

Chandarat was his poetry collection, and Pikali Pane, the collection of essays. He extensively travelled across India, as well as abroad and published a few travelogues too. Dhukyatun Lal Taryakade briefed his tours in Europe and the Soviet Union during 1939, Amachi Mati and Amache Akash – about his north Indian tours and Nile Dongar and Tambdi Mati about south India. Jagatya Chhaya and Wijechi Wel are his short story collections, and Nishikantachi Nawari – among the popular plays.

Anant Kanekar – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. Mumbai’s Anant Kanekar Marg was named after him. The road connects Bandra station to the Western Express Highway.

2. He presided over Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Aurangabad in 1957.