The Pride of Thane: V. L. Bhave

Citizens of Thane, we must take immense pride in the profound legacy of Vinayak Lakshman Bhave (V. L. Bhave), a towering figure whose name remains immortal in the literary and cultural history of Maharashtra. Known as 'Saraswatkar,' Bhave gifted the region two invaluable treasures: the pioneering work, 'Maharashtra Saraswat,' and the institution he founded, the ‘Marathi Grantha sangrahalaya’.

Bhave’s roots are deeply intertwined with our city. Born on November 6, 1871, he completed his schooling right here in Thane. During his formative years, he was heavily influenced by the poems published in Janardan Balaji Modak's Kavyeitihas Sangraha. Furthermore, local newspapers like Arunodaya, Jagat-samachar, and Hindu Panch, all published from Thane, helped cultivate in him a strong inclination toward seeking the truth. Remarkably, the foundational milestones of his life—the writing of the first edition of Maharashtra Saraswat and the establishment of the Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya in 1893—were achieved while he was still pursuing his collegiate education, culminating in his B.Sc. degree in 1895.

Following the passing of his father in 1898, Bhave skillfully managed his family and business affairs. He diligently and proficiently expanded his father’s salt pan business, fortunately achieving significant success, which restored their economic stability and wealth. This financial security allowed him to fully dedicate himself to his literary pursuits, including the Marathi Saraswat and the Grantha sangrahalaya, alongside managing his domestic and professional life.

V. L. Bhave was a dedicated scholar and researcher of Saint Literature (Sant Vangmay), continuously working to ensure that this profound body of work reached the general public. He travelled extensively across Maharashtra, painstakingly collecting numerous manuscripts, old documents and pothis belonging to saint poets. Drawing inspiration from his mentor, Janardan Balaji Modak, Bhave initiated the monthly magazine ‘Maharashtra Kavi’ in Thane in 1903. This journal published fifty-one issues across thirty-five volumes, illuminating voluminous, previously unpublished poetry by major poets such as Nagesh, Samraj, and Rangnathswami. Bhave emphasized the goal of this publication was to preserve the teachings and traditions of our ancestors, noting that the spread of printing technology was eroding reverence for handwritten manuscripts.

His greatest literary contribution, Maharashtra Saraswat, originated from his college essay notes. Published in stages between 1898 and 1899 in the Granthmala magazine, the first edition introduced Maharashtra to the previously unknown works of saint poets like Tukaram, and Eknath, referencing old copies. The subsequent edition further unveiled the precious collection of Mahanubhava Marathi literature—described as an unknown chamber within the palace of Maharashtra’s literature. The senior author R. C. Dhere lauded this revised work as ‘Granthraj’, a testament to Bhave’s dedication to study, profound love for Marathi, and exquisite linguistic mastery.

Bhave possessed a fervent pride in Maharashtra’s history, insisting that it must be written from the Marathi perspective. His thoughts were mature and powerfully nationalistic. He cautioned against the dangers of a 'destitute society' that lazily accepts history distorted by foreigners, viewing this as detrimental to national life. His solution was a powerful one: if we invest even a hundredth of the effort and money spent by foreigners to turn our history into "tasteless pulp," we could undoubtedly create a potent, power-boosting and independence-giving historical elixir. To actively encourage this historical study, he founded the institution 'Marathi Daftar' in 1917.

Beyond his monumental work on literature, Bhave was a writer, penning the highly fluent biography Chakravarti Napoleon, useful notes on nature (including animals, birds, and insects), and other instructive texts like Afzalkhanacha Vadh and Shahistekhanachi Mohim.

His diverse literary output, particularly Marathi Saraswat, stands as the pride of Thane citizens. V. L. Bhave’s tireless efforts left an unmistakable and distinct mark on the cultural and literary landscape of Maharashtra, ensuring that the voice of our heritage endures.

Source: Ase Ghadale Thane, Dr. Daud Dalvi