Premanand Gajvi, is chairman of All India Marathi Natyasammelan

The renowned playwright, poet and writer, Premanand Gajvi, has been appointed as the 99th chairman of the All India Marathi Natyasammelan. Gajvi’s name was proposed and unanimously accepted at the meeting on Friday. In the current political environment, a litterateur influenced by the writings and lives of both Dr Ambedkar and Buddha, seems like an apt choice to be the face of Marathi theatre.

The works of Gajvi, 71, reflect the harsh realities of socio-cultural conflicts sparked by the caste system.

Several of his writings have been incorporated in Maharashtra's schoolbooks. His one-act play, Ghotbhar Pani (A sip of water), has been translated into 14 languages. First staged in 1977, it is about water and the fights over the rights to water-sharing.

Another play, Kirwant, was directed in the eighties, but enjoyed popularity almost a decade later. The play again reflects on the caste divide, as Kirwants are people who perform the last rites at the crematorium. The play revolves around a Kirwant, his family and the brother of the priest. Due to the existing caste divide, the entire village looks down on the Kirwant community.

Gajvi had also formed a Bodhi Natya Parishad, to focus on the marginalised sections of society. Gajvi’s plays have often been based on political personalities and set in the political milieu. 'Gandhi ani Ambedkar' featured the late Bhakti Barve-Inamdar in the role of a 'vidushak', exploring the relations between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The late Chetan Datar had directed the play, to ensure it reached a wider audience. Gajvi believed both the iconic personalities were of interest to the public, with their dynamic interactions in the pre- and post-Independence era.