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Lokshahir Bashir Momin Kavathekar
 Lokshahir Bashir Momin Kavathekar  (लोकशाहीर बशीर मोमीन कवठेकर) (March 1947 till date), popularly known as Momin Kavathekar is a Marathi language poet, writer from Pune district of Maharashtra who has been recently conferred with the Vithabai Narayangavkar Jeevan Gaurva Purskar   by Government of Maharashtra for his contribution in the field of folk art, literature and culture. He has been closely associated with Maharashtra’s traditional form of theatre Tamasha for almost 50 years– supporting the various Tamasha Troupes by providing them with folk songs like ‘Lavani’, ‘Gan Gavalan’, ‘Bhedic’ and short plays called ‘Vag Natya’. He has acted in dramas and short plays. For the last two decades, he has been mentoring young generation of artist/perform. His use of folkloric narrative styles has helped in popularizing and making his work understandable & accessible to common man & communities.

Early life
‘Momin Kavathekar’ was born in March 1947 at Kavathe Yamai, a small village in drought prone western Maharashtra; to a Muslim weaver family who had been working for Maratha nobles of Dhar State holding jagir lands (feudatory estates), in & around Kavathe. The village has a legacy of various artist performing ‘Jagaran Gondhal’, ‘Bharud’, ‘Tamasha’ [all local folk arts]. As a kid, Momin Kavathekar has grown up watching these artist perform at village functions, during their rehearsals prior to the stage- shows and hence, his interest grew gradually.

Education
‘Momin Kavathekar’ has completed his education from a Marathi Medium school. Due to non-availability of the higher secondary school in the village, all the students from the Kavathe has to walk to a village ‘Loni-Dhamani’ located 10km away. Due to health issues, he gave up the school after completing the 9th standard and started helping his family in the business.

Professional life
‘Momin Kavathekar’ has written his first song at the age of 11 years. This song was presented in his school function and received appreciation from the audience. This encouraged him to continue & explore his writing skills. At young age, he joined the Tamasha troupe of ‘Gangaram Kavathekar’ where he got exposure to the expectations of the rural audience, their preferences for entertainment and the difficulties faced by artist/troupes/operators. He performed on-stage roles in short plays (Vag Natya). During free time, he used to pen down couplets/ short folk songs/ Lavani etc which were sung on the Tamasha shows. However, his folk songs & short plays received appreciation from audience and his work become popular amongst the rural areas. Popularity of his songs earned him fame and various Tamasha Troups/Operators started flocking down to Kavathe (his native place) to obtain new songs/ Vag Natya. He got associated with the other Tamasha Troupes such as ‘Kalu-Balu Kavalapurkar’, ‘Raghuveer Khedkar & Kantabai Satarkar’, ‘Aman Tambe’, ‘Lakshman Takalikar’ and ‘Datta Mahadik Punekar’. However, he never charged any royalty/ fees from these Tamasha operators for the songs/lyrics or Vag Natya he used to provide them. With the advent of Television/ Radio/VCR/ Cable, the Tamasha as a ventures started to face difficulty due to dwindling earnings. During this phase, he worked on digitalization options and came up with couple of Musical Audio Albums (CDs). He also guided many Troupes/ Owners to adapt the new technological changes for marketing purpose.

Accomplishments
‘Momin Kavathekar’ has written more than 4000 folk songs which were /are being used by local artist over the years. His collection of songs include a verity such as ‘Lavani’, ‘Gan’, ‘Gavlan’, ‘Poems’, ‘Devotional Songs’, ‘Songs on social issues/ reforms’. His use of folkloric narrative styles has helped in popularizing and making his work understandable & accessible to common man & communities. He has written a Play/ Drama based on historic incidents/personalities. He has written short stories/ street plays/ songs on the social subjects like ‘Praudh Saksharta Abhiyan – National Literacy Mission Programme’, ‘Gram Swachchta Abhiyan – Cleanliness Drive by Govt’, ‘awareness about AIDS’, ‘ill effect of Dowry’ etc. and presented/performed them across rural Maharashtra. . His contribution & popularity among rural masses has earned him rare recognition. A Professor of Marathi language has chosen his literature for Ph.D. thesis at Savitribai Phule Pune University. .

Drama

 * “भंगले स्वप्न महाराष्ट्रा (Bhangale Swapn Maharashtra)”--- Play based on the life & struggle of Maratha warrior king Chatrapati Shri Rajaram Maharaj against the Mughal empire.
 * “वेडात मराठे वीर दौडले सात (Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Saat)” –-- Play based on Maratha general Shri Pratparao Gujjar lead battle.
 * “लंका कुणी जाळली (Lanka Kuni Jalali)”

Street Plays on social issues
Some of these were also performed / broadcasted on the Radio from All India Radio/ Aakashvani Kendra, Pune.
 * “सोयऱ्याला धडा शिकवा (Soyaryala dhada shikawa) ” -- Awareness in society about ills of Dowry
 * “हुंड्या पायी घटल सार (Hundya payi ghadale saar) ”-- Awareness to prohibit/stop  tradition of Dowry
 * “दारू सुटली चालना भेटली (Daru sutali, chalana bhetali) ” -- Awareness to prohibit/stop young generation from alcohol addiction
 * “दारूचा झटका संसाराला फटका (Darucha Zataka, Sansarala Fatak) ”-- Awareness of social problems arising due to addiction of alcohol.
 * “मनाला आला एड्स टाळा (Manala Aala AIDS tala) ” -- Awareness in society about causes of AIDS and its effect on family life.
 * “बुवाबाजी ऐका माझी (Buvabaji aika majhi) ”-- Awareness in society for eradication of Blind Faith & to fight superstition.

Vag Natya written for performing in Tamasha

 * “बाईने दावला इंगा”
 * “ईश्कान घेतला बळी”
 * “तांबड फुटलं रक्ताचं”
 * “भंगले स्वप्न महाराष्ट्रा”
 * “भक्त कबीर”
 * “सुशीला, मला माफ कर” – Received ‘Chotu Punekar Award (1980)’

Songs popularized by ‘Tamasha Troups’

 * “सर हायब्रीड झाल... ”
 * “हे असच चालायचं... ”
 * “खर नाही काही हल्लीच्या जगात... ”
 * “फॅशनच फॅड लागतंय गॉड... ”
 * “चाल मळ्यात जाऊ सखू सखू ... ”
 * “लई जोरात पिकलाय जोंधळा... ”
 * “मारू का गेन्बाची मेख…”
 * “बडे मजेसे मेरेज किया…”
 * “महात्मा फुल्यांची घेऊन स्फूर्ती, रात्रीच्या शाळेला चला होऊ भरती” .. Composed by Shri Ram Kadam for National Literacy Mission

Books Published

 * “कलावंतांच्या आठवणी (अभ्यास पुस्तक) ” .... Published by Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya Sanskrutik Mandal
 * “भंगले स्वप्ना महाराष्ट्र (ऐतेहासिक नाटक) ” ....Published by Tridal Prakashan, Pune
 * “प्रेम स्वरूप आई (कविता संग्रह)” .... Collection/Published/Composed by Shri Rajendra Kankaria

Awards and recognitions

 * “तमाशासम्राज्ञी विठाबाई नारायणगावकर जीवनगौरव पुरस्कार (२०१९)”
 * “लोकनेते गोपीनाथ मुंडे जीवनगौरव पुरस्कार (२०१८) ”
 * “विखे पाटील साहित्य कला गौरव (२०१४)” – Received at the hands of Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Prithviraj Chauhan
 * “ग्रांड सोशल अवार्ड, पुणे (२०१३) ” - Received at the hands of Bollywood cine actor Shri Jacky Shrof
 * “व्यसनमुक्ती पुरस्कार (२००३)” - Received at the hands of Maharashtra Dy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar
 * “लोकशाहीर पुरस्कार (१९९९)” - Received at the hands of Chairman of “Aashwasan Samiti- Maharashtra State Assembly”
 * “ग्रामवैभव पुरस्कार (१९८१)” - Received at the hands of veteran Marathi Cine actor Late Shri Nilu Phule
 * “छोटू जुवेकर पुरस्कार, मुंबई (१९८०) ” - Received at the hands of Bollywood cine actor Shri Amol Palekar

Momin Kavathekar’s literature/ work was chosen as thesis for Ph.D. study at Savitribai Phule Pune University in 2010; titled as ‘“Shahir Bashirbhai Momin Kavthekar- Vyakti aani Vagmay”’

Social work
'Momin Kavathekar' was very influenced by the work of by Late Shri. Bindumadhav Joshi (pioneer of Indian Consumer Movement) and Late Shri Sharad Joshi and actively participated in spreading the awareness about the rights of consumers and farmers. He had formed a small troupe (Kalapathak) who performed street plays (couple of them were broad casted on Radio by AIR’s Pune Aakashvani Kendra) as part of awareness campaign against social evils like prevalence of dowry, epidemics like AIDS, blind following by masses of superstitions & resulting exploitation. He actively participated in the various initiatives of Government like ‘Praudh Saksharta Mission / National Literacy Mission’, ‘VyasanMukti Abhiyan - campaign to minimize addiction of alcoholism’ ”, ‘Gram Swachchata Abhiyan - .a predecessor of todays ‘Swatch Bharat Abhiyan” and as part of it, has opportunity to contribute in the changes to life style and well being of the people in Maharashtra.