Kusumagrajs

Kusumagraj, born Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar (1912–1999), was a prominent Indian writer in the Marathi language, known for poetry, drama, and fiction. Writing under the pen name Kusumagraj, he became one of the leading figures of modern Marathi literature. His work spans lyric poetry, plays, and short fiction, and it is noted for its realist sensibility, humanism, and social concern.

His best-known work is the play Natsamrat (The Actor), first staged in the 1960s, which remains a landmark of Marathi theatre and was adapted into a 2010 feature film starring Nana Patekar. His poetry and prose address themes such as poverty, injustice, the dignity of the common person, and the moral challenges of contemporary life. His language is marked by clarity and accessibility, making complex social issues widely intelligible.

Kusumagraj contributed to translations and literary criticism as well, and his writings have been translated into several languages, extending his influence beyond Marathi readers. He received national recognition for his contributions to Indian literature, and his work is widely taught and studied in Maharashtra and beyond.

He died in 1999, and his legacy continues through ongoing performances of his plays, reprints of his poetry, and scholarly work that positions him as a major figure in 20th-century Marathi literature.