96th Marathi Sahitya Sammelan

The 96th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan was the Marathi conference held in Wardha, Maharashtra. It is the 96th Marathi literary conference co-organised by Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal with Vidharbha Sahitya Sangh.
On November 8, 2022, the Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal held a meeting in Wardha, where they finalized the name of the president for the 96th Sahitya Sammelan. In the meeting executive officer of the Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal Ujjwala Mehendale, treasurer Prakash Page, vice president Ramesh D. Vanskar, the former president of the conference Bharat Sasane, Milind Joshi, Prakash Paigude and executive members as well as president of Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh Pradeep Date, Vilas Manekar, Gajanan Nare etc were present. The president of Sahitya Mahamandal, Usha Tambe, announced Narendra Chapalgaonkar as president on the same day in Wardha. Veteran writer Suresh Dwadashiwar was also considered for the position of conference president. However, he faced criticism due to his controversial views. He remarked that "most of the writers of fine literature were upper caste" and criticized Gandhi, stating that he was influenced by Savarkar's ideas. Additionally, he disparaged the Judiciary of India, claiming it had become "Hindu." The Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad condemned these divisive and irresponsible statements. The literary community also expressed strong disapproval of Dwadashiwar's remarks. In response to his casteist comments, the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Mahamandal asserted that someone with such contentious views should not be elected as president of the Sahitya Sammelan. Consequently, the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Mahamandal dropped the selection of Suresh Dwadashiwar as president.
Following the selection, Chapalgaonkar expressed his gratitude, stating, "I view the presidency of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan as a significant opportunity to share my perspectives on the Marathi language and literature. I thank the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal for this opportunity."
Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, a member organization of the corporation, proposed holding its 96th convention in Vidarbha to mark its centennial year. The suggested location for the event was Wardha. On 28 May 2022, the site selection committee of Sahitya Mahamandal visited Wardha to inspect the grounds and parking facilities. The following day, on 29 May 2022, a meeting of Sahitya Mahamandal was held in Nagpur, where it was decided, under the leadership of Usha Tambe, to host the convention in Wardha, Vidarbha.
The conference take place on the 23 acre ground of Swawlambi Vidyalaya in Wardha, which referred to as Mahatma Gandhi Sahitya Nagri. In November 2022, Usha Tambe suggested that the dates might be finalized during the next board of directors meeting in Goa. This will be the second literary conference of the year, following the 48th Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Sammelan, which was held in Wardha in 1967–68. Pradeep Date, Central Branch Co-ordinating Secretary of the Sahitya Sangh, noted that Wardha was chosen based on a request from the Vidarbha Sahitya Sammelan.
The meeting was arranged by Wardha administration under the guidance of Wardha Collector Rahul Kardile. All those present along with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari praised the organizers for this.
The conference took place in Wardha from February 3 to 5. It began with the traditional Granth Dindi on February 3, featuring students from various local schools dressed as notable figures including Vitthal–Rukhmini, Samarth Ramdas, Tukaram, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Eknath, Chakradhar Swami, Mahatma Gandhi, Tukdoji Maharaj, Janabai, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Jijabai, Rani Laxmibai, and Mother Teresa. The main inauguration ceremony of the conference occurred on February 3, 2023, at Rashtrapita Mahatma Gandhi Sahitya Nagari, Swawlambi Vidyalaya with Chief Minister of Maharashtra Eknath Shinde officiating, alongside several notable figures in Marathi literature. A 30 feet by 12 feet board, made from 100 meters of khadi rope, was displayed on the stage. Pradeep Date, president of Vadarbha Sahitya Sangh, made the introduction. The program was moderated by Renuka Deshkar and vote of thanks was given by Dr. Ujjwala Mehendle.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari attended the meeting. The film personalities in Marathi cinema like Nagraj Manjule, Kishor Kadam, Sayaji Shinde, Arvind Jagtap were also present and they were interviewed by Balaji Sutar.
On this occasion, the principal of Swawlambi Vidyalaya, Ram Shewalkar, Bharat Sasane, Dutta Meghe, Education and Languages Minister Deepak Kesarkar, Nandini Chapalgaonkar were the chief guests.
In Wardha, the organisations following the ideology of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave had raised concerns about certain programs. Groups such as the Vinoba Janmasthan Trust, Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Maharashtra Sarvodaya Mandal, and Kisan Adhikar Abhiyaan issued a leaflet addressing their objections. The leaflet states, "On Sunday, February 5, 2023, a seminar titled 'Manohar Mhaisaalkar Sabhamandapat: Gandhiji and Vinobaji: Present Perspective' was conducted. Dr. Vinay Sahastrabuddhe (Delhi), who is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, an organization opposed to Gandhi's ideals, chaired the seminar. This raises the question of whether the seminar truly reflects Gandhiji and Vinobaji's perspectives, which should have been a consideration for the organizers.
The leaflet also criticizes the lack of invitations extended to local activists and intellectuals who work with Gandhian and Vinobaji's principles in Sevagram–Pavanar. It notes that although scholars from Goa, Mumbai, Pune, Nanded, and Nagpur were invited, those involved with Gandhian and Vinobaji's thought in the local area were not included, nor were the office-bearers of these institutions given proper recognition at the event.
The protestors, having meticulously planned their actions, initiated their demonstration shortly after the program began. During the Chief Minister's speech, Vidarbha supporters in the hall staged a protest by dispersing leaflets onto the dais. The police promptly intervened and detained the individuals involved.
On February 5, 2023, the final day of the conference and celebrating the Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh's 100th anniversary, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that the state government would grant ₹10 crore to the organization.