Jayant Salgaonkar

Jayant Salgaonkar (1 February 1929 – 20 August 2013) was an Indian astrologer, businessman, historian, publisher and writer. He is known for founding Kalnirnay,  a calendar published in India. Kalnirnay is the world's largest selling publication (almanac). 

 Education and career 
He was born in 1929 in Malvan in Sindhudurga district of Maharashtra. Salgaonkar did his schooling till the 10th grade. He has been interested in astrology since his childhood. In 1973, he founded Kalnirnay, a yearly almanac of all religions providing simplified information about the Panchang, auspicious days, festivals, holidays, sunrise and sunset. He sold over 10 million copies in nine languages. He was the pioneer of the daily horoscope and the daily crossword in the Marathi language newspaper. 

 Published books  
 Sundarmath 
 Deva Tuchi Ganeshu  
 Dharma-Shatriy Nirnay 
 Kalnirnay 
 Panchang 
 Devachiye Dwari  
 Rastyvarache Dive 

 Awards and recognition  
He has been awarded Jyotirbhasakr by Sakeshwar Vidhyapeeth and Mumbai Jyotirvidyalay. He holds a D.Lt. from Maharashtra Jyotish Vidyapeeth. He was conferred with a Lifetime Achievement award by Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad. In May 2013, he was given Saraswat Chaitanya Gaurav Purashkar by Saraswat Prakashan.

 Death 
He died on 20 August 2013 in the Hinduja Hospital in Mahim, Mumbai after a brief illness. He was cremated at the Dadar crematorium. His last rites were attended by political leaders such as Ajit Pawar, Narayan Rane, Jayant Patil, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray. He is survived by his wife and three sons.

 References 



Category:1929 births
Category:2013 deaths
Category:Indian historians
Category:Indian businesspeople
Category:Marathi people