Pune: Renowned Marathi Writer Dr. Veena Vijay Dev Passes Away at 76
Pune, 29th October 2024: Dr Veena Vijay Dev, a distinguished writer and the daughter of celebrated author Gopal Nilkanth Dandekar, today passed away at the age of 76. She is survived by her daughters, actor Mrinal Kulkarni and Madhura, along with a son-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter.
This evening, Dr Dev’s family allowed the public to pay their respects at ‘Manas’ in Sahakar Nagar, and the final rites have just taken place.
Dr Veena Vijay Dev dedicated 32 years to her academic career, serving as the head of the Marathi department at Shahu Mandir College in Pune. She obtained her PhD for her research on the adaptation of Marathi stories and novels. An accomplished author, compiler, and editor, her significant contributions to Marathi literature include works such as ‘Kadhikadhi’, ‘Paratoni Pahe’, ‘Strirang’, ‘Vibram’, and ‘Swansi Che Diwas’.
Her memoir, ‘Smarne Gonidanchi’, along with her editorial work on pieces by Yashwant Dev and Dr. H.V. Sardesai, demonstrates her literary talent. Dr Dev was honoured for her literary achievements, receiving the Government of Maharashtra’s award for best fine literature production for her portrait ‘Aashak Mast Fakir’. Additionally, she was a former member of the Marathi Official Language Advisory Committee.
Throughout her career, Dr Dev held several prestigious roles, including serving as President of the Gramin Sahitya Sammelan in Thane District and Vita. Known for her engaging speaking style, she delivered lectures on a range of literary and artistic subjects. Her dedication to promoting Marathi literature was evident in her work on radio and television, where she hosted over 650 programs focused on the novels of GN Dandekar.
