Gendya Bhungyachya Pathivarun

Jitendra Kuvar is a sensitive poet and children’s author from the new generation. Gendyabhungyachya Pathivarun is his remarkable fantasy novel written for adolescent readers.

In a dream, a gigantic rhinoceros beetle takes Bapu and his friends on an extraordinary journey to another planet, carrying them on its back. The world created there through the author’s imagination is filled with thrilling events and fascinating situations. The animals, birds, trees, rivers, and mountains found there resemble those on Earth, yet they are distinctly different in their size, colour, and behaviour. The way the author projects human nature and behaviour onto these creatures is truly astonishing.

Set in an imaginary universe, this novel is not merely entertaining; it also helps develop children’s awareness of geography, science, and the environment. Drawing on his remarkable powers of observation and imagination, the author succeeds exceptionally well in portraying the extraordinary behaviour of animals and birds in vivid and precise language.

The children in the novel do not merely observe the animal-like characters from a distance; by living alongside them, they become one with their world. These animals and birds, including the rhinoceros beetle, communicate with the children, understand what is in their hearts, and even fulfil the wishes the children express in their minds.

Fear, wonder, curiosity, and a mysteriousness beyond imagination continually reveal the author’s extraordinary creative talent. The sweetness of the language, the engaging narrative style, and the novelty of the subject make Gendyabhungyachya Pathivarun a truly distinctive and significant work in Marathi children’s literature.

— Ashok Kotwal