Sahitya Ani Astitvabhan Bhag - 2

The work of compiling the present volume began in 2008, and the book is finally being published in 2022. In other words, it took a total of fourteen years for this undertaking to reach completion.

Chitre’s writings included in this volume date back to much earlier times. They were scattered across numerous sources, and locating and collecting them proved extremely difficult. Bringing these writings together, repeatedly organising them, and arranging them in a coherent form was an arduous and exhausting task. Sumati Lande accomplished this through tireless effort and determination, drawing not only on her perseverance but also on her deep regard and affection for the writings of Dilip Purushottam Chitre.

The originality of Chitre’s multifaceted writing is self-evident. The fact that it took so long to bring together writings of such exceptional quality reflects not only Chitre’s own detached indifference towards his literary output but also the Marathi community’s implicit disregard for thought of this calibre. The fact that these writings have now been published together is an invaluable gift to the Marathi language and culture, even if it has arrived rather late.

This volume stands as testimony to the fact that a world-class thinker, poet, and writer lived and worked in our own language until quite recently.