MV
Playwright, Social Commentator

Mama Varerkar

Born 27 April 1883 · Maharashtra — Died 1 January 1964

Authored the Marathi play 'Kunjawihari' which highlighted social issues in early 20th century India.

Bhargavaram Viththal Varerkar (1883–1964), also known as Mama Varerkar, was a Marathi writer from Bombay Presidency, India.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

Mama Varerkar once highlighted to President Rajendra Prasad that the headgear of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s staff echoed colonial sepoy uniforms, prompting a call for simpler attire.

The Story

1
🌟 In 1907, Mama Varerkar wrote his play Kunjawihari, marking an early contribution to Marathi theatre from the heart of Bombay Presidency.
2
Born in 1883 in Chiplun, he left formal education just before graduation and worked as a postal clerk before moving to Mumbai to pursue writing.
3📜 His 1928 novel Widhawa Kumari spotlighted the harsh realities faced by widowed women, challenging social norms in pre-Independence Maharashtra.
4By 1944, he had gained such literary stature that he presided over the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Dhule, a key cultural gathering for Marathi writers.

🏅 Awards & Honours

—
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1907, Varerkar debuted with the play Kunjawihari, an early example of Marathi theatre addressing social issues through mythological storytelling.

📸 Through the Years

📷

No photos yet

Help preserve history — add a photo of this icon

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Chiplun, Konkan region
Bhargavaram Viththal Varerkar was born in Chiplun, Bombay Presidency, setting roots in Maharashtra’s coastal heartland.
1883
📖
Publication
Writes play Kunjawihari
Varerkar’s play Kunjawihari was published, marking his entry into Marathi theatre with social and mythological themes.
1907
📖
Publication
Publishes novel Widhawa Kumari
His novel Widhawa Kumari addressed the societal challenges faced by widowed women in Maharashtra.
1928
🌟
Other
Presides Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Dhule
Varerkar led the prestigious Marathi literary conference, influencing contemporary Marathi literature and social thought.
1944
⚡
Career
Nominated to Rajya Sabha
He was nominated to India’s upper house of Parliament, serving until his death, blending literature and politics.
1956
🕊️
Death
Death
Mama Varerkar passed away, concluding a career that spanned literature and political service in India.
1964
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 06
🔍LESSER KNOWN

He translated many novels of Bengali writer Sharat Chandra Chatterji into Marathi, fostering cultural exchange between Marathi and Bengali literature.

02 / 06
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

At the 1944 Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Dhule, Varerkar presided over a crucial platform that shaped Marathi literary discourse.

03 / 06
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

His writing intensely focused on the exploitation of laborers and the plight of women, unusual themes for Marathi literature at the time.

No quote recorded for Mama Varerkar yet.

🌱 What changed because of them

Mama Varerkar’s works exposed the hardships of laborers and women long before these issues were widely debated in Indian society, influencing Marathi literature and social reform dialogue. His presidency of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan and translation work helped cross-pollinate regional literary traditions. His Rajya Sabha tenure brought a literary perspective to parliamentary debates during the formative years of independent India.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Mama Varerkar?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Mama Varerkar...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?