BANGARWADI by VYANKATESH MADGULKAR

A TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD TEACHER COMES TO BANGARWADI AND SOON BECOMES A PART OF THE WADI. THIS BOOK INTRODUCES US TO KARBHARI- WHO ENDEARS THE VILLAGERS, AIBU WHO DOES NOT HAVE ANY FAMILY, ANANDA WHO STEALS FROM FARMS AND THEN CONFESSES TO THE OWNERS; SHEKU`S WIFE WHO FILLS IN FOR THE LACK OF A BULLOCK WITH A PLOW YOKE ON HER NECK AND DARES TO SET UP A SEPARATE HOUSE AFTER KNOWING THAT HER HUSBAND IS HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH ANJI AND SO ON. MADGULKAR`S PEN PORTRAYS THE CHARACTERS OF VARIOUS NATURES VIVIDLY AND LUSCIOUSLY. READERS FIND OUT HOW THE WADI WORKS IN UNISON TO BUILD A ‘TALIM’ OR GYMASIUM IN THE SCHOOL, THE STRUGGLE DURING THOSE TIMES AND THE ENTHUSIASM OVERFLOWING IN THE VILLAGE AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING TO INAUGURATE THE TALIM. THE VIVID DEPICTION OF THE DAILY LIFE IN THE WADI, HARVEST, DROUGHT, FOLK CUSTOMS, BELIEFS, DEITIES ETC. ENGAGES THE READER. THE TEACHER LEAVING THE WADI IS HEART-BREAKING. THIS IS AN ENRICHED NOVEL IN MARATHI LITERATURE, HIGHLIGHTING THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT OF THE TEACHER AND BANGARWADI.