Shanta Gokhale

About

Shanta Gokhale, born on August 14, 1939, in Dahanu, Maharashtra, is a distinguished Indian writer, translator, journalist, and theatre critic. Her family relocated to Mumbai in 1941, where she completed her schooling at Bombay Scottish School. She pursued higher education in England, earning a B.A. (Hons) in English literature from Bristol University, and later an M.A. (Hons) in English literature from the University of Mumbai. Gokhale's extensive career spans various fields, including lecturing in English at Elphinstone College and H.R. College of Commerce, working as a sub-editor with Femina, a PR Executive with Glaxo Laboratories, and as the arts editor with The Times of India, Mumbai. Gokhale is celebrated for her significant contributions to literature and performing arts scholarship. She has authored two acclaimed Marathi novels, "Rita Welinkar" and "Tya Varshi" (later translated as "Crowfall"), both of which received the Maharashtra State Award for best novel. Her play "Avinash" has been performed in multiple Indian languages. A prolific translator, she has rendered works by prominent Marathi playwrights such as Vijay Tendulkar, Mahesh Elkunchwar, and Satish Alekar into English, and has translated autobiographies and novels. Her critical studies of theatre include "Playwright at the Centre: Marathi Drama from 1843 to the Present" and "The Scenes We Made: An Oral History of Experimental Theatre in Mumbai." Her profound impact on the cultural landscape has been recognized with numerous accolades. In 2015, she received the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her overall contribution and scholarship to performing arts. Other significant honors include two National Awards for documentary film scripts, the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize in 2021, and several Lifetime Achievement Awards from institutions like the Ooty Literary Festival (2018), Tata Literature Live! (2019), Thespo, and the Crossword Book Awards (2025). Shanta Gokhale resides in Mumbai, India. While she is a highly respected figure in Indian arts and culture, her primary contributions are in writing, criticism, and translation related to performing arts and literature, rather than as a classical dance performer or guru. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Overall Contribution/Scholarship to Performing Arts (2015), National Award for documentary film scripts, Maharashtra State Award for literary creation (Rita Welinkar) (1992), Maharashtra State Award for literary creation (Crowfall / Tya Varshi) (2008), Ooty Literary Festival Lifetime Achievement Award (2018), Tata Literature Live! Lifetime Achievement Award (2019), Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize for Smritichitre: The Memoirs of a Spirited Wife (2021), Crossword Book Awards Lifetime Achievement Award (2025), Women AutHer Award's Lifetime Achievement Award from The Times of India (2025), Kaifi Azmi award for writing on culture, Jambhekar award for Marathi translation of Jerry Pinto's Em and the Big Hoom, Thespo Lifetime Achievement Award.

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