Shahir Prabhakar Jamkhedkar
Dr. Prabhakar P. Jamkhedkar, son of the renowned Kavibhushan Maharashtra Shahir Prahladray Jamkhedkar, was a man of remarkable achievements, blending his passion for science, music, and community service. Dr. Jamkhedkar held a Ph.D. in Veterinary Pharmacology and served as a Professor of Medicine at Nagpur Veterinary College. His academic excellence...
Shahir Maharshi Raghunath Dixit
Shahir Maharshi Raghunath Dattatray Dixit (1916–2007), fondly known as Dixit Guruji, Shahir Dixit, or Kranti-Shahir Dixit, was a legendary Indian folk artist and a towering figure in the tradition of Shahiri Powada. Born on 4th June 1916 in Chinchani, a village in Tasgaon Taluka, Sangli District, Maharashtra, he dedicated over...
Shahir Pralhadray Jamkhedkar
May 6, 1891 – June 12, 1980, Born in Girnare, Maharashtra, Shahir Pralhadray Jamkhedkar was fierce, fearless, and poetic. Forced to abandon schooling at a young age after his father’s passing, young Pralhadray did not retreat. He walked alongside revolutionaries, like his classmate Narayanrao Savarkar, and was a member of...
Shahir Pandurang Khadilkar
December 28, 1903 – March 1988 Scholar, freedom fighter, and a voice that thundered with valor. Born in Sangli, Maharashtra, Shahir Pandurang Dattatray Khadilkar was a young prodigy. He was sharp of mind, strong in body, and steeped in the arts. Whether on the cricket field or in a melody,...
Shahir Mahadev Narayan Nanivadekar
1904 – 1956 Born in Kisrul, Kolhapur, Mahadev Nanivadekar was destined for greatness. While he studied engineering in early life, destiny led him to the people, the stage, the sword. He left college to embrace the arts, dazzling crowds with mimicry, daring stunts, and his signature skill, the Dandpatta, a...
Shahir Amar Sheikh
The Revolutionary Voice of the Masses Amar Sheikh (1901–1969) was a powerful voice for the working class and the downtrodden. Born in a humble family in Maharashtra, he faced hardships early in life and turned to shahiri and folk performance as a means of expressing the pain and aspirations of the...
Shahir Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
The Revolutionary Who Wrote Freedom's Powadas Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966) was not just a freedom fighter, but also a powerful poet, prose writer, and composer of works that inspired national pride. Born in Bhagur, near Nashik, Savarkar was deeply influenced by the heroic tales of Maratha warriors. Even as a...
Shahir Agindas
The first voice of Marathi Powada Shahir Agindas, also known as Adnyandas, is credited with composing the earliest known powada, "Afzal Khanacha Vadh" (The Killing of Afzal Khan). Commissioned by Jijamata, Shivaji Maharaj's mother, this powada vividly narrates the legendary encounter between Shivaji and Afzal Khan, marking a significant moment...
Shahir Sopandev Choudhary
The Voice of Maratha Valor Shahir Sopandev Choudhary is remembered for his poignant powadas that celebrated Maratha bravery and cultural heritage. His works often narrated tales of legendary battles and heroic deeds, preserving the rich history of Maharashtra through compelling storytelling and music. Choudhary's powadas not only entertained but also...
Kranti Shahir Ganesh Dattatraya Dikshit
June 15, 1909 – July 26, 1949 Raise the curtain for the rebel bard! The voice of the people, the soul of the revolution! From Chinchni in Sangli, Ganesh Dikshit roared onto the shahiri stage, armed not just with words, but with fire. Alongside his brother Raghuvir Dikshit, he became...
Shahir Sadashiv Laxman Thosar
The Chronicler of Social Change Shahir Sadashiv Laxman Thosar made significant contributions to the powada genre by focusing on contemporary social issues and reforms. His compositions addressed topics such as caste discrimination, women's rights, and economic disparities, using the powada format to advocate for social justice. Thosar's work exemplifies the...
Shahir Vasantraya Nanivadekar
Vasant Shankar Nanivadekar was born on February 2nd, 1930, in Nanivade, Sindhudurga district, Maharashtra. A man of many talents, he graduated with a BA in Sanskrit, Marathi, and Hindi, and was awarded the title Sahitya Sudhakar, a testament to his deep understanding of literature. Vasant's professional journey took him into...
Shahir Tulsidaas
The Saint-Poet Who Sang of Dharma Though Saint Tulsidas was not a "shahir" in the traditional Marathi sense, his contribution to devotional and epic storytelling through Awadhi and Brajbhasha poetry had a massive influence across Indian languages, including Marathi. Born in Rajapur (modern-day Uttar Pradesh), Tulsidas is best known for...
Shahir Chandu Bharadkar
The Lion Voice of Shahiri Tradition Shahir Chandu Bharadkar was one of the most dynamic voices in the golden era of Shahiri and Powada performances in Maharashtra. Born into a culturally rich yet economically modest household, he grew up amidst the fiery echoes of traditional Maharashtrian folk forms — powadas,...
Shahir Vinayak Jamkhedkar
A Life of Discipline, Dedication, and Social Commitment. Shahir Vinayak Jamkhedkar, son of Kavibhushan Shahir Pralhadray Jamkhedkar, continued his father's legacy in the realm of shahiri. Immersed in the rich traditions of powada from a young age, Vinayak contributed significantly to the preservation and propagation of this art form. His...
Shahir Nandesh Umap
A Torchbearer of Maharashtra’s Folk Legacy Shahir Nandesh Umap is a celebrated Marathi folk artist and powade singer, widely recognized for carrying forward the legacy of his father, the legendary Shahir Vitthal Umap. Deeply rooted in Maharashtra’s rich tradition of oral storytelling, powade, bharud, and folk performance, Shahir Nandesh has...