Marathi Biography 'Epoch Maker Karl Marx' Released by Janashakti Granth Prakashan

Mumbai: A Marathi biography titled Epoch Maker Karl Marx: Life, Work and Thought, authored by veteran Marxist and former CPI M Central Committee member Ramdas Menon and translated by Prof. Shobha Theckedath, was formally released in a well-attended function held in the heart of Mumbai. The event was organised by Left publishing house Janashakti Granth Prakashan. The book was released by a distinguished panel comprising translator Prof. Shobha Theckedath, Uday Ranadive, Janashakti Granth Prakashan President Dr. Ashok Dhawale, Director Dr. Uday Narkar, and Managing Editor Vijay Patil.
The event drew a wide and diverse audience from Maharashtra’s intellectual, cultural, and activist circles. Prominent attendees included Dr. Anand Teltumbde—acclaimed author of Iconoclast, a reflective biography of Dr. B R Ambedkar—former MP and ex-Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr. Bhalchandra Munagekar, former MP Husain Dalwai, renowned theatre director Vijay Kenkre, classical vocalists Neela Bhagwat and Amarendra Dhaneshwar, and senior lawyer Adv. Sunil Dighe.

Also present were writers Arjun Dangle, Sanjeev Chandorkar, Chhaya Datar, Vijaya Chavan, Neera Adarkar, Subodh More, journalists Vidyadhar Date, Pratap Aasbe, Deepa Kadam, Haaris Shaikh, science movement activists Adwait Pednekar and Dr. Shridhar Pawar, and social activists Kranti Jejurkar, Smita Gandhi, Aniruddha Limaye and Dr. Sushama Limaye—the son and daughter-in-law of socialist leader Madhu Limaye. Most of these figures are well-known across Maharashtra.
The CPI M was represented by Polit Bureau member Mariam Dhawale, State Secretariat members Dr. S K Rege, Shailendra Kamble and Prachi Hatiwlekar, former State Secretariat member Prof. Tapati Mukhopadhyay, State Control Commission Chairperson Prof. Madhu Paranjape, State Committee members Preethy Sekhar, Adv. Chandrakant Bhojgar, and others.

From the Marathi Play 'Marx in Soho'

Following the book release, the Kolhapur-based 'Pratyay' group staged a two-hour, two-act Marathi play titled Marx in Soho, originally written in EFromnglish by American socialist historian Howard Zinn. The Marathi adaptation by Sahil Kalloli was directed by veteran actor-director Dr. Sharad Bhuthadia. The cast included Dr. Sharad Bhuthadia, Aditya Khebudkar, Rasiya Padalkar, Ashish Polke, Suhas Lakade, Dr. Omkar Kulkarni, and Rutuja Badve.

The powerful, nuanced performance held the audience in rapt attention. A Janashakti Granth Prakashan bookstall at the venue reported brisk sales exceeding 25,000 rupees, featuring both the newly released biography of Marx and several earlier publications from the house.