Noted Marathi poet and litterateur Mangesh Keshav Padgaonkar passed away after brief illness at his residence in Mumbai today. He was 86. A much celebrated poet, Padgaonkar has received several awards including Sahitya Academy Award in 1980 for his collection of poems ‘Salam’, Madhya Pradesh Literary Conference Award in 1956 and Maharashtra State Award in 1953 and 1955.
He was also awarded Maharashtra Bhushan Award in year 2008, Padma Bhushan in 2013 and Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad Puraskar in 2013.
He had been President of the Second Vishwa Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Dubai in 2010. Padgaonkar has 40 publications to his credit. The US Library of Congress has acquired 31 of his publications.