Department of Marathi

Elphinstone College has a rich and glorious tradition.

Many eminent personalities of India have received their education at this college. Among them are Dadabhai Naoroji, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Bharat Ratna Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, Justice Kashinath Trimbak Telang, Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Pherozeshah Mehta, and Justice Sujata Manohar.

Elphinstone College offers Arts, Science, and Commerce streams, encompassing various departments. One of these is the Marathi Department. The Marathi Department at Elphinstone College was established in 1920. At that time, Y. G. Tipnis taught in the department. Later, the department was ably led by K. P. Kulkarni, M. V. Dhond, Dr. Sarojini Shende, R. G. Jadhav, Dr. Vijaya Rajadhyaksha, Dr. Vasant Abaji Dahake, Dr. Prabha Ganorkar, and Dr. Keshav Tashi.

From the beginning, the department has worked towards the holistic development of students. Through the department, students are introduced to various literary forms like drama, poetry, and short stories, which helps in nurturing and refining their literary taste. As a result, many students from the department have brought prestige to it at the national level.

Notable alumni from the department include Ratnakar Matkari (writer, theater artist, director, producer, and painter), Ramdas Bhatkal (writer, classical singer, and founder of Popular Publications, Mumbai), Rajiv Naik (innovative playwright and director), and Prof. Meena Gokhale. Even today's leading Marathi actress Kanchan Shinde studied in this department.

From the early days, the department has hosted lectures by many thinkers and literary figures, which contribute to students’ personality development and provide them with inspiration. Lectures by Prabhakar Padhye, M. V. Dhond, Dilip Purushottam Chitre, Ratnakar Matkari, Daya Pawar, Dr. Bhalchandra Mungekar, Dr. Sadanand More, Dr. Narendra Jadhav, and Dr. Avinash Dolas have taken place in the department.

In addition, the department regularly organizes workshops on drama performance, poetry reading and writing, orthography, and short story writing. This tradition continues uninterrupted in the Marathi Department to this day.