वडार वेदना

by Laxman Gaikwad

वडार जमातीतील सर्वच माणसे प्रचंड अंगमेहनत करणारी आहेत. जमिनीतील उत्तम प्रतीचा दगड बाहेर काढून भारतमातेच्या मंदिराचा पाया या समाजातील लोकांनी मजबूत केला. मोठमोठे वाडे, घरे, किल्ले यांना दगड पुरविण्याचे आणि बांधकामाचे अशी दोन्ही कामे अत्यंत कष्टाने ज्यांनी गेल्या कित्येक वर्षांपासून केली त्या वडार समाजाच्या घराचा, शिक्षणाचा आणि माणूस म्हणून जगण्याचा साधा प्रश्नदेखील या स्वतंत्र भारतातील लोकशाहीच्या राज्यकर्त्यांनी सोडविला नाही. तेव्हा त्यांची परिस्थिती आजही बदललेली दिसत नाही. याउलट आता तर त्यांच्या हातातील हा व्यवसायही नव्या तंत्रज्ञानाने काढून घेतल्याने त्यांची फार मोठी पिछेहाट झाली आहे. समाजकारणात आणि राजकारणात हा समाज म्हणावा तसा लोकसंख्येच्या दृष

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2018

About the author

Born on July 23, 1956 in Dhanegaon, Latur District, Maharashtra, Laxman Maruti Gaikwad gained international recognition with the 1998 publication of The Branded, a translation of his autobiographical novel, Ucalya. Considered a masterpiece, his novel for the first time brings to the world of literature the trials and tribulations of his tribe, Uchalya, literally the pilferers, a term coined by the British who classified the tribe as a criminal tribe. His treatment of the Dalit theme, in which his own delicate subjectivity is a part, is widely acclaimed for its masterful sensitivity and supreme craftsmanship. He depicts in all their subtlety and poignancy the inner feelings, sufferings and emotional complexities of a tribe historically viewed as criminals.

He has been the President of Jankalyan Vikas Sanstha since 1986, and of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes Organization since 1990. He has received many prestigious awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1988.

He has four books to his credit. His work Ucalya has been translated into many languages.