A Literary Nook(Katta) At An Equally Literary Society:Sahitya Sahawas

A Literary Nook(Katta) At An Equally Literary Society That Houses Such Great Minds:**Sahitya Sahawas at Kalanagar, Bandra 

**( translated in Marathi as The Home of Literature)

And Literature and creativity does stay and thrive  there as it houses all the leading Marathi and few Hindi litterateurs.Sahitya Sahawas(SS)society was built more than 50 years back. I can confidently say knowing the richness and refinement of Marathi literature that it would have given at least a few Shakespeares to the world!! I am seen here with a proud SS resident, Ashlesha Athavale(journalist, translator, theatre critic and most importantly my old friendJ) at the society Katta(literally translated as a Nook for general chit chat).Ashlesha has even translated a book on the society- Colony written by Siddharth Pardhe.

Siddharth  grew up at SS as his father was the society watchman.He was mentored by all the society residents and has risen well in life. Siddharth’s brother, Ramesh eventually became Sachin Tendulkar’s PA. BTW Sachin along with the literary greats was another famous society resident( his father, Ramesh Tendulkar was a Marathi Literature professor and writer) before moving out a few years back.More about it here..

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other//articleshow/15863936.cms

The Katta as a concept and structure is the brainchild of the enthusiastic SS residents like Avinash Gowariker(who is a noted film photographer), Ashlesha etc.The women writers would gather at the society Katta(literally the literary Nook now) in the evening and naturally their talks were around literature , current affairs etc. Avinash's wife the Swedish Indian , Shazia Qureshi Gowariker asked them to write an article each and there came the book –KATTYA VARCHYA GAPPA(ie Talks at the Nook and Raj Thackeray has done the book cover) .Ashlesha’s mother, Anuradha Athavale’s article about her litterateur , journalist and even politician husband , Narayan Athavale( he was briefly a Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai) features in this book. Avinash Gowarikerensured that the Katta is adorned with sketches, poems , paintings of the residents. At the time of clicking the photo a young architect Kshitij Bhende had put up his sketches..Basic amenities were further added to the Katta so the senior ladies could sit comfortably and discuss.More about it on Ashlesha Athavale's blog here

http://naturallymumbai.blogspot.in/search?q=sahitya

I have been  visiting this society for more than 25 years and only now did its greatness dawn upon me.What a unique society-Shaitya Sahawas; fascinating Katta concept with its equally extraordinary residents!! As they say in Marathi- a Bhannat idea!!