Bashir Momin Kavathekar

Bashir Kamruddin Momin (1 March 1947 – 12 November 2021), popularly known by his pen name, Momin Kavathekar, also known as 'Lokshahir B. K. Momin Kavathekar', was a popular Marathi language poet and writer who promoted sanitation, literacy, and social reforms through his literatures.

His work involved raising public awareness to tackle issues like dowry system, female foeticide, alcohol addiction and blind following of superstitions.

Many of his devotional songs (bhaktigit / aarati) adore the Hindu God & Goddess.

He was closely associated with Maharashtra's traditional form of theatre Tamasha for almost 50 years; supporting the various Tamasha troupes by providing them with folk songs like 'Lavani', 'Gan Gavalan', 'Bhedic' and short plays called 'Vaga-Natya'.

Momin Kavathekar (बशीर कमरुद्दीन मोमीन / लोकशाहीर मोमीन कवठेकर) was born on 1-March-1948 at Kavathe, a small village in drought prone western Maharashtra, into a Muslim weaver family.

Addition of Kavathekar to the surname and adopting it as part of pen name indicates the proud association of family with the village where the ancestors has lived for centuries.

He had the honor of playing roles of Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the drama "Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Saat" & "Netaji Palakar", as well the role of rival Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in "Bhangale Swapna Maharashtra"; which were performed by 'Natya Zankar Group' at Bharat Natya Mandir, Pune during 1970s.

During free time, he used to pen down couplets/ short folk songs/ Lavani etc. which were performed on the Tamasha shows.

However, his folk songs & short plays received huge appreciation from audience and his work become popular amongst the rural areas.

Popularity of his songs earned him fame and various Tamasha troupes/operators started flocking down to Kavathe (his hometown), to obtain new songs/ Vag Natya.

He got associated with the other Tamasha troupes such as ‘Kalu-Balu Kavalapurkar’, ‘Raghuveer Khedkar & Kantabai Satarkar’, ‘Aman Tambe’, ‘Lakshman Takalikar’ and ‘Datta Mahadik Punekar’.

However, he never charged any royalty/ fees from these Tamasha operators for the songs/lyrics or Vag Natya he used to provide them.

Short plays written with intention to spread mass awareness about AIDS or combating the prevailing social evils like dowry, illiteracy etc. earned the affection of masses.

With the advent of Television/ Radio/VCR/ Cable, the Tamasha as ventures started to face difficulty due to dwindling earnings.

During this phase, he worked on digitalization options and came up with couple of Musical Audio Albums (CDs).

He also guided many troupes/owners to adapt the new technological changes for marketing purpose.

He has also written songs for the Marathi Movie 'VIP Gadhav' which features noted comedian Bhau Kadam aka Bhalchandra Kadam as lead actor & upcoming movie 'Bhaucha Dhakka'.

Momin Kawthekar passed away in Pune on November 12, 2021, after a long illustrious career spanning five decades.

Kavathekar has written more than 4000 folk songs which were /are being performed by local artist over the years.

He wrote a wide range of songs like ‘Lavani’, ‘Gan’, ‘Gavlan’, ‘Poems’, ‘Devotional Songs’ and ‘Songs on social issues/ reforms’.

His use of folkloric narrative styles has helped in popularizing and making his work understandable & accessible to common man & communities.

He has written plays based on historical figures and events.

He has written short stories, street plays, songs on the social subjects like ‘Praudh Saksharta Abhiyan – National Literacy Mission Programme’, ‘Gram Swachchta Abhiyan & Swatch Bharat Abhiyan – Sanitation & Cleanliness Drive by Govt’, ‘awareness about AIDS’, ‘ill effect of Dowry’, 'Female feticide', 'Alcohol addiction' etc. and presented/performed them across rural Maharashtra.

Some of these were also performed / broadcast on the Radio from All India Radio/ Aakashvani Kendra, Pune.

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Devotional songs, adoring Hindu God/Goddess, truly represent the secular social fabric of Maharshtra, well developed under the Bhakti Movement (Warkari Sampraday).

It represents the Ganga-Jamuni culture of India.

Kavathekar' formed a small troupe (Kalapathak) who performed street plays as part of awareness campaign against social evils like prevalence of dowry, epidemics like AIDS, blind acceptance of superstitions & the exploitation that follows.

He actively prpogated in the various initiatives of Government like ‘Praudh Saksharta Mission / National Literacy Mission’, ‘VyasanMukti Abhiyan - campaign to minimize addiction of alcoholism’, ‘Gram Swachchata Abhiyan - a predecessor of ‘Swatch Bharat Abhiyan'.

For his contribution to the field of folk art, literature and culture, he was awarded the 'Vithabai Narayangavkar Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar' by the Government of Maharashtra in 2018.

Due to patronage by Maratha Empire since late 18th century, the village had been thriving in the crafts and performing arts; and became home to many artist associated with ‘Jagaran Gondhal’, ‘Bharud’, ‘Tamasha’ [all local folk arts].

Momin Kavathekar's fascination in these artists developed gradually as a child because he grew up watching them perform at village functions, during their rehearsals prior to the stage- shows.

Momin Kawathekar completed his education from a Marathi Medium school.

Due to non-availability of the higher secondary school in the village, all the students had to trek 10 km to a nearby village called ‘Loni-Dhamani’.

Due to health issues, he gave up the school after completing the 8th standard and started helping his family in the business.

Momin Kavthekar wrote his first song at the age of 11 years.

Audience applauded when he performed this song at his school function.

This inspired him to continue & explore his writing skills.

At young age, he joined the Tamasha troupe of ‘Gangaram Kavathekar’ where he got exposure to the expectations of the rural audience, their preferences for entertainment and the difficulties faced by artist/troupes/operators.

He acted in short plays (Vag Natya) and drama.