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Sant Dnyaneshwar
Author of the Dnyaneshwari, 13th century
माझा मराठाचि बोलु कौतुकें । परि अमृतातेंहि पैजासीं जिंके ॥
My Marathi tongue, in its delight, wagers to outdo even nectar.
The first, and timeless, praise of Marathi.
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Sant Tukaram
Varkari saint-poet, 17th century
आम्हां घरीं धन शब्दांचीच रत्नें । शब्दांचीच शस्त्रें यत्न करूं ॥
Words are the jewels of our home; words are our weapons.
Words as wealth — the first lesson of a school under the sky.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Founder of Swarajya
प्रतिपच्चंद्रलेखेव वर्धिष्णुर्विश्ववंदिता ।
Like the first crescent of the moon, ever growing and honoured by the world.
The king who gave Marathi its place in governance; the Rajyavyavahar Kosh was compiled at his command.
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Mahatma Jyotirao Phule
Satyashodhak, social reformer
विद्येविना मति गेली । मतिविना नीति गेली ॥
Without learning, wisdom was lost; without wisdom, morality was lost.
Education as the first step to freedom.
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Savitribai Phule
India's first woman teacher, poet
Opened the first school for girls in Pune in 1848. Our school travels the world from the same city.
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Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
Architect of the Constitution of India
शिका, संघटित व्हा, संघर्ष करा.
Educate, organise, agitate.
Gave Marathi journalism a new voice through Mooknayak and Bahishkrut Bharat.
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Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj
Ruler of Kolhapur
Free, compulsory primary education, hostels, and royal patronage for wrestling and the arts.
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Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar
Queen of Malwa
Built ghats, rest houses and wells across India; patron of Maheshwari weaving.
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Lokmanya Tilak
Editor of Kesari
स्वराज्य हा माझा जन्मसिद्ध हक्क आहे आणि तो मी मिळवणारच.
Swaraj is my birthright and I shall have it.
Pioneer of the public Ganeshotsav — which we now celebrate across the globe.
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Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Editor of Sudharak
इष्ट असेल ते बोलणार आणि साध्य असेल ते करणार.
I will say what is right and do what is possible.
A fearless voice for rational social reform.
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Justice M. G. Ranade
Reformer and thinker
A pillar of the Prarthana Samaj, the Sarvajanik Sabha and the movement for Marathi books.
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Gopal Krishna Gokhale
Founder, Servants of India Society
Selfless public service — the creed of our volunteers.
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Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve
Pioneer of women's education
Founded India's first university for women (1916).
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Sane Guruji
Writer and teacher
"Shyamchi Aai" shaped generations of Marathi readers; dreamt of Antarbharati, India united by its languages.
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Sant Namdev
Varkari saint, 13th–14th century
नाचू कीर्तनाचे रंगीं । ज्ञानदीप लावूं जगीं ॥
We shall dance in the joy of kirtan and light the lamp of knowledge in the world.
Carried Marathi devotion as far as Punjab.
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Sant Eknath
Saint-poet, 16th century
संस्कृत वाणी देवें केली । तरी प्राकृत काय चोरापासोनि झाली ? ॥
If God made Sanskrit, was the people's tongue born of thieves?
A firm champion of Marathi as the people's language.
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Samarth Ramdas Swami
Saint, author of Dasbodh
मराठा तितुका मेळवावा । महाराष्ट्र धर्म वाढवावा ॥
Unite every Marathi person; let the dharma of Maharashtra grow.
The essence of our work, in one line.
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Keshavsut
Father of modern Marathi poetry
एक तुतारी द्या मज आणुनि । फुंकिन मी जी स्वप्राणानें ॥
Bring me a trumpet, that I may blow it with all my breath.
The voice that carried Marathi poetry into a new age.
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Kavi Kusumagraj
Jnanpith award-winning poet
His birthday, 27 February, is celebrated as Marathi Language Day.
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V. S. Khandekar
First Jnanpith winner in Marathi
Jnanpith award in 1974 for the novel "Yayati".
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Bahinabai Chaudhari
Folk poet
Verses composed in the fields and at the grinding stone — true poetry under the sky.
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P. L. Deshpande
Maharashtra's beloved humorist
Writer, actor, composer — who taught Marathi people to laugh at themselves.
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Shanta Shelke
Poet and lyricist
The poet who gave Marathi songs the beauty of words.
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Shahir Amar Shaikh
Voice of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement
A beat on the daf and a ringing voice for the dream of Maharashtra.
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Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe
Author of "Fakira"
Barely schooled, yet he taught the world — a true student of the school under the sky.
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Balgandharva
Legend of Marathi musical theatre
The artist who gave Marathi musical theatre its golden age.
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Dadasaheb Phalke
Father of Indian cinema
Made "Raja Harishchandra" (1913), India's first full-length feature film.
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Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar
The Nightingale of India
The voice that carried Marathi and Indian song across the world.
