A resolution to establish a Marathi University at Ambajogai,the birthplace of renowned Marathi poet Mukundraj,was passed at the valedictory function of the All-India Marathi Literary Meet (Sahitya Sammelan) here on Sunday. The idea was highlighted by several of the speakers. Later,Kundalik Atkare,secretary of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal (ABMSM),proposed the resolution,which was passed unanimously. ABMSM president Kautikrao Thale-Patil appealed to the Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil,who was among the audience,to help in establishing the Marathi University in the golden jubilee year of the foundation of Maharashtra. A resolution to name the University of Pune after Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule was also passed. Other resolutions,including raising funds for conservation of the Marathi language,erecting a memorial of Swatantryaveer Savarkar in Andaman and asking the government to fund the appointment of librarians in schools were also approved. Actor Amitabh Bachchan felicitated Shahir Sabale,Shahir Atmaram Patil,Datta Patil and Shahir Leeladhar Hegde for their contributions to the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. Veteran author Jyotsna Deodhar and publisher Sudhakar Joshi were also felicitated.
