Ramesh Patange

Ramesh Raghunath Patange is a Marathi writer, editor and social worker and chairman of the Hindustan Prakashan Sanstha in Mumbai. He was named for the Padma Shri in 2023 in the field of literature and education, from Maharashtra ^[1].

Early years

Patange was born on 9 August 1944 and took an MA from the University of Mumbai in 1972 ^[2]. During the Emergency he went underground and was arrested in 1976; he was held under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act in Thane jail for 14 months ^[2]. From 1977 to 1985 he directed an organisation that encouraged young people to start their own enterprises ^[2].

Editor of Vivek

In 1985 he joined the Marathi weekly Vivek as co-editor and later became its chief editor, taking it to readers across Maharashtra ^[2]. Under him it published a number of volumes on figures and themes from public life ^[2].

Writing on Ambedkar and the Constitution

He has written many articles on Mahatma Phule and B. R. Ambedkar, and books including Sangharsha Mahamanvache and Social Justice and Dr. Ambedkar ^[2]. He has also written four books on the Indian Constitution and four on the constitutions of the United States, Britain, France and Russia ^[2]. His autobiographical books include Me, Manu ani Sangh and Angushtan te Lekhani (“From Tailor to Writer”) ^[2].

Much of his work has been against caste hierarchy and untouchability ^[2]. He co-founded groups such as the Samajik Samarasata Manch, and schools under his guidance in Chinchwad and Yamgarwadi teach about 900 children from nomadic tribes ^[2]. He has served on the Central Board of Film Certification and the National Book Trust ^[2].