H P Apte: Makers of Indian Literature

HARI NARAYAN APTE (1864-1919) is acknowledged, by common consent, to be the founder of the modern Marathi novel, both social and historical, and of the modern Marathi short story as well. He raised the Marathi novel from the level of mere entertainment to that of a serous work of art. He had made a close study of Sanskrit classics and was well-read in English and European literatures.  Although reading and writing were Apte’s main occupations he was not a book-worm nor an ivory tower novelist. He took active part in public life also. In 1890 he founded his own paper Karamanuk in which he published his novels and short stories. He helped in editing Sudharak after Agarkar’s death, and edited Dnyanaprakash a liberal daily for some time. His novels are read with interest even today by common readers as well as by serious students of Marathi literature.