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Sahitya Akademi winner, Padmashree Namdev Dhondo Mahanor was born in Palaskhed village in Maharashtra India in 1942. Born into a poor farming household where his mother ground flour on a stone mill for a living, he absorbed the magical Lyricism of folksongs, which informs all his literary works. Early literary influents include Balkavi and N.G Deshpande but he has evolved a very distinctive style whose influence in Marathi has been far reaching, one of Marathi's major litterateurs today, his novel Gandhan, was translated into twelve Indian languages. Gavatalya Goshti (Village stories) and poetry collections include - Pavasali Kavita Monsoon Songs), Ranatalya Kavita (Songs of the Field), Vahi (Songs) Palakhadeti Gaani (Folk Songs of Palaskhed), Gatha Shivarayachi (The Ballad of Shivaji Maharaj) and an anthology edited by Uttam Kshirsagar, Laksh Thavey. He has also edited a number of important books Ajantha the Marathi original of 'this long poem, was first published in 1984. All his major works, including Paanjhad (The fall Season), for which he won the Sahitya Akademi Award, have been published by Popular Prakashan. Many of his poems have become popular film lyrics and he has won several awards as a lyricist. Mahanor believes in the power of literature to usher in social change. His works show a humanitarian concern for the poor and compassion for the outcaste. A love for nature gives his works extraordinary lyricism. He has been involved in successful experiments on his farm near Ajanta Caves and has been awarded the Vanashree and Krushibhushan awards fortes con tributions to the environment and farming. He was nominated twice to the Vidhan Parishad of Maharashtra where, among other important resolutions, he initiated work on the Kala Academy and the Ajanta Development Plan. He has been the President of the regional literary body, the Marathwada Sahitya Parishad. He was awarded the Padmashree by the President of India.