Dr Tara Bhawalkar honoured with Principal RK Kanbarkar Award at Shivaji University, Kolhapur

Kolhapur: Senior writer, researcher, folk literature scholar and president of the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sanmelan Dr Tara Bhawalkar was honoured with Principal R K Kanbarkar Award, 2025 on Wednesday evening at Shivaji University, Kolhapur (SUK). The award consists of Rs1.51 lakh in cash, a memento and a shawl. Vice-chancellor Dr Digambar Shirke, Pro-vice-chancellor Dr Pramod Patil and registrar Dr V N Shinde were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, chief guest senior writer Dr Sadanand More said, "The aim of studying folklore is not only to study history but to understand tradition from a modern perspective. This was shown by Tara Bhawalkar through her study and research. She did a very objective analysis of folk literature and culture creating pressure on past systems to include people."
Dr Bhawalkar announced that her library and collection of books now belong to SUK. She said, "If one has a good grasp of one's mother tongue, it is easy to use it effectively in any field. Universities should impart education not for degrees but to develop wisdom and students should take it in the same spirit. There is a need to unblock the stagnant flow of knowledge."
Expressing her love for Kolhapur, Dr Bhawalkar said that Kolhapur is a city of art. "Art forms like painting, sculpture, music, film and theatre flourished here. It is necessary to remember gratefully that the revolution of Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj raised the culmination of prosperity of Karveer Nagari, present Kolhapur," she said.
Vice-chancellor Dr Shirke said, "Dr Tara Bhawalkar... Her footprints are visible in literature as well as in activities like ‘Maywatecha Magowa'."
Kanbarkar, after whom the award is named, was a social activist and vice-chancellor of SUK from 1980 to 1983. He was a frontline leader of several progressive movements in the city. He played an active role in the creation of the University Act in 1974.