‘Aranya Rishi' Chitampalli passes away in Solapur at 93
Kolhapur: Padmashri Maruti Chitampalli, a celebrated Marathi writer, ornithologist, and wildlife researcher, passed away on Wednesday evening in Solapur. He was widely known as "Aranya Rishi" (sage of the forest) for his lifelong dedication to forestry studies and writing.
Chitampalli was a recipient of the prestigious
Padma Shri
award, which he recently received from President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. He also presided over the 83rd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in 2006.
The last rites for Chitampalli will be conducted on Thursday afternoon in Solapur. Born in 1932 in Solapur, Chitampalli spent most of his life in Vidarbha and Nagpur, deeply connected with the region's forests and wildlife. He joined the Maharashtra forest department, where his work in Vidarbha's jungles inspired his conservation efforts and literary career.
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