Lakhansingh Katre to preside over Zadiboli literary meet at Mul on November 28-29

Zadiboli Sahitya Mandal has chosen Adv. Lakhansingh Katre as president of the Zadiboli Sahitya Sammelan to be held at Mul on November 28 and 29, 2026. Katre is a senior writer and researcher, and a retired district registrar. His selection has brought joy to writers and language lovers associated with the Zadiboli literary movement. (Gondpipri)

Katre was a gazetted officer in the Maharashtra government's Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles Department. Since retirement he has been working as an advocate. He is regarded as having made a significant contribution in literature, language, history, folk culture and the social sphere. He is known as a poet, storyteller, essayist, language scholar and researcher. He has written extensively in Marathi, Hindi, Zadiboli and Powari, and more than 23 of his works and books have been published.

Katre has worked continuously to research, preserve and document the Powari and Zadiboli dialects. His notable works include 'Powari Sahitya Manjusha', 'Powar Samaj Tatha Powari Boli: Ek Aakalan', 'Ekonisava Adhyay' and 'Aadvalanavaril Kahi Sthanke'. He has also written two textbooks for the postgraduate course in public administration of the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University.

Katre has been a member of the Marathi language advisory committee of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi, set up by the Government of India. He has also held important responsibilities in various literary organisations. On the occasion of the centenary celebrations of Rashtrasant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University, his name was included among a hundred notable figures associated with the university.

Arun Zagdkar, president of Zadiboli Sahitya Mandal, Chandrapur, said Zadiboli is not merely a spoken dialect but a carrier of the folk life, cultural tradition and collective identity of Zadipatti. According to him, Katre's selection carries special significance given the need to look after the literary richness of the language, pass the dialect's heritage to the new generation and document folk literature. Zagdkar also said the sammelan would benefit from Katre's long literary and research experience.