Meena Sanjay Shinde, a celebrated poet from Wakad’s Park Street locality, has earned a prestigious place in the India Book of Records 2024 for authoring the maximum number of ghazals in a single book in the Marathi language. Her work, “Deewan-A-Meena”, features an impressive 171 ghazals covering a spectrum of emotions — from romance and familial bonds to deep devotion to God.
Shinde’s achievement is particularly remarkable as ghazals are traditionally written in Urdu or Hindi, making her the first woman in Maharashtra — and one of the very few in India — to compose such an extensive Marathi ghazal collection. Her book has resonated across the Marathi community worldwide, with live events, readings, and international participation from countries including the USA, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Since its release in 2022–23, over 250 copies have been sold, with songs from her ghazals even featured in short films like “चंद्र उगवला भुईवर”. Some have been sung by acclaimed artists like Saleel Kulkarni. Her poetry blends traditional “gharana” discipline with uniquely Marathi cultural and devotional themes, often portraying Lord Krishna as the eternal beloved.
This milestone not only highlights her literary excellence but also underscores the growing representation of Marathi ghazals on a national and global stage. Shinde’s success is a beacon of women’s empowerment in niche art forms, inspiring budding poets to embrace and preserve their linguistic heritage.
