Ranjit Desai

Ranjit Ramchandra Desai (8 April 1928 – 6 March 1992) was an Indian Marathi-language writer from Maharashtra, India. He is best known for his historical novels Swami and Shriman Yogi. He was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1964 and the Padma Shri in 1973.

Shivaji: The Great Maratha

 * from the new translation of Ranjit Desai’s Marathi classic, Shriman Yogi, a literary rendition of the life of Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
 * Shivaji: The Great Maratha, Ranjit Desai, Vikrant Pande (Translator), Harperprennial, 592 Pages


 * Raje hugged Shiva tightly and did not say a word. His tears drenched Shiva’s shoulders. Raje said, ‘Shiva, I hate what I must do. I have to sacrifice people like you at each step. You are willing to embrace death for me, and here I am, putting earrings on you! What will I get finally? What an irony!’


 * Shiva struggled out of Raje’s embrace and said, ‘Raje, there are many people who cry when someone dies. But very few who are willing to cry for a living person. Maharaj, you are shedding tears for someone like me. What more can I ask for? I am willing to give my life for each one of your tears. Don’t weep for me.’