Amitabh ‘Vijay’ Bachchan remembers the playwright Tendulkar, who passed away yesterday

Eminent Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar passed away on Monday morning. Amitabh Bachchan who is holidaying in London with his family says, “Vijay Tendulkarji was a strong and fearless writer. I am deeply saddened to hear the news of his passing away.”

82-year-old Tendulkar died of myasthenia gravis, a diseases that has also afflicted the Big B. “In my case, it is thankfully in remission. But can return any moment,” he ends ominously.
 

Hurried meetings

The Big B is shocked to hear of the Marathi playwright’s demise. “I never had the opportunity of spending any quality time with him, but on occasion I did meet him during common social events.

Barring the exchange of greetings and acknowledging each other’s creative contributions, such moments were rushed and hurried. But one read a lot about him in the media and through his interviews.”

Taking a stand

He’s full of admiration for the man who re-wrote many rules of stage-writing, “In today’s world, it is difficult and tough to take a committed stand and pursue it. Vijay Tendulkarji did.

And that was his strength. At times, this stand is the solitary voice of reason often misunderstood but seldom wrong.”

There’s regret for not having  known  Tendulkar more closely.

“The greatness about words and writers is that much after they are gone their thoughts remain with us. In fact, the sad irony of life is that in most cases, it is only when they are gone do we realise their potential and their great contribution, he concludes.”