MUMBAI: Noted Marathi writer Y D Phadke died here on Friday following a brief illness. He was 77. Phadke was president of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (literary meet) held in Belgaum.
He passed away at his residence in suburban Bandra, his family said.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R R Patil have condoled Phadke's death, saying Maharashtra has lost a great writer and thinker who made an everlasting impact on the minds of his readers.
Union Power Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, a former student of Phadke, said, "Phadke was one person whose thoughts on any topic were clear and straight forward. His analytical ability would be missed by Maharashtra and the country."
"Phadke sir taught me during my first year MA in political science and attending his lectures was a treat," Shinde told.