TATYA SHIRWADKAR

The father figure that the city had for over half a century, whose influence and awe inspiring presence had the last word in all the issues that the city faced. This Jnanpith Awardee had a long and illus¬trious innings as a poet, writer and dramatist and he taught values by his simple living and writing. His works, 'Vishakha', a collection of poems and 'Natsamrat', a drama depicting the travails of the old-age cre¬ated history and inspires even today's generation.

VASANT KANETKAR

Another celebrated literary figure of equal stature, but unlike Tatya Shirwadkar, he protected his privacy to the hilt. As a dramatist, he was second to none. As a matter of fact he brought the Marathi theatre back to its glory and made it function well by his super hit dramas like "Raigdala Jenhva Jaag Yete', 'Ashrunchi Zali Phule', 'Matsyagandha " 'Gaganbhedi' and Vedyache Ghar Unhat' to name a few of them.

DADASAHEB POTNIS

The doyen among the newspa¬per kings and the real pioneer of many revolutionary things that he brought into Nashik, Dadasaheb Potnis, was a free¬dom fighter and a Gandhian. With modest beginning of the Marathi Daily Gavakari, he launched the only Marathi Digest 'Amrut', 'Rasrang' the first Marathi weekly on cinema, drama and sports, 'The Day View', the first English daily in Nashik, 'Krishi Sadhan' a paper for the farmer community and 'Sadantmd' an eveninger

DR VASANTRAO GUPTE

The late Dr Vasantrao Gupte was probably the only President of Nashik Municipality, who had a gen¬uine care for Nashik and its citizens. A doctor by profession, Gupte was the only person who took Nashik to the 21st century in the 80s with well planned and well thought-out projects like Kalidas Kalamandir, Sawarkar Swimming Pool, and renovation of Victoria Bridge alongwith many such projects.