Pralhad Keshav Atre () (13 August 1898 – 13 June 1969), popularly known as Āchārya Atre, was a prominent Marathi writer, poet, educationist, founder–editor of Maratha (a Marathi language newspaper), and above all a noted orator.
Atre was born on 13 August 1898 in a Marathi Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin[1] family of Kodit Khurd, a village near Saswad in Pune district. His father was a clerk and also a secretary of Saswad Municipality for a brief period and his uncle was teacher at MES Waghire High School Saswad. He completed his primary and High School education from MES Waghire High School, Saswad. He matriculated from Fergusson college in 1919. He completed Bachelor of Arts from University of Pune. After graduation Atre took up a career as a school teacher. Atre did his T. D. (teacher's diploma) from the University of London in 1928.[2] Before returning to India he studied Experimental Psychology under Cyril Burt and taught at Harrow.[3]
His Marathi film, Shyamchi Aai won the 1954 National Film Award for Best Feature Film.[4] Atre wrote seven plays; some of them had a humorous theme while others, a serious one. All of them received high public acclaim. His comedy-play, Moruchi Mavshi was later adapted into Hindi film, Aunty No. 1 (1998), starring Govinda and Raveena Tandon. His movie Mahatma Phule (1955) received the President's Silver Medal.
Atre was the founder–editor of four Marathi newspapers. Two of them had a short life. But the other two, Maratha and (Weekly) Navayug, ran for many years with a large circulation. Below are some of his works.
Poetry collections: 1.Akrava Avtar (अकरावा अवतार) (1920) 2.Zenduchi Fule (झेंडूची फुले) (1925) 3.Geetganga (गीतगंगा) (1935) 4.Panchagavya (पंचगव्य) (1958)
Novels: 1.Maharashtra Mohra (महाराष्ट्र मोहरा) (1914) 2.Mohityancha Shaap (मोहित्यांचा शाप) (1921) 3.Changuna (चांगुणा) (1954)
Autobiographical works: 1.Mi Kasa Jhalo (मी कसा झालो) 2.Karheche Pani (कर्हेचे पाणी)
Marathi literature is strewn with Deshastha writers. Some of the luminaries are B. S. Murdhekar, the neo classical poet and critic; the popular dramatists P. K. Atre, V.V.Shirwadkar; the poet and story writer G.D.Madgulkar popularly known as the "Modern Walmiki" of Maharashtra, Sahitya Akademi Award winners G. T. Deshpande, Laxmanshastri Joshi, S. N. Banhatti, V. K. Gokak and Mugali all belong to this community.