Prahlad 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. Biography Early life Atre was born on 13 August 1898 in a Marathi Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin 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. Before returning to India he studied Experimental Psychology under Cyril Burt and taught at Harrow. Film and theatre career His Marathi film, Shyamchi Aai won the 1954 National Film Award for Best Feature Film. 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. Writing and Publishing 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. Political career Member of Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti during 1956–60. He was arrested in 1956 under the Preventive Detention Act for his agitation. Member of Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha from Dadar constituency (18) 1962–1967 However his ambition of becoming a member of the Indian Parliament could not be fulfilled as he lost these elections. Important works Plays Sāshtāng Namaskār (1935) Gharābāher (1934) Bhramāchā Bhopalā (1935) Udyāchā Sansār (1936) Lagnāchi Bedi (1936) Moruchi Māwashi (1947) a Marathi comedy play To Mi Navhech (1962) Novels, Biographies, and Essays Chāngunā (1954) Battāshi Wa Itar Kathā (1954) Mahātmā Jyotibā Phule (1958) Suryāsta (1964) (On the life of Jawaharlal Nehru) Samādhiwaril Ashru (1956) Kelyāne Deshātan (1961) Atre Uwāch (1937) Lalit Wāngmaya (1944) Hashā Āni Tālyā (1958) Dalitanche Baba (Remembering Dr. Ambedkar) Mi Kasā Jhālo (1953) Movies Brahmachari (1938) Shyāmchi Aai (1953) Premveer