Mumbai: A thief experienced a change of heart upon realizing he had stolen from the home of a renowned Marathi writer, and subsequently returned the stolen items, according to police reports today.
The burglary occurred at the residence of Narayan Surve in Neral, Raigad district. Surve, a celebrated Marathi poet and social activist, passed away in 2010 at the age of 84. His daughter Sujata and her husband Ganesh Ghare now reside there, having been away for ten days visiting their son in Virar.
During their absence, the thief entered the house and took several items, including an LED TV. Upon returning the next day for more items, he came across Surve’s photographs and memorabilia, prompting a deep sense of remorse. He returned all the stolen goods and left a note on the wall seeking forgiveness for stealing from the home of such a revered literary figure.
The note was discovered by Sujata and her husband upon their return from Virar, as confirmed by police inspector Shivaji Dhavle of Neral police station. Further investigation is underway, focusing on fingerprints recovered from the stolen TV and other articles.
Narayan Surve’s journey from an orphaned upbringing on the streets of Mumbai to becoming a voice of the urban working class is reflected in his poetry, which challenged conventional Marathi literary norms and celebrated the dignity of labor.