Laxman Mane
Laxman Bapu Mane (Devanagari: लक्ष्माण बापू माने) (b. 1949) is a Marathi writer and a social activitist from Maharashtra, India.
Mane was born on June 1, 1949 in a nomadic Kakadi tribe in India. He received in 1973 a B.A. from Rajarshi Chhatrapati Shahu College in Kolhapur[1].
Mane converted to Buddhism along with others from his community[2].
His autobiography Upara (उपरा) received a Sahitya Akademi Award in 1981. The book brought to the attention of the public in Maharashtra the problems of nomadic tribes arising out of their social and economic conditions.
Under a two-year grant from the Ford Foundation for field work among nomadic tribes in Maharashtra, Mane wrote in 1984 his second book Bund Darwaja (बंद दरवाजा).
He received a Homi Bhabha Fellowship during 1986-88 for his continued social work.
Mane served for some time in the following capacities:
- Acting president of the Indian Institute for research in the developmental problems of nomadic and denotified communities, Satara
- Secretary of Ekata Shikshan Prasarak Sanstha, Satara
- General secretary of Mahatma Jyotirao Phyle Samata Prathistan
- A senator of Shivaji University's administration.
Mane is the president of the Bhatkya Ani Vimukth Jamati Sanghatana, Maharashtra, and a founder member of the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishtan.