विश्वकोश Vishwakosh (The Marathi Encyclopedia)

शाळेच्या किंवा गावातील ग्रंथालयात अनेक जाड-मोठी पुस्तके असलेले काचेचे कपाट दिसते, ज्यात मराठी विश्वकोश, व्युत्पत्तीकोश, चरित्रकोश, शब्दकोश अशी ग्रंथसंपदा असते. ही प्रत्येक वाचनालयाची शान असते.

The passage explains that visiting a school or public library, one's attention is drawn to a glass cabinet filled with thick, large books. Along with various works of Marathi literature, this collection - including the Marathi Encyclopedia, Etymological Dictionary, Biographical Dictionary and Marathi Dictionary - is considered the 'pride' of every library. The Marathi Vishwakosh compiles up-to-date knowledge across all subjects in the humanities, science and technology under one comprehensive scheme.

मराठी विश्वकोशात मानव्यविद्या शाखेत धर्म, तत्त्वज्ञान, अर्थशास्त्र, राज्यशास्त्र, इतिहास, साहित्य असे विषय आहेत, तर विज्ञान-तंत्रज्ञान शाखेत भौतिकी, रसायनशास्त्र, गणित, जीवशास्त्र, संगणकविज्ञान, वैद्यक असे विषय आहेत. एका विषयाची इतर संलग्न विषयांशी जोडलेली माहिती मिळाल्याने तो विषय नीट समजतो.

The Marathi Encyclopedia covers, within the humanities, subjects such as religion and philosophy, economics, political science, psychology, education, literature, history, visual arts, geography and sports. Within science and technology, it includes physics, chemistry, mathematics-statistics, biology, engineering, agricultural science, information technology, computer science, architecture, geology and medicine. Any important subject is invariably linked to many other subjects, and gathering knowledge across these related subjects helps one understand the main topic thoroughly - this is precisely where the Marathi Encyclopedia proves useful.

शिक्षणाचा प्रसार व औद्योगिकीकरण वाढल्याने नवे शब्द व सर्वविषयसंग्राहक विश्वकोशाची गरज निर्माण झाली. डॉ. श्रीधर व्यंकटेश केतकर यांनी स्वातंत्र्यपूर्वकाळात मोलाचे कार्य केले, तर तर्कतीर्थ लक्ष्मणशास्त्री जोशी हे मराठी विश्वकोशाचे पहिले संपादक होते. १९७६ साली पहिला खंड प्रकाशित झाला आणि आतापर्यंत वीस खंड प्रकाशित झाले आहेत.

As education spread rapidly and the language grew richer, exchange between languages brought many new words into Marathi. Growing industrialisation increased society's scientific and technical needs, creating a demand for a comprehensive encyclopedia. This need was reinforced by Marathi's growing acceptance as a medium of higher education and its official recognition as the state's administrative language. In creating the Marathi Encyclopedia, Tarkatirtha Lakshmanshastri Joshi, its first editor, made an invaluable contribution, while the earlier pioneering work of the encyclopedist Dr. Shridhar Vyankatesh Ketkar in the pre-independence era also deserves recognition. In 1976, the Maharashtra State Literature and Culture Board published the encyclopedia's first volume, and twenty volumes have been published to date; a 'Kumar Vishwakosh' has also been created specifically for school students.

विश्वकोश तयार करताना विषयवार तज्ज्ञ समित्या नेमल्या गेल्या, नोंदींची शीर्षके ठरवली गेली, मोठ्या-मध्यम-लहान नोंदींची यादी तयार करून त्या अकारविल्ह्यानुसार लावल्या गेल्या. विद्यार्थ्यांनी आपल्या ज्ञानाच्या गरजेसाठी, कुतूहल शमवण्यासाठी व भाषासमृद्धीसाठी विश्वकोश पाहावा असे सुचवले आहे. आता विश्वकोश संकेतस्थळावरही उपलब्ध आहे.

The passage describes the process of creating the encyclopedia - first, subject-wise expert committees were formed, entry headings for each subject were finalised, notes on major, medium and minor entries were prepared, and finally these lists were arranged alphabetically. Using modern technology, the content of the encyclopedia's twenty volumes has also been made available on a mobile app. Students are encouraged to consult the encyclopedia to meet their Marathi-language knowledge needs, to satisfy their curiosity constructively, to sharpen expression, and to gain nuanced knowledge in Marathi, as well as to learn the alphabetical method of looking up words. The encyclopedia is now also available at www.marathivishwakosh.maharashtra.gov.in.