Ninad Gangadhar Bedekar is a historian, writer and orator from Pune

Pune

Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...

, Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, writing and speaking in Marathi

Marathi language

Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...

. He is a prolific contributor to newspapers and magazines. He has scripted the Son et lumière

Son et lumière (show)

Son et lumière , or a sound and light show, is a form of nighttime entertainment that is usually presented in an outdoor venue of historic significance....

 show at Shanivarwada, and written the script for Marathi TV serial Peshwai. He is acquainted with the Modi

Modi script

' is one of the scripts used to write the Marathi language& Rajasthani language, which is the primary language spoken in the state of Maharashtra & Rajasthan in western India respectively. MoDiis also known as MuDiya, MuDi & VañiyāvaTi...

, Persian

Persian language

Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...

 and Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

.
He is a life member of Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal

Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal

Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, popularly known as Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal or just ‘Mandal’, is an Indian institute providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is located at Pune in Maharashtra state. The institute was founded in 1910 by the veteran Indian historian V.K....

, Pune and an honorary member of Fort Renovation and Beautification Committee for the Government of Maharashtra. He is an office bearer of Vishva Hindu Parishad

Vishva Hindu Parishad

' , which is usually known more simply as the VHP, is an international Hindu organization, which was founded in India in 1964. Its slogan is "धर्मो रक्षति रक्षितः Dharmo rakṣati rakṣitaḥ", which is supposed to mean "Dharma protects its protector"...

.
He holds a diploma in mechanical engineering, and has worked for Kirloskar Cummins Ltd., (now Cummins India Limited). Bedekar traces ancestry to the Rastes a Maratha

Marathi people

The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...

 feudal family. Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...

 - publisher of James Laine's, ‘Shivaji: Hindu king in Islamic India’, withdrew the book after protests from him and other history scholars as it contained highly objectionable statements about Shivaji.

Books authored

Durgkatha, Shartiche Shiledar ( 5 Parts ), Hasra Itihas, Durgvaibhava, Itihas Durgancha, Maharastratil Durg, Saksh Itihasachi, Thorla Raja Sangun Gela, Khanderi, Javhar, Gajkatha, Eka Navin Shivcharitrachya Nimittane, Vijay Durgache Rahasya','shivbhushan'

Research on forts

Bedekar is known for his research on the forts of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and about 75 forts outside India, having led numerous treks to them. He is an honorary member of Fort Renovation and Beautification Committee for the Government of Maharashtra and life member of Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Shri Shivaji Raigad Smarak Mandal - Pune, Shri Shivaji Raigad Smarak Mandal – (Chairman) Maharastra Kalopasak, Pune – (Chairman).

Tour de Sahyadri

To celebrate his 61st birth day, Bedekar took trekkers on a series of treks to 61 forts of Maharashtra, in the various districts of Maharashtra, started 17 August 2009 with the birthplace of Shivaji Fort Shivneri and ended on 1 Sept 2010 at Fort Raigad.

On the 14'th of August 2009 Ninadji Steps into his 61'st year. He decided to visit 61 glorious forts of Maharashtra. The Tour'de Sahyadri started on 14 August 2009 with the birthplace of Shivaji Maharaj i.e. Fort Shivneri and ended on 1 sept 2010 at Fort Raigad.
These 61 forts cover at least one fort from all the districts of Maharashtra. The complete timetable was as follows –
Date Month District Forts No of forts

14 Aug Pune Shivneri 1

29 - 30 Aug Sangli, Satara Sangli - Juna Panhala , Bhupalgad 3, Bhushangad

5, 6 Sept Satara Satara - Nandgiri, Wardhangad 3, Varugad , Ajinkyatara (Exclusive) 1

12, 13 Sept Jalna Rohilgad Aurangabad Devgiri ( Exclusive ). 1

19, 20,21,22 Sept , Solapur, solapur - Akluj , Machnur, Solapur . 3 Osmanabad. Osmanabad - Naldurg 1 Latur, Bid Latur - Ausa 1 Bid - Dharur 1 Osmanabad Paranda ( Exclusive) 1 Return to Pune.

26, 27 Sept Nashik Salher , Mulher , Mora 3