PRABHAKAR - A SUN IS BORN

14th March 1931. A Son was born in the Panshikar Family in Mumbai. Originally hailing from Pedne, Goa, the Panshikar family was steeped in tradional learning of subjects like Sanskrit, VedaShastras and Astrology. The grandfather of the child (to be named Prabhakar), was pandit Vasudev Shastri Panshikar, the Chief Editor of the famed Sanskrit publishing house ''Nirnaya Sagar Press''. He has to his credit the monumental achievement of having researched, edited and published in the finest and purest Sanskrit some 300 texts. These texts occupy the pride of place in every Sanskrit reference library of the world. The father of the child, Pandit Vishnu Shastri Panshikar was also a renowned Vedic scholar, who specialised in Astrology and edited, ''Jyotir Mayukh'', a tretise on the subject.

Despite inheriting this legacy of traditional learning, Prabhakar discovered early in life that he was cut out for different things. At the age of 15 (1945-46), on an impulse, he acted in a play for the Annual Gathering of his School. The appreciation that he evoked for that role however, drew him closer to the stage than he had imagined. This growing involvement gradually led to a consuming passion for acting, which finally resulted in his dropping out of school in his matriculate year (1949). Meanwhile, he had acted in numerous plays staged by various schools and social institutions. He was now seriously studying the fifth 'Veda', the 'Natya Veda'. In 1950, he got his first break as an apprentice to the great Film Director, Shri Vishram Bedekar, for the production called 'Vasudeo Balwant'.

Unfortunately, this opportunity and whatever other bits of work came his way, did not translate into financial stability. On a spirited impulse, he left home and for almost six years, practically lived on the streets. He struggled on (with a little help from friends here and there) with scant regard for basic needs and comforts, for finally only one thing mattered Theatre