Veteran Pune Gandhian Bharade passes away Nov 22, 2006
Veteran freedom fighter, a Gandhian and former Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly Balasaheb Shivram Bharade died here today of old age. He was 94 and is survived by his wife, five sons and a daughter. The veteran leader, who was on life support system for the past few days at the Poona Hospital here, was declared dead by doctors at 1745 hrs this evening. The immediate cause of death was stated as ''septicaemia'', hospital sources said. Balasaheb was born at Shevgaon in Ahmednagar district in 1912. He was the Member of the State Legislative Assembly from 1952 to 1972 from Shevgaon. He had held various positions including the State Assembly Speaker's from 1962 to 1972. Prior to that he was the State Cooperation Minister from 1957 to 1962. He was chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, chairman of the Maharashtra State Khadi Board and chairman of the Akhil Bharatiya Khadi Commission. He was closely associated with the Mahatma Gandhi and Bhoodan Movement leader Vinoba Bhave. During the freedom struggle, he was imprisoned at the time of the 1942 Quit India Movement. Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had visited the Poona Hospital yesterday to inquire after the health of the veteran leader and had spent time with his family members.
Courtesy Pune, Nov 22 UNI
Balasaheb wanted Gandhi academy for youth at Ralegan Siddhi
Social activist Anna Hazare talks about the man who taught him to live by what he spoke
Pune, November 23: Forty years ago, when I first met Balasaheb, I saw the dream of Gram-Swarajya in his eyes. He held Gandhiji’s thoughts close to his heart. So much so that even in his last days, which were spent in bed, he was worried about who would fulfil his dream of establishing the Gandhi academy. That dream remains unfulfilled.
Balasaheb wanted the youth to be taught Gandhian thought. The academy would be for those young people who wanted to do something for society and were ready to devote their lives. While a theoretical study on Gandhian thoughts would be given at Maharashtra Gandhi Nidhi Trust’s Gandhi Bhavan, the practical study would be conducted at Ralegan Siddhi.
Bharade’s death is the loss of a true and loyal Gandhian. Balasaheb would say, ‘‘Nothing is impossible if one has clean intentions and good behaviour.’’ People like me have tried to follow his thoughts but have achieved very little. He was selfless. Listening to his constant talk on Gandhi’s thoughts and philosophies, we have been able to accomplish few things in life.
Balasaheb also dreamt about Gram Swarajya. He would visit Ralegan and participate in many village programmes. My first association with Balasaheb was in 1976 when he had come to Ralegan for a de-addiction campaign along with businessman and Gandhian Navalbhai Firodia. I was a follower of Swami Vivekanand who had a great impact on my life. After our meeting, Balasaheb and I were together in several social activities and projects.
In 1992, when Sudhakar Naik was the chief minister, Balasaheb suggested the concept of a ‘model village’. He had prepared the criteria of one and wanted one village from every taluka to follow it. However, the State government failed to realise its importance. Balasaheb would always say the country would progress if villages were developed.
Balasaheb and V S Page were both gifted leaders. The Bharade-Page pair made immense difference to the State. They showed how cooperatives would work wonders for Maharashtra. I learnt the art of sacrifice from both.
Balasaheb was outspoken and dared to call a spade a spade. He would openly speak about mistakes or wrongdoings of fellow politicians. In Balasaheb, I saw someone who acted on what he spoke. He taught us to live by words.
Courtesy Pune Newsline, Friday November 24 , 2006
Courtesy Pune, Nov 22 UNI
Balasaheb wanted Gandhi academy for youth at Ralegan Siddhi
Social activist Anna Hazare talks about the man who taught him to live by what he spoke
Pune, November 23: Forty years ago, when I first met Balasaheb, I saw the dream of Gram-Swarajya in his eyes. He held Gandhiji’s thoughts close to his heart. So much so that even in his last days, which were spent in bed, he was worried about who would fulfil his dream of establishing the Gandhi academy. That dream remains unfulfilled.
Balasaheb wanted the youth to be taught Gandhian thought. The academy would be for those young people who wanted to do something for society and were ready to devote their lives. While a theoretical study on Gandhian thoughts would be given at Maharashtra Gandhi Nidhi Trust’s Gandhi Bhavan, the practical study would be conducted at Ralegan Siddhi.
Bharade’s death is the loss of a true and loyal Gandhian. Balasaheb would say, ‘‘Nothing is impossible if one has clean intentions and good behaviour.’’ People like me have tried to follow his thoughts but have achieved very little. He was selfless. Listening to his constant talk on Gandhi’s thoughts and philosophies, we have been able to accomplish few things in life.
Balasaheb also dreamt about Gram Swarajya. He would visit Ralegan and participate in many village programmes. My first association with Balasaheb was in 1976 when he had come to Ralegan for a de-addiction campaign along with businessman and Gandhian Navalbhai Firodia. I was a follower of Swami Vivekanand who had a great impact on my life. After our meeting, Balasaheb and I were together in several social activities and projects.
In 1992, when Sudhakar Naik was the chief minister, Balasaheb suggested the concept of a ‘model village’. He had prepared the criteria of one and wanted one village from every taluka to follow it. However, the State government failed to realise its importance. Balasaheb would always say the country would progress if villages were developed.
Balasaheb and V S Page were both gifted leaders. The Bharade-Page pair made immense difference to the State. They showed how cooperatives would work wonders for Maharashtra. I learnt the art of sacrifice from both.
Balasaheb was outspoken and dared to call a spade a spade. He would openly speak about mistakes or wrongdoings of fellow politicians. In Balasaheb, I saw someone who acted on what he spoke. He taught us to live by words.
Courtesy Pune Newsline, Friday November 24 , 2006
posted by deepamariam @ 12:16 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home