0 THE TRIBALS AND MADHAVRAO KANE

The tribals are generally considered to be ignorant, socially backward and addicted to various vices and as such, have been isolated from social advancement as well as deprived of the benefits of science and technology. The government provides for them schools, medical centres and boarding schools. But, clearly, that is not enough. It is necessary to develop cultural values and social attitudes among them. They must be assimilated in the mainstream of society and be able to live with self-respect. The scheme of establishing Hostels for them was planned with this objective in mind. An evolution has been taking place thanks to the infinite patience and incessant diligence of hundreds of workers and the fruits of these vast efforts are now becoming distinctly visible today.This was the dream of the eminent activist, Shri Madhavrao Kane whose life was dedicated not only to emancipating of the tribals and backward class people but also to giving them dignity and status in society. He was speaking on the occasion when he was honoured with the Pu. Bha. Bhave Memorial Award on 13th August, 1993. A transparently honest, sincere and extremely capable man, his intense desire for the welfare of tribals for whom he spent 30 years of his life is expressed in the following speech given by him. "At the outset I would like to thank the Pu. Bha. Bhave Memorial Award Committee for honouring me with this prestigious award. Many of you who are present here may not know about my social work and I do not think that it is necessary because I really don't think I have done anything great.It is a happy coincidence that the Late Damuanna Tokekar and the Late Keshavrao Kelkar were both honoured with this very award; and, while I accept this award, I feel it is my duty to pay my humble tributes to them since it is they who inspired me to work for the tribals.Whatever little I have been able to achieve, is purely on the strength of the faith and dedication instilled in me from my childhood in the Shakhas of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As today's award is for my social work, I will not say anything about my work as a corporator, the mayor of Kalyan, or an office bearer of the Jansangh, or about my participation in the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti and the Gomantak Liberation movement.When I joined this field in 1966, the Late Baba Kulkarni who was a veteran worker of the 'Hindu Dharmaprasarak Mandal' was already working in Talasari and counteracting the Christian Missionaries' conversion activities by means of re-conversion. Baba loved me like a son and on 17th April, 1966, on the auspicious occasion of `Gudhi Padva', we started a Hostel for Tribal Students. Eventually, the Government also allotted 10 acres of land to this institution and today there are 175 boys & 75 girls in it, which has all the requisite facilities. During the last 26 years, this institution has produced, among thousands of others, 1 lawyer, 3 doctors, 1 police officer, 60 policemen and 20 Defence Officers, who are all doing very well in their respective fields. It also boasts of having created one artist and 6 businessmen. There are many others working in the agricultural sector, using latest technology. There are six life-long workers who are devoted to the work of this centre. It is worth mentioning here that Shri Vishnu Savara who is at present an MLA representing Vade constituency hails from the first batch of students of this hostel.However, our work is not restricted to Talasari in Thane district. The following institutions elsewhere are also assisting us in this work :1) `Devbaandh' is a Centre in Mokhada Taluka run by the Sahyadri Adivasi Bahuvidh Sevasangh, Thane.2) The Hindu Seva Sangh has been working through schools, hostels, and cultural development centres (Samskaar Kendras) in Ambhan (Manor), Mamnoli, Sutrakar & Balkaapara.3) There are centres and hostels run by the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram at Vikramgadh, Chalatvad, Beriste and Dombivli.4) The Pragati Pratishthan, Thane has been running a residential school for the deaf & dumb in Jawhar. There are 6 medical centres in Mokhada and Jawhar areas and even a Technical School in Morchundi.5) The Trust floated in the memory of the Late Shri Arvind Pendse who was a staunch worker has been running a boarding school viz.,`Arvind Smriti' in Dadade near Vikramgarh.6) In Bhivandi a hostel has been established for college students by the Dandekar Pratishthan established in the memory of the Late Shri Dadasaheb Dandekar a generous industrialist and philanthropist.7) In Dahanu, the Vanavasi Kalyan Kendra is running a hostel for college students.Most of the above mentioned hostels work without any grant. No fee is charged to the students. On the contrary they are provided all educational facilities.I have given a brief account of what these centers are doing in this field. On this occasion I would like to take an opportunity to invite you to visit these centres so that you can get an insight into the work of these institutions.Once again I thank all of you and also the committee. GODARANI on the work of Shri Madhavrao Kane"The founder-President of the Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram, the late Shri Balasaheb Deshpande had undergone a cataract operation and was advised by the surgeon to stay in Mumbai for a few weeks. He was staying with Shri Sharadrao Dandekar. Quite naturally, a number of important social workers and leaders came to visit him. One day, late Godutai Parulekar, the wellknown social worker and a legend in her life-time, despite her leftist leanings, visited him accompanied by Shri Kane. Balasaheb praised her role and expressed his admiration for the work she had done amongst the Vanavasis in Thane district. In reply, she remarked that she had no doubt created an awareness of their rights and privileges among them and taught them to fight against injustice, but she had failed to bring about any basic positive change in their lives, while Madhavrao through his Vanvasi Kalyan Kendra, hostel, school and constructive activities had been remarkably successful in this respect. She observed that, as a result, she had witnessed an unbelievable and welcome change in the lives of the local Vanavasi youths.

0 MY GUARDIAN 'MADHAVRAO'

By Chintamani Vanaga, M.P.Rambhau Kapse broke to me the sad news of the demise of Shri Madhavrao Kane when I was in the midst of a Press Conference. Intense grief filled my heart but, although with a heavy heart, I managed to control my emotions till I reached home. And then the overwrought mind burst into tears. It was impossible to imagine that Madhavrao was no more in this world and I would never be able to see him again.Among the panorama of reminiscences, what was most etched on my memory was my last meeting with him in Thane hospital. On his death bed, which he had certainly sensed by that time, his only regret was that he would not be able to work along with us. I was going to Talasari Ashram nearly everyday after it was attacked in 1991. Now the thought of going there and not meeting him sent my mind reeling into emptiness and void.In my school days I never missed the first rank and hence Madhavrao was very anxious to meet me. One day I went to see him along with my friend, Baba Ghorkhana who was staying in his Hostel whereas I was staying in Thakkarbappa High school boarding. His sincere approach and interest influenced me in the very first meeting. This association went on gathering strength with time, and it continued till his end.I vividly remember the time when I lost my brother, mother and father all in the span of only one year. My brother had left small children for me to look after and my mind was in total chaos. But Madhavrao stood like a brother, mother and father, all in one, with me whenever I needed him. Since then, he became very sensitive to my emotional needs and looked after me with great love and care. I am one of the most fortunate persons on whom he showered his love.In fact, he brought me up systematically and guided my destiny. He introduced me to the Sangh Parivar and arranged to send me to Pune for joining Agriculture College so that after graduation I could help our people in Talasari in that direction. However, not being able to get admission there, I joined the Bhivandi College, where Madhavrao made me take Arts, and afterwards law which was somewhat against my wish of going to science. He always felt that the people of Talasari needed a lawyer of their own. But it was a dream for a tribal at that time. I myself could not believe it even when I got my lawyer's degree. Madhavrao made me practice in Kalyan for the first two years to learn everything about the law. During this time I stayed in his house in Kalyan. This was a great training for me for my practice later in Talasari.In my young age, Godutai Parulekar used to stay with us . My family, i.e. my father, brother, etc. all of whom were CPM activists, and my Marxist friends, hated me for staying in Madhavrao's Ashram. They opposed everything I did. I do not remember when my political career started and Madhavrao never advised me about my political leanings. But his influence was great and I knew his thoughts as well as the Sangh influence was so powerful that I opted for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).The political situation in Jawhar, Mokhada and Talasari regions was then not at all favourable to the BJP. In these adverse conditions, my work became easier under the guidance and advice of Madhavrao. I even had to witness the demolition of 200 houses raised by me for my workers. Sometimes, somebody else would just turn up and snatch away all the credit for the work done by us. It was all very frustrating, but, every time, Madhavrao was there to cheer us up and give solace. His just being there would make a lot of difference to me.In 1984, I contested the Loksabha seat for the first time. Nobody expected me to win. But it was an exercise in assessing our strength and influence. Although we had hardly made any preparations, I polled 84,000 votes which was very exciting. Madhavrao always encouraged me in my political career. Unfortunately, I lost the 1989 and 1991 elections by a very small margin. Madhavrao was upset about it but he was extremely careful not to overshadow my thinking by giving too much importance to these failures. Eventually, I became the President of the Thane District Unit of the BJP which made him very happy.The 1996 Loksabha elections were extremely crucial to him. I myself was not keeping well so I stayed put in Talasari for almost a month and a half. He personally took care of me during this period. On the day of the results, he was so anxious to see me win that he did not sleep all night and stayed awake listening to the news. When the news of my victory came, he smiled with great satisfaction and I shall never forget that radiant smile, and the contentment and intense joy on his face. Indeed, that was the last time I saw him really happy.His greatness was evident when his Ashram was attacked by the Marxists, and Appa Joshi, Vahini and Hareshwar Vanaga were terribly wounded. Everything in the Ashram was destroyed. He was shaken to the core but never had any thought of revenge. He felt the blow very badly and often used to say that he should have been in the place of those wounded people. His great regret was that he was not able to convince the people who had attacked the Ashram, about the sincerity of his mission.Although a life-long bachelor himself, he had a large family of people of whom he took care. He was always in the forefront of all Sangh activities. Name any constructive movement, the hostel which is now a home to 150 boys and 70 girls, Dahanu College Hostel, Dandekar Trust Hotel, Pragati Pratishthan Trust, Vanavasi Kalyan Kendra Ashram, Sahyadri Adivasi Bahuvidha Sevasangha, Hindu Seva Sangh, and he had a lion's share in its formation and development. None of these woiuld have been established without him. The tiny sapling which he planted in Talasari has grown into a huge Bunyan tree and to nourish and multiply it further would be the only real tribute to his ever-lasting memory.

0 SIR, WHO MADE LEADERS OF ORDINARY STUDENTS

By Vishnu Savra, M.L.A.Everybody who visits the Talasari Tribal Welfare Centre leaves it with the impression that it is an ideal Centre. Today, it has mushroomed into a large project. However, the tremendous efforts taken by Shri Madhavrao Kane in bringing it up to its present shape are simply unparalleled. He did not limit his work to providing only Hostel facilities to the students but took care to divine their potential qualities and endeavour to bring out the best of every student so that in future they would distinguish themselves in their chosen careers.Talasari Centre was not a hostel but a home for all of us. We senior students called Madhavrao 'Sir' and the younger ones affectionately called him by the fond epithet 'Aba'. A disciplined person himself, he ensured that all programmes started and ended exactly on scheduled time. He also realised the need for the students to go out in society and get along with the people. Hence he organised Ganeshotsava festivals in a number of places, went among the people for tying rakhis, distributed Tilgul on Sankraman day and ensured that the students participated in all of these activities with him. He wanted all the ex-students also to retain their cordial relationship with their hostel and hence he regularly organised a get-together function just a day before Diwali for all the past and present students. The ex-students used to return to their villages with sweet memories, and with affection for the Centre. Thus the attachment of every student, even after he left the Hostel, remained unaffected.He had great vision. He not only inculcated affection in the students' hearts for the Centre but moulded their thinking in such a manner that they were always aware of the debt they owed to the tribals among whom he/she was born, and worked for them after they had completed their education. Today hundreds of students have passed out of his hostels and are successful in their chosen fields. There are many like Shri Chintaman Vanaga, M. P., Shri Kanchan Wadu, etc. in the political field. Sarvashri Moreshwar Lahange and Prakash Chowdhry devote their time for the Ambhan (Manor) Centre and the Vanavasi Kalyan Kendra, Ramesh Malavkar and Shantaram Zole shoulder the responsibility of the Hostels. Shri Harishchandra Bhoye looks after the Ashramshala. Hundreds of ex-students help at these centres after doing their regular duties. Those who have done their M. B. B. S., like Shri Laxman Kondhare, Damodar Dubala, Laxman Chowdhry etc. and are carrying on a regular practice, also spare time to provide medical and other assistance.In the beginning, it was a very trying time for Madhavrao. Not only was there severe opposition from Marxists, but the Christian Missionaries movement was strong in these parts. The Missionaries created innumerable difficulties and troubles for him, which would have broken down any person but Madhavrao. Determined and undaunted, he went on doing whatever he aimed at. He had a great ally in Shri Appa Joshi and his wife Mrs Vasudha Joshi. All three of them took infinite pains to build the centre and to bring it to its present status. On that fateful day when the Marxists attacked the centre, Sir was not at Talasari. Heavy injuries were inflicted on both, Shri Appa Joshi and his wife. Our 'Sir' could not be attacked physically, but he was grievously wounded in his heart.No amount of writing will adequately describe our 'Sir'.Now with his passing away, there is a great void in our lives, the irreparable loss of a great craftsman who created exceptional and responsible citizens out of ordinary people. But he lit a lamp in our hearts showing us the way, and making us aware of our responsibilities towards our own society. It will always guide our lives and I feel confident that this great institution will keep on thriving if we all continue to give a little support to it.(Shri Savra, an MLA from Wade Constitutency, was all along a student living in the Talasari Hostel.)

0 A FATHER-FIGURE WHO LIT A CHAIN OF LIGHTS

By Appa JoshiI joined the Talasari centre on 7th June 1969 and on the very first day Madhavrao established a relationship between us of father and son which remained unchanged for all the 27 years that followed. Soon after I started working, he declared himself to be free to do other work as then onward it would be I who would look after the centre. But was I ready to take on this responsibility? Certainly not at that time, but Madhavrao inculcated in me various qualities of leadership as well as of devoted worker with great patience, care and a soft touch, guiding me on all subjects and teaching me how to behave under different circumstances.Although a bachelor himself, he was a loving father to all the boys and girls in the hostels and used to call them "Dada" or "Tai". He was a careful observer of all their needs and was always there to give them his support. He transformed the centre into a family institution where simplicity, caring love and parental guidance pervaded the atmosphere.What he hated most was belittling the tribals. Once it was decided to hold a Health Check Camp at Talasari and the team of doctors arrived late and tired. While taking tea, they decided the skip Talasari and proceed to another place the next day. Madhavrao exploded and there was an altercation between them. He said that he would not tolerate letting down the Adivasis. It was Dr Kadari, his permanent patron and supporter, who arrived on the scene and pacified the doctors. The whole team not only relented but was later happy that they had.Whenever he undertook a mission, he used to work on it single mindedly. During the Mahalaxmi fair of tribals, it was decided to set up a water-serving centre (Paanpoi) for the pilgrims. He worked personally throughout the 10 days along with the other boys at that centre.Being a good politician too, he had become President of the Kalyan Municipality and could have carved an excellent career in politics. But no! Instead, he chose to go to a remote place like Talasari and worked for 30 years helping and serving the tribals. On the 14th of August 1991, some Marxists activists attacked the Centre and nearly destroyed it. Luckily, Madhavrao was not there. But myself, my wife and Hareshwar Vanaga were severely wounded. News of the attack spread like wildfire and Madhavrao rushed to the centre. An angry crowd gathered around the centre and leaders like Ashok Tandel were so furious that a riot was felt imminent. When Madhavrao arrived he was aghast at the spectacle. With no real reason or logic, he felt himself responsible for our wounds. His great sorrow was that it was we three who got wounded instead of him. Although himself between thunder and tears, he took command of the explosive situation and talked to everybody soothingly, and cooled their tempers. He had the great vision to realise the danger of hatred that would have been planted by revenge. How right he was! In due course, many of those involved in the attack were taking interest in his work and eventually became ardent supporters of it. A miracle indeed!Such was Madhavrao Kane whom we familiarly called Aba. Always active in constructive work, he was strictly opposed to calling this country 'Motherland' while doing nothing for it, treating it as a hilly, rocky, and barren land full of thorns. He used to say, "Give me a piece of land, and with hard work, my boys and I will turn it into heaven."He did it many times over. Let us all dedicate ourselves to his cause and ensure that it grows in all directions. (Shri Appa Joshi took over the work of Talasari centre from Shri Kane and has been working at the centre with his wife ever since. During the Marxists' attack, he nearly lost his life as the doctors had to put more than 100 stitches to his head and yet he refused to quit the centre.)