Baba Adhav, veteran social activist and a champion of the socially oppressed, who had fought against an oppressive cast system and for the rights of labourers, head-loaders, waste-pickers, and street vendors. Baba passed away on Monday evening after a prolonged illness in Pune, his karmabhoomi, at 96. His wife Shilatai, sons Aseem and Amber, and grandchildren survive him. A nurse by profession, theirs was a unique partnership for decades. The mortal remains of Baba Adhav will be at Hamal Bhavan Market Yard at 10 am on Tuesday for people to pay their tributes. The last rites will be performed at 4 pm today. Baba Adhav as active until the last, even launching and participating last November in a protest against the use of the faulty electronic voting machines by observing a hunger fast. Apart from founding the Hamaal Panchayat and the Rickshaw Panchayat, he worked with the unorganised sector, especially women who were rag pickers and domestic workers. The unique community kitchen (Kashtachi Bhakar) he ran for the vast unorganised sector that was involved in his work served tasty and simple Maharashtrian fare like bkari and chutney for decades. Launched in 1974, two years after Maharashtra faced a crippling drought, the ‘Kashtachi Bhakar’ (meaning ‘bread of labour’) community kitchen system in Pune,continued to provide affordable, nutritious meals to unorganised workers.
“Social revolution also means caring and sharing and a demonstrative programme,” said Adhav when he spoke of this initiative launched after inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi (launched on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 1974). From one such eatery launched in 1974, forty years later, in 2014 it had expanded to 12 such in Pune provided tasty bhakaris prepared by women from working class families to close to 12,000 workers!
Widely revered as a prominent progressive leader in the socialist movement in Maharashtra who had fought against the caste system and for the rights of labourers, head-loaders, waste-pickers, and street vendors, Baba Adhav has also participated in the freedom movement, Samyukta Maharashtra movement, anti-Emergency protests, one village one water source movement (against caste system), and protests for the removal of Manu’s statue. He had also helmed a cycle rally from Pune to Delhi to seek social security for unorganised labourers.
In remembrance, Leader of Opposition (LOP), Rahul Gandhi said, “Baba Adhav was the strong pillar of social justice. He dedicated his entire life fighting for the rights of the marginalised, the exploited labourers. The flame of struggle ignited by Adhav in Pune became a torch for social justice movements across the country.”
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshwardhan Sapkal wrote on X, “Carrying the torch of the truth-seeking tradition in his hand, Dr Baba Adhav, who fought against injustice in society and fought for the rights of the underprivileged throughout his life, passed away today. The progressive movement of Maharashtra has lost a major guide today. Heartfelt tribute to this fighting personality!”
As a recall of his prescience and work, we at Sabrangindia bring to you this conversation with this inspirational leader, Baba Adhav, conducted with co-editor, Teesta Setalvad in October 2014.
The interview and transcript of the Interview may be read/heard here.