Sharad Joshi a true farmers’ leader
Sakal Times Reporters Name | CAMIL PARKHE | Monday, 14 December 2015 AT 11:03 PM IST
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In the early 1990s, the journalists in Pune and Mumbai were often required to visit Ambethan near Chakan in Pune district. That was because Sharad Joshi, who was fighting for the farmers’ causes had chosen to set up the headquarters of his Shetkari Sanghatana there. The journalists interested in meeting him had to travel through rural parts to reach Ambethan. This was one of the ways of the farmers’ leader to be away from India and be in the midst of Bharat, the rural India on whose behalf he was fighting.When I along with a group of journalists met Joshi at his headquarters, I was impressed with the dedication for the farmers’ issues. Later on I covered his functions on various occasions and my admiration for him kept on increasing.
Joshi had given up his job at the UNO to return to India to take up the farmers’ issues. His study of the farmers’ issues and agrarian economy was astounding and many political leaders were taken aback with his organising skills and writings on the agrarian issues. Joshi, who was also an eloquent orator, succeeded in organising the farmers’ movement in Maharashtra on an unprecedented scale. At that time, he emerged as the first non-political leader leading a strong farmers’ movement in Maharashtra.
In 1990s, Shetkari Sanghatana became a powerful force in Maharashtra and during those days, a large number of people in villages and small towns were seen moving with pride, flaunting the round-shaped white and red badge of the Shetkari Sanghatana on their shirts.
The long drawn agitations launched by Sharad Joshi on the issue of prices for onions and his famous Chakka Jam stirs in Maharashtra brought the farmer leader into national limelight. However at time Joshi was against forming a political front or joining the electoral politics. Later, he also shared space at the national level with farmer leader Mahendra Singh Tikait and Devi Lal. In recognition of his knowledge of farmers’ issues, the then prime minister Vishwanath Pratap Singh had appointed him to draft the national agricultural policy.Joshi is one of the few experts in the country who has written a large number of books, articles and delivered hundreds of speeches on the agrarian economy in the country. He has written a lot in English and Marathi on these issues. Joshi’s demise has left a huge vacuum, for there is no other high stature farmer leader like him in the whole country.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed within this blog is personal opinion of the author. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the blog do not reflect the views of Sakal and Sakal does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
There are no accurate historical records to indicate when the tradition of opening of the holy doors began. But it is certainly not more than five centuries old. In the past, the doors used to be opened after 100 years, later after 50 years and more recently it was reduced to 25 years.
GHORPADI: St Joseph’s Church in Ghorpadi is a unique parish in Pune diocese. It is the only church in the city having a sizeable number of Telugu-speaking parishioners.
Yerawada: Jesuits from De Nobili College, Nagar Road, started Fatima Tamil Primary School in Yerawada in 1952 and this marks the beginning of the Sacred Heart Parish. In 1974, the Jesuits handed over the school and the parish to the Society of Don Bosco or the Salesians.
The Salesians later renamed the school as Don Bosco High School. The present Sacred Heart Church was blessed in 1984.
Our parishioners are very active on various fronts including spiritual, social work and environment awareness. The church services are well attended by people. The parish regularly publishes its quarterly bulletin.
Sacred Heart Church is one of the most vibrant parishes in the city. Due to its large area and population, the parish is divided into 40 zones, each zone having around 30/40 families. We lay leaders organise a variety of programmes for the parishioners and others.
Our parish has eight choir groups, four English and four Marathi. Various choir groups are assigned for singing at various feasts, including Christmas, throughout the year. We conduct singing sessions and prayers at the church as well as in the residences of people.
Khadki: Thomas Mar Anthonios Valiyavilayil, the designate first bishop of the new Kirkee-Pune exarchate (vicariate), arrived here on Thursday for the first time after he was appointed to the post by the Vatican last month.
Shivajinagar:
In late 1960s, then Pune Bishop William Gomes built a residential
hostel (Vidya Bhavan) and a prayer hall in Model Colony in Shivajinagar
for seminarians and priests studying in Pune University. The prayer hall
later became the existing St Anthony’s Church. A school established on
the same premises adopted the name, Vidya Bhavan. 
