Leaders Corner

Dinkarrao Jawalkar

Dinkarrao Jawalkar (1898–1932) was a prominent social activist and a firebrand leader of the non-Brahmin movement in the Bombay Presidency. Alongside Keshavrao Jedhe, he revitalized the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-seekers' Society) and challenged the sociopolitical dominance of high-caste elites in Maharashtra.

Major Works and Controversy

Deshache Dushman (Enemies of the Country): Published in 1925, this book remains his most famous and controversial work. It was a scathing critique of Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, whom Jawalkar accused of prioritizing caste interests over national unity.

Legal Battle

The publication led to a high-profile defamation case. Jawalkar and Keshavrao Jedhe were initially sentenced to prison, but they were later defended by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who successfully won their acquittal on appeal.

Krantiche Ranashing: Another significant work that reflected his revolutionary and progressive ideals.

Political Evolution

Originally a follower of Satyashodhak principles, Jawalkar later leaned toward Communism. He sought to bridge the gap between Phule’s social reform and Marxist economic theories, focusing on the plight of farmers and laborers. He was also a staunch supporter of Dr. Ambedkar's movements for social equality.

Legacy

Jawalkar played a crucial role in shifting the leadership of the non-Brahmin movement from the elite Maratha class to a broader "Bahujan" (mass) base. His aggressive stance and literary contributions paved the way for future anti-caste and labor movements in Maharashtra.

Dr. Baba Adhav

Dr. Baba Adhav (Babasaheb Pandurang Adhav) was a veteran social activist and prominent labour leader in Maharashtra, India, known for championing the rights of unorganised workers. He recently passed away on December 9, 2025, at the age of 95 in Pune.

Contributions and Activism

Dr. Adhav dedicated over sixty years of his life to organizing and empowering the marginalised and unorganised workforce, including head-loaders (hamals), rickshaw drivers, construction workers, and waste pickers.

Labour Rights: He established the Hamal Panchayat, a pioneering union for head-loaders, which became a model for worker self-organisation. His relentless agitation led to the historic enactment of the Maharashtra Mathadi, Hamal and Other Manual Workers Act in 1969, India's first law to ensure welfare and security for unorganised labour.

Social Reform: Inspired by the principles of Mahatma Phule and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, he spearheaded transformative initiatives like the statewide 'One Village – One Water Source' movement (Ek Gaon Ek Panwatha) in 1972 to challenge caste-based untouchability and ensure water access for Dalits.

Community Welfare: He launched the 'Kashtachi Bhakri' scheme in Pune, which provided nutritious and affordable meals to workers.

Awards: For his lifelong commitment to social causes, he received the Times of India Social Impact Award for Lifetime Contribution in 2011.

B. G. Kolse Patil

B. G. Kolse Patil (born Baban Gangadhar Kolse-Patil) is an Indian social reformer and a former judge of the Bombay High Court who is known for his post-judicial career as a prominent social and civil rights activist.

Judicial Career: Born into a landless farming family, Kolse Patil worked several odd jobs to support his education, eventually earning a law degree. He served as a district public prosecutor and was appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court in 1985 at the age of 43. He resigned prematurely in 1990 to dedicate himself to social causes.

Activism: Since his resignation, he has been involved in various people's movements and fact-finding missions, focusing on human rights, environmental issues, and anti-caste movements. He has participated in protests against large corporations and projects, such as the Anti-Enron protests, the movement against the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, and protests against Dow Chemicals. He has also been a key member of fact-finding teams for incidents like the Khairlanji murder case and the Nanded blast inquiry.

Political Stance: Kolse Patil is a vocal critic of what he describes as "Brahmanism" and Hindutva politics, advocating for the rights of Dalits, minorities, and farmers. He co-founded the Lokshasan Andolan Party in 2014 with former Supreme Court Justice P. B. Sawant. He has often expressed his views on contemporary political and social issues in Maharashtra and India, including the Maratha reservation issue.

Dr. Narendra Dabholkar

Dr. Narendra Dabholkar (1945–2013) was a prominent Indian physician, social activist, rationalist, and author known for his decades-long campaign against superstition and black magic in Maharashtra, India. He was assassinated in Pune on August 20, 2013, for his work challenging blind faith.

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS): In 1989, Dabholkar founded and became the president of MANS (Committee for Eradication of Superstition in Maharashtra). The organization worked at the grassroots level to promote scientific temperament and critical thinking.

Anti-Superstition Legislation: He was a key figure in drafting and campaigning for the Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance, also known as the Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and Other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act, 2013. The bill, which he championed for over 15 years, was finally promulgated into law just four days after his murder.

Rationalism and Atheism: Dabholkar was an avowed rationalist and atheist, who used his medical background to challenge self-proclaimed "godmen" and "tantriks" offering miracle cures and exploiting the poor and uneducated with false promises.

Assassination and Trial: Dabholkar was shot dead by two gunmen while on a morning walk in Pune. The investigation, taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), led to the arrest of several individuals allegedly linked to the right-wing organization Sanatan Sanstha. In May 2024, a special court convicted two men, Sachin Andure and Sharad Kalaskar, for the murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment, while acquitting three others due to lack of evidence.

Legacy: His murder, along with those of other rationalists and journalists like Govind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi, and Gauri Lankesh, sparked national outrage and demands for justice against the targeting of critics of orthodoxy. His work continues through MANS, led by his children, to keep his ideology alive and advocate for constitutional values. He was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for social work in 2014. Many of his books on superstition are available to read, inspiring awareness of his ideology.

Dr. Tara Bhavalkar

Dr. Tara Bhavalkar is a prominent Indian senior writer, researcher, and scholar of Marathi folk literature. She is widely recognized for her extensive work in the field of folklore and her objective analysis of folk culture.

Profession: Writer, researcher, and scholar of folk literature.

Literary Role: She served as the president of the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan (All India Marathi Literary Conference), which was held in New Delhi in February 2025.

Major Focus: Her studies focus on the importance of tradition, women's perspectives in folk literature, and progressive social ideas within historical contexts, particularly the Warkari tradition.

Education: She holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees and is an alumna of Fergusson College.

Current News: In April 2025, she was honored with the Principal R.K. Kanbarkar Award, 2025, by Shivaji University, Kolhapur, for her contributions. She has also announced that her extensive library and book collection will be donated to the university.

Raju Parulekar

Raju Parulekar is a veteran Indian journalist, author, political analyst, and media consultant known for his critical commentary on Indian politics, media, and society. He has over 30 years of experience in the media production industry.

Journalism and Commentary: Parulekar has worked extensively in media, specializing in news writing, editing, and streaming media. He is a prominent political analyst, providing insights into current affairs and the functioning of Indian institutions. His commentary often involves sharp critique of the government and media narratives.

Author: He has authored several books, primarily in Marathi and English, on topics including political philosophy and social dynamics.

Online Presence: He actively shares his analysis and views on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, and features in various YouTube podcasts and interviews.

Activism/Advocacy: He describes himself as an "Excellent Systematic Anarchist" and a "lone Warrior against Illusions" who advocates for critical thinking and accountability.

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