Era of Transformation and Progress Low PDF

Era of
Transformation
and Progress
Padmabhushan Deshpande
Parliamentary five decades
Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai

Parv : Pragatiche, Parivartanache
(Era of Progress and Transformation)
English Version Editor : Ambarish Mishra
First Published : 11th November 2016
Publisher:
Yashwatrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai
General Jagannathrao Bhosale Marg,
Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400 021
Tel. 022-22045460 / 22852345
Facebook : http://facebook.com/ycp100/
Cover page : Pradeep Mhapsekar
Presentation : Aniruddh Gadre
Translated By : Prakash Almeida, Rajendra Sathe, Gayatri Lele
Printed by : Media R & D
For Private Circulation
Foreword
. B. Chavan Pratishthan is working in social and

cultural fields of Maharashtra for last three decades.
We have undertaken numerous initiatives, with almost
singular focus on the new generation. We wish the
youth to be aware of their past and present. We wish
them to be pragmatic, progressive and positively proactive. Hence the publishing of this book. It will be
accompanied by a new initiative. We are organising an
essay and elocution competition for school and college
students at the district and state level. We hope large
number of students to participate in them. Reading of
this book and other reference material will certainly help
them to prepare for these competitions.
Honorable Sharad Pawarji is very soon completing fifty
long years of his service, without a break of even a
single day, as a member of either of the houses of the
Maharashtra State Legilature or the Indian Parliament.
This golden jubilee is a moment of great happiness
and pride for all of us. On this occasion we have tried
to highlight major policy initiatives and revolutionary
decisions taken by Pawarsaheb. I specially thank Mr.
Padmabhushan Deshpande, senior journalist, for writing
and editing this book originally in Marathi in a short
period of time.
I am certaind, that after reading this book many students
and activists would want to know and read in detail about
the work of Pawarsaheb. For them, we are providing
a further reading list and related links available on the
internet and websites. We hope that the new generation
will appreciate it and happily use the same.
Supriya Sule
Chairperson, Y. B. Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai
The outlook of our countrymen

in general and the new generation
in particular towards the politicians
needs to be changed. I always feel that
the people's representatives should
dwell upon seriously why people have
given their votes. To aspire to become
an MLA or a minister is quite valid
aim. There is nothing wrong in it.
But while attaining this aim if we are
not doing anything for transforming
economic and social conditions of the
country, then, I feel that, we are quite
dishonest in executing the powers and
rights that these posts bestow upon
us.
Sharad Pawar
(October 9, 2005)
Preface
round 60 years ago, a schoolboy named Sharad

Pawar led a morcha of his schoolmates, in support
of the Goa Liberation Movement. Later, while studying in
the college in Pune, the same boy started taking active part in
the student politics. He fought the college elections and due
to his organizational skills and his deeper understanding of
students problems, he easily won them. It was quite a vibrant
period, as India had become independent just a decade
ago. Various parties and organizations affiliated to different
ideologies were jostling with each other to occupy more and
more public space. Sharad Pawar, who was just about 25
years old then, watched and absorbed as much as possible
from this atmosphere. He had a very keen sense of politics
and did not waver even once whine deciding where did he
belong politically and ideologically. No wonder then, that at
a very young age of 27, he won the Vidhan Sabha election
from Baramati. Ever since then, till today, Sharad Pawar has
been a member of either of the houses of the state or central
legislatures. His career graph is astonishing. He began as a
minister of state and, very soon, became the youngest Chief
Minister. Later he held many positions at the state and central
level including the Leader of the House in Lok Sabha and
Defence and Agriculture Minister. The chattering class, which
comprises of middle class and hi-bros in the society, usually
has a very biased opinion about the field called politics and
its practitioners called politicians. This class, for at least once,
should sit back and see at what Sharad Pawar has done in
the last fifty years. Indians love to call themselves members
of the worlds largest democracy. Hence, it is a duty of these
members not to form any opinions without understanding
this political phenomenon called Sharad Pawar.
Sharad Pawar is one of the most sincere parliamentarians

in this country. As a member of either a state legislature
or later of parliament he has always taken his job utmost
seriously, may it be of a law-maker or a policy-maker.
Pawar the politician is always talked about. But Pawar the
policy-maker and guardian of peoples interest is not much
highlighted. We have tried to do it here.
In this book we have focused on various roles Mr. Pawar
has played and so many decisions he took in the 50 years of
his public life. This is not a complete biography of this great
policy-maker. He has tried to utilise every minute of his active
social life for the benefit of the people. He has initiated so
many constructive projects and pursued them till the last from
whatever position he held. Pawar is a multifaceted personality.
He has keen interest in so many fields. He is always activist at
heart and an trying to learn new subjects is his passion. His
rapport with the friends, party workers and common people is
amazing and unmatched. All of these deserve a more detailed
and comprehensive book. We had a very little time on our
hand and hence compiled a small book. Kindly see at it as a
small beginning.
Today, the words politics and politicians evoke a very
negative or adverse image or feeling in the minds of the lay
persons. For the stronger democracy and better future of
the country the outlook of the new generation needs to be
changed. We should aim to reach to them with a positive
image of the politics. We hope that this book will be quite
useful in this regard. Mr. Pawars contribution to the public
life in this country, his progressive and pragmatic approach
and his original thinking about the problems faced by the
people are all very inspiring. We have tried to capture all of it
in a small space. Hope, people will appreciate it.
Contents
1. The Organizing Skill and Building Institutions / 9
2. The Pilot of the Agriculture Department / 13
3. Savior of the Doer (worker) / 15
4. Renaming of the University through Consensus / 18
5. Solution on the Border Dispute / 21
6. Building Mumbai as the Global Economic Centre / 24
7. Laying the Foundation for the Petrochemical Industry / 27
8. The Charioteer of Industry / 30
9. The Guardian Angel of the Working Class / 33
10. Relief for the People affected by Developmental Projects / 35
11. The Implementation of the Mandal Commission Report/ 37
12. A House for a Man of Integrity and Honesty / 39
13. Pawar on A Peace Mission / 41
14. Education / 43
15. Education for the Deprived / 46
16. For the Love of Sports / 48
17. Art for Hearts Sake / 52
18. Analyst, Literature Savvy / 55
19. Pawars Stellar Role in Nurturing Theatre and Cinema / 58
20. And They Saw a Great Light / 61
21. The Revolution That was Horticulture / 63
22. And Thus Ran the Konkan Railway
- The Saga of Konkan Railway / 67
23. He Laid the Foundation of the Santpith but..... / 69
24. Let Us Sing Their Glory.... / 72
25. Resolving the Regional Imbalance / 74
26. Pawar- Early Advocate of the Globalization / 77
27. Enron / 79
28. Defence Minister / 83
29. The Killari Earthquake / 86

30. Twelve Instead of Eleven / 89
31. The Manifesto of Womans Freedom / 92
32. The Solution on Ayodhya / 95
33. Ladies Lost and Found! / 98
34. A True Embodiment of Sensitivity /101
35. Of Hills and Holidays / 103
36. Godowns Filled With Guaranteed Prices for
Farm Produce / 105
37. From Prosperous Fields to Able Foreign Policy / 108
38. Liberating the Farmer The Baliraja from the
Clutches of L oans / 111
39. Thus We Lost the Golden Opportunity / 114
40. Food Processing Industry to Accelerate the
Development Process / 116
41. Reforming the Cooperative Movement / 119
42. On the Cricket Play Ground / 122
43. The Package of Self Confidence / 125
44. Rejuvenation of the Gods Own Land / 128
45. Medication / 131
46. Floods of Milk / 133
47. Sparkling Fish / 136
48. Existence of Poultry / 138
49. Liberation of the Child Labour / 140
50. The Urge for a New Era / 143
51. Major Initiatives in Agricultural Research / 146
52. Unanimous Choice of the Administration / 149
53. We are Falling Short; not the System or the Legislature / 153
54. An Excellent Platform for Social Convergence / 158
55. Sharad Pawar - Fifty Years / 164
The Organising
Skill and Building
Institutions
ince the very beginning, building organizations

to resolve problems or finding collective
solutions; and building institutions for a long journey
has been a core principle of Shri. Sharad Pawars life.
At the beginning of his public life, he started working
on the problem of drought in Baramati taluka. During
those days, a scheme Food for Hunger was being
implemented by the World Bank. The drought-hit
people were given free grain and palm oil. Shri. Pawar
stopped this freebie, and instead got the scheme
converted into Food for work and so grain and food
scheme. He started water conservation and building
bunds to give work to people, and wages were paid
in form of grain and oil. As his political career began
through such innovative employment guarantee scheme,
he firmly held this view in his later journey.
Problems of agriculture and its development
was a subject close to his heart. Under the guidance
of his elder brother Appasaheb Pawar who was an
agriculture expert, he established the Baramati Krishi
Pratishthan way back in 1971. Through this Pratishthan
he endeavoured to solve the issue of irrigation water and
experimented to start many side businesses along with
farming. He constantly gave the new directions to the
farmers in adopting modern techniques of farming and
scientific methods. Every house a hybrid cow was his
slogan, and later Every village its own Cooperative Milk
Era of Transformation and Progress | 9
Society was his policy; and through this he built dairy

industry in Baramati taluka. Today the ancillary milk
products have entered the international markets. The
Baramati Grape Wine Industry started in 1974-75 is a
part of this endeavour.
He had founded The Vidya Pratishthan to educate
students, especially girl students; and to implement
the educational experiments of his dreams. It has now
blossomed and now helps innumerable needy students
in Maharashtra. Latest course are taught in information
technology and bio technology in these disciplines. With
Karmavir Mess for imparting lessons of self-dependent
education, Jeevan Samridhi for inculcating values in
the childhood, sprawling educational complex for girls,
various pacts made with many international universities
to afford opportunities to the students - the Vidya
Pratishthan has emerged as an outstanding institution in
Maharashtra.
Since the establishment of the Mumbai-based
Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan which was constantly
engaged in social service, Shri. Sharad Pawar had been
its President. After the demise of its Chairman Shri.
Vasantdada Patil, Shri. Pawar took the yolk of this great
institution on his own shoulders. Even today, he is the
Chairman of this Pratishthan. Even after becoming the
Chief Minister Shri. Pawar visited the small office of
this institution. In 1991 the construction of new modern
building was completed. Even while serving as the Chief
Minister he attended full time various programs such as
Karla Samaj Parivartan Parishad, Yuva Cycle Yatra,
Yuvak Parishad. Under the aegis of the Pratishthan he
organized seminars, conferences and talks on various
subjects such as Panchayat Raj, Drought, and Water
10 | Era of Transformation and Progress
Conservation, Co-operation and New Economic Policy.

Since 1989, the Pratishthan started honouring eminent
people with national and state level awards who have
contributed richly to various fields.
He took initiative to establish the Bhartiya BhatkeVimukta Vikas Va Sanshodhan Sanstha at Satara and
the Centre for International Trade in Agriculture and
Agro-based Industries (CITAA) at New Delhi. CITAA
regularly publishes a magazine Sharad Krishi dedicated
to agricultural issues.
In 1989, Shri. Pawar became the President of the
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha which is renowned for taking
education to the rural and tribal people and to the
people in mountainous region. He was a student of the
schools of this institution at Pravaranagar and Baramati.
After he became the President there was a big growth
in number of schools, colleges and ashramshalas. Since
the beginning Shri. Pawar insisted on computer literacy
for the students. He raised an independent fund of Rs
18 crore for this purpose. He founded Rayat Vidnyan
Parishad to cultivate scientific attitude and to train future
scientists. Various programs are implemented through
Karmaveer Vidya Prabodhini for the improvement
of the quality of education in the institution. Students
are given guidance and training for various competitive
exams. A very transparent system has been developed
for the selection of the teachers, and special attention is
paid to the development of the quality of their teaching.
The Institution has started its sports academies at four
centres and out of 42 colleges 14 colleges have received
A grade from the NAAC.
Since 1993, Shri. Pawar is the President of the
Nehru Centre which is an institution of national
renown. Though the election of the new President takes

place every three years, all the members of this great
institution have elected Shri. Pawar unanimously for
over 23 years and expressed their unflinching confidence
in his leadership. After becoming the President, Shri.
Pawar gave priority to the modernization of the Nehru
Planetarium. The projector used in the planetarium
was the first ever used in Asia. The Nehru Centre
implemented the project to document the Pt. Nehrus
contribution in nation building. In 2005, the Nehru
Centre celebrated the centenary year of the great
scientist Albert Einstein. Various books on countrys
security and economic policy were published. The
Nehru Centre had organized the Rajasthan Festival.
Shri. Pawar always made it a point to attend all meetings
of the Centre.
Since 1989, Shri. Pawar is the President of
Vasantdada Sugar Institute which is considered as
an important institute for the sugar industry. It was
Shri. Pawar who changed the old name Deccan Sugar
Institute, and gave it the new name. Various programs
such as research projects necessary for cooperative sugar
industry, guidance on latest technologies, growth of
ancillary products, improved varieties of sugar cane, and
good quality seeds for the farmers were sped up under
the able leadership of Shri. Pawar. Under his leadership
the institute became economically well endowed. Shri.
Pawar has a keen eye for strengthening the economic
health of any institution for achieving its objectives and
for functioning independently. He has played a crucial
role and rendered vital contribution to enriching the
institutional life in Maharashtra.
The Pilot of
the Agriculture
Department
hough ours is an agro-based society our country

was self-sufficient in food production. The
same was in case of both the country and the state. After
independence for the first time the dream of making India
self-sufficient and independent in food grain production.
Food grain shortage was a recurring problem due to
droughts in Maharashtra. Long queues in front of the
rationing shops were a common scene. The food grain in
these rationing shops would not be sufficient. There was
simmering discontent and disquiet in the society due to
this problem. Quick agricultural reforms were necessary
for sufficient food grain production to meet the needs
of the people. The farmers needed to be provided with
necessary facilities and resources to increasing production
of food grains. In short, there was an urgent need to
provide special attention to rebuild the whole agriculture
sector in the state. The then Chief Minister Shri. Vasantrao
Naik had made an appeal to give two years to the state to
become self sufficient in food grains.
Shri. Naik had begun to endeavour in that direction.
Meanwhile, Shri. Shankarrao Chavan replaced him as the
Chief Minister. When Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited the state,
she suggested the CM Shri. Shankarrao Chavan to appoint
an able person to take care of the agriculture in the state.
This responsibility came to Shri. Sharad Pawar and he
readily and happily accepted it. Shri. Pawar was determined
to fulfil the declaration of Shri. Vasantrao Naik to make
Maharashtra self-sufficient in food grains in two years.
To fulfil this, the need of the hour was to go directly to

the farmers, work with them to rebuild their confidence
and motivate them. Nothing could have been achieved by
presiding over meetings with officers in the Mantralaya
and issuing orders to them.
Shri. Sharad Pawar planned his weekly schedule
accordingly. Except for the cabinet meeting of Wednesday
he would travel to various regions of Maharashtra meeting
with the farmers, taking their meetings. He would discuss
with the farmers the determination of the government
to make Maharashtra self-sufficient in food grains, the
planning done to achieve it and the help offered to the
farmers and the way farmers can take benefit of these
plans. He cultivated a feeling in the farmers that if they
work well in their farm the Minister himself visits and
admires them. He was ploughing the ground to prepare
the positive environment to make Maharashtra selfsufficient in food grains in two years.
Guidance was given to the officers directly in their
respective fields to ensure availability of good quality
seeds, timely supply of fertilisers in right way, and easy
availability of credit to the farmers. Nineteen districts
of Maharashtra were selected on the priority basis. This
project became well known as the path breaking Pilot
Project. In fact, since then, the term Pilot Project gained
currency in the department of agriculture.
The efforts taken by Shri. Sharad Pawar, the planning
he made and the wholehearted involvement of the
administration and the response the farmers brought
success exceeding all expectations. Within two years the
condition of the state improved. This ended the need to
get food grains from outside.
Saviour of
the Doer
(worker)
rrespective of which party is ruling in the state,

the real government is run by its employees. They
are the ones who take the governments programmes to
the crores of people staying in villages and cities. They
almost act as ambassadors of the government and create
an impression, either good or bad, of the government in
the minds of the people. Sharad Pawar had recognised
this very early in his political life. No wonder then, that
he was always seen as the friend of the administration
and that the decisions taken by his government were
implemented quite effectively.
The government employees have organised
themselves under various unions and all of them are
quite strong. The 54 days strike in 1977-78 has been
a milestone in the history of the these unions. This
strike was preceded by a indefinite strike in April 1975.
The then Chief Minister Shankarrao Chavan had held
a discussions with union leaders in Pune and agreed to
some of their demands. But then a State of Emergency
was declared. The Chavan government did not keep its
promise. After the Emergency was lifted, the unions
again regrouped themselves under the Confederation and
prepared for new agitation. Initially, it held a negotiation
with the then Chief Minister Vasantdada Patil in May
1977. The union leaders met the CM many a times but
their many rounds of talks proved fruitless. Ultimately
on December 7, 1977 the government and semiEra of Transformation and Progress | 15
government employees and the teachers went on a one

day strike. On the same day, Vasantdada announced in
the Vidhan Sabha that the recommendation of the pay
commission regarding salary and dearness allowance of
the central government would be applied to the state
government employees as well. The decision came, but
no further measures were taken to implement it. Also,
other demands of the employees remained unattended.
Hence the Confederation of Employees gave a call for
indefinite strike from 14th December. Some ten lakh
employees took part in it.
Initially the government took a stern stand and
tried to break the strike. But it failed. Later the Congress
somewhat felt a heat of the anger of the employees
in the assembly elections held in February 1978. It
then appointed a committee to look into the dearness
allowance issue. But the employees were not happy as
the scope of the committee was kept very limited. On
the backdrop of all this Sharad Pawar became the Chief
Minister for the first time, in July 1978. He immediately
took some swift decisions. The main grouse of the
employees was the wide gap of about 11 per cent
between the dearness allowances of central and state
government employees. Pawar took a landmark decision
to bridge this gap and bring the parity in the allowances.
As a result of this, state government employees started
getting the same dearness allowance as that of the one
their central counterparts were getting. Furthermore,
this was made applicable for the municipal employees
as well. Pawars another decision which made him quite
popular was relating to the recovery of the advance. The
state government employees, who were on a strike for 54
days, were given some advance. Earlier it was decided to

recover it through monthly deductions from the salaries.
The unions had requested the government to allow the
employees to do an extra work of one hour each day
and to work on fourth Saturday, in lieu of the direct
recovery. Mr. Pawar agreed to this suggestion giving a
huge relief to the employees. During the Emergency,
some employees of 50 to 55 years of age were forced to
take retirements. Pawars cabinet reverted this decision
and took them back into the service. The demand to
implement the Bhole Commissions recommendations
effectively and remove the anomalies into them was also
accepted. Through these decisions Pawar won the hearts
of the state government employees forever.
In 1993 when Pawar again became the chief minister
of Maharashtra, several other demands of the employees
were accepted. The employees union did a token one
days strike and took out a huge morcha to Mantralaya on
September 22, 1994. Pawar himself held discussions with
the unions and agreed to most of their demands. One
such demand is quite noteworthy. The women assistants
to the nurses in the primary health centers and subcenters were, then, getting a basic monthly salary of Rs.
50. Over the years it used to grow to Rs. 80 and Rs. 140.
Mr. Pawar was astonished to hear this. He said that it was
unbecoming for the progressive state like Maharashtra
to pay such a paltry salaries. He immediately decided to
raise the basic salary to Rs. 300 ( from Rs. 50). This was
later to grow to Rs. 500, 800 and 1200 in progression.
That is how Pawar cared for the lowest of the lowests.
Renaming of the
University through
Consensus
r. Babasaheb Ambedkar taught his followers

to educate themselves, to unite and struggle
for their rights. Babasaheb had founded the Peoples
Education Society to bring the benefits of education
to the Dalit society. This institution started the Milind
College at Aurangabad. There was a long-standing
demand to name the Marathwada University after Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar to honour his great work and
memory. At the time the state government was headed
by Shri Vasantdada Patil, the University Senate too
passed the resolution, to rename Marathwada University.
The University Senate resolution was discussed in the
cabinet, wherein there was unanimity in favour of this
resolution. However some members felt that the decision
should not be made in a hurry, . and the decision to pass
the resolution was put aside.
In 1978 the Progressive Democratic Front
government came to power in Maharashtra with Shri
Sharad Pawar as the Chief Minister. In its 12 point
program the new government had included the renaming
of the Marathwada University. Shri Sharad Pawar, who
was committed to fulfil the commitments given to the
people, took a firm decision to pass the resolution to
rename the University. He believed that in Maharashtra,
especially in Marathwada, as the land was inspired by the
teachings of saints; implementation of the resolution
would be easy. But something unexpected happened.

The leaders of the party that supported the resolution in
Mumbai and even insisted on it took a totally different
position in Marathwada.
Finally, in the Cabinet meeting of 27th July, 1978
the resolution for renaming the university was passed.
Dalit settlements celebrated with aplomb. However,a
movement emerged against this decision which in a very
short period turned violent. To avoid further tension
in society, and to bring the situation under control
the decision to rename the University was withheld.
Accordingly a declaration was made and the violence
stopped. But the society remained agitated and divided.
Deeply distressed by the violent movement, Shri
Sharad Pawar replied to the discussion in the Legislative
Assembly saying, The responsibility for rehabilitation
of all those who suffered losses in this movement will
be taken by the government; but the way this issue
has divided the society cannot be ignored, We have to
look at this problem from a different perspective and
find necessary solution. The issue of renaming of the
university needs to be postponed for some time.
Meanwhile a decade passed. Shri Sharad Pawar
again returned as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in
1988. The resolution for renaming the university was
uppermost in his mind. His commitment towards this
resolution came to the fore, and he was determined
to implement it this time with a collective consensus.
Accordingly, he ventured out to build consensus once
again. He held prolonged talks with student unions and
their leaders. He removed all doubts from their minds.
He wrote personal letters to Sarpanchs from villages
in Marathwada. He endeavoured hard to change the

mindset of the people. This led to the middle path
of expansion of the name instead of changing the
name; and to maintain the pride of Marathwada, the
word Marathwada was retained and the name of the
university was expanded. On 14th January 1994, the day
of Makar Sankranti saw a new transition towards social
reform. As the university was renamed Dr Babasaheb
Ambedkar Marathwada University. During that time,
other than an agriculture university Marathwada had
only one university. Shri Sharad Pawar took a remarkable
decision to set up an independent university for the
districts of Nanded and Hingoli. The new University was
founded with the name of Swami Ramanand Tirth, a
prominent leader of Marathwada liberation movement.
This is a scintillating example in recent times of how
come what may, politics could be given a holistic turn if
the commitment towards social reform is firm.
Solution on the
Border Dispute
he Belgaum border dispute is a wet blanket

since the creation of Maharashtra state. In the
beginning there were many violent agitations on this
issue. Many a time, agitations in both Maharashtra and
Karnataka took violent turns. In Karnataka brute police
force was rampantly used. At least two generations of
Marathi people in Karnataka were striving fervently to be
part of Maharashtra. Till yesterday, these Marathi people
from Karnataka showed the power of their unity in all
elections for local self government bodies to the Vidhan
Sabha; and expressed firm desire to go to Maharashtra.
Despite doing all that is possible through democratic
means, justice has not been done to them.
Very aggressive presentations were made at the
political level from both the sides. Although all criteria
like geographical proximity, one-language state, etc were
presented from Maharashtras side yet neither Karnataka
nor Delhi paid any heed. Along with Shri. Sharad Pawar,
many leaders actively participated in this agitation. As
the Chief Minister he faced the discussion raised by the
members of various parties in Maharashtras legislature.
He endeavoured to resolve this border dispute when the
government of Progressive Democratic Alliance was in
power in the state and Janata Partys government was at
the Centre and through the mediation of Shri. Chandra
Shekhar who was then the Prime Minister of the
country. Shri. Pawar had even suggested an alternative

that if this dispute could not be resolved by mutual
consensus of both the states; the problems should be
resolved by plebiscite - public vote in the border area. He
went to great length to resolve the border dispute and
proposed that the responsibility of this plebiscite should
be entrusted to the Election Commission and both the
states should accept the outcome of it. He reminded the
country that Maharashtra had whole-heartedly accepted
the outcome of the plebiscite of the people in the case
of merging Goa with Maharashtra. When he realised
that both the Centre and the government in Karnataka
are not eager to resolve this dispute through democratic
means; he was prepared even to resolve this issue though
court. At present this issue is sub-judice.
When the government of the Progressive
Democratic Alliance was there in Maharashtra, the Chief
Minister Shri. Sharad Pawar endeavoured hard to resolve
the border dispute amicably through negotiations. That
time in Karnataka, the government was of the Janata
Party under the leadership of Shri. Ramkrishna Hegde.
It was proposed to build Old Belgaum at Chandgad
taluka which was within Maharashtras border and was at
a distance of some 12 to 15 kilometres from Belgaum.
This new Belgaums industrial and residential areas were
to be set up anew. The agro-based industry in Belgaum
had received a huge boost. All these industrialists were
Marathi people. Had they received more land and cheap
power, their industries would have grown substantially
and developed more. The urban population would have
increased on its own. All those from the Belgaum in
Karnataka who wanted to settle in the new place could
have been given assistance. There was no question of

Karnataka - as the Government of Maharashtra was
willing to shoulder the whole responsibility of building
this new place. This proposal was acceptable even to the
Marathi people in Belgaum. But some members from the
Maharashtra Ekikaran Samittee (Maharashtra Unification
Committee) put a spanner in it and the proposal fell
aside.
Even today, there are no signs of resolving the
Maharashtra-Karnataka border dispute. This dispute is
now a wet blanket. The Marathi people in Karnataka
are becoming increasingly apathetic now. The issue is
slowly losing steam. Instead, if the proposal Shri. Sharad
Pawar had initiated had been accepted; it would have
certainly saved the Marathi people in Karnataka from
the suffocation they are facing in the prevailing situation
today.
Building Mumbai
as the Global
Economic Centre
umbai is the economic capital of our country.

Mumbai is known as one of the biggest
economic centres in Asia. Since the British times this
glory of Mumbai rested mostly on the South Mumbai.
All traders and sea trade from Mumbai originate from
this area. International banks, head offices of financial
institutions, head offices of Indian banks and financial
institutions are located in South Mumbai. After
independence the fame and glory of Mumbai began to
spread far and wide and Mumbai grew in importance
in global trade and more offices and enterprises
starting moving into Mumbai. There was no land left
in the South Mumbai to accommodate them. Its old
infrastructure was outdated. Yet Mumbais work culture
and rapidly expanding Indian economy kept racing
ahead. More and more companies were interested to
come to Mumbai. Their number kept growing with every
passing day.
To maintain the momentum of economic growth
in Mumbai, it was necessary to build a new economic
centre equipped with better infrastructural facilities.
Keeping in view the rapid expansion of Mumbai; the
Mumbai Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA)
had been established. Through this MMDA in 1977,
MMDA was entrusted with the responsibility of building
the Bombay-Kurla Complex as the economic centre.
It was planned that in the extended region of Mumbai

with the funds available to it MMDA will build new basic
infrastructure or improve the existing infrastructure.
Some 370 hectare land was earmarked for the
Bandra-Kurla Complex n the bank of the Mithi river in
the centre of Mumbai. It was decided that 42% land
of this was for commercial premises and 14% was to
be used for residential purposes. This area was selected
considering the existing necessary facilities as it was
to be developed as an economic centre. The domestic
airport at Santacruz and the international airport at Sahar
are just 15 minutes distance from this Bandra-Kurla
Complex. The Central and Western Railway stations are
located on both sides of this Complex. Both Bandra
Terminus and Central Railways Tilak Terminus are
close to this Bandra-Kurla Complex. Also, the Western
Express Highway passes very closely to this Complex
and has necessary connectivity to it.
Bandra-Kurla Complex land is basically a marsh
land. When the construction began there were no
proper roads to reach it. To attract commercial firms
to this complex was a Herculean task as Mumbai as an
economic centre always habitually meant South Mumbai.
Shri. Sharad Pawar who became the Chief Minister
in 1978 made the development of the Bandra-Kurla
Complex his priority. To achieve this, Shri Pawar made
good sue of his wider connections with the trade and
industrial world in Mumbai. He invited national and
international banks to build their head offices in this
area and offered them many incentives. In this way, he
attracted many industries for collective business. But
Shri Sharad Pawar did not get the opportunity to lead
Maharashtra for a longer time and this resulted in the

slow pace of development of this important economic
centre. Eminent planners believe that the scenario we see
there today should have been much earlier.
Today Bandra-Kurla Complex has a prominent place
in the whole expanse of Mumbai today Bandra-Kurla
Complex is seen as the heart of Mumbai. The recent sealink and the winds of economic progress which began to
blow after the economic liberalisation the prices of this
place to zoomed up and multiplied many times more.
Today, the property rates in Bandra-Kurla Complex are
25 to 32 thousand rupees per square feet area. Earlier all
public meetings were held at the Shivaji Park. Now due
to the Honourable Courts judgement the Shivaji Park is
now a sports ground and public meetings are held only
in the Bandra Kurla Complex. Various prestigious award
ceremonies of entertainment industry, religious gathering
and political meetings are held in the open spaces of the
Complex. Three International Schools have been opened
there. The Complex boasts of the Mumbai Cricket
Associations Indoor Cricket Academy and has a well
equipped stadium. Recently, World Cup matches were
played there.
Today, the Bandra-Kurla Complex, whose
construction began some 40 years ago, is the crowning
glory of Mumbai. It has emerged as an international
trade centre.
Laying the
Foundation for
the Petrochemical
Industry
uring the decade of 1980 oil and natural

gas reserves were found in the Arabian sea
near Mumbai. The then chief minister of Maharashtra
Shri. Shard Pawar had reckoned that these two things
could hugely contribute to the economic prosperity
of Maharashtra. A committee under the leadership
of Dr. Homi Sethana was appointed to look into
the prospects of using these reserves for increasing
investment and employment in Maharashtra. This
committee recommended that industry based on this
oil and gas reserves should be build in Raigad district.
The committee envisioned building this industry in
three stages. It held that if it was build in Kulaba (now
Raigad), Thane and Ratnagiri it would greatly benefit
the whole state of Maharashtra. The industry was to
produce raw materials from this natural gas and use
them to produce consumer goods.
The locations of the projects for processing oil and
natural gas had become controversial.. A committee
from the Central government had arrived to finalise the
locations. The committee had suggested some locations
near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border and insisted on
selecting a place near Tarapur. Shri Sharad Pawar took
a firm stand on this. He categorically held that as the
oil and natural gas reserves were found in the sea near
Maharashtra, these projects based on them should be
built in Maharashtra only with substantial participation
of the state government. Some of the neighbouring
states took the position that as natural gas or oil are
national assets not one state can claim ownership of
them. While speaking in the state Vidhan Sabha Shri
Sharad Pawar said, When oil reserves were found in
Gujarat that time as a neighbouring state Maharashtra
did not take a stand that the projects should be located
in Maharashtra. We took a stand that projects should
be built in the areas which were most suited for success
keeping in view the national interest. That is why
projects were started in Gujarat for the reserves found
in Ankleshwar. If anyone says that we are taking a
narrow-minded view then it is unfair and unjust. It is not
right to waste national wealth due to delay in decision
making. Natural gas is a resource needs timely use. The
first fifteen years of finding this reserves were very vital
in building industry based on natural oil and gas and to
start production at the earliest was critically important.
Strategic policy decisions were needed to win this race
against time. It was because of Chief Minister Sharad
Pawar this need was fulfilled.
The state government was willing to invest Rs.
640 crore out of the total project cost of Rs. 1200
crore. A separate corporation was proposed to be
established dedicated to this project. Shri Sharad Pawar
was struggling to appoint eminent experts and officers
to speed up building the petrochemical industry. There
were no employment opportunities in Kulaba and the
coastal areas of Konkan. As the natural gas was not

used it was burnt. Building industry based on oil and
natural was an imperative to boost investment and create
employment opportunities in Konkan region. It was due
to Shri Sharad Pawar who withstood all efforts from
the vested industrial interests, these industries could
come up in Raigad district and the whole Maharashtra
benefited from them.
The Charioteer
of Industry
o lead single-handedly the industrially

progressive state, the leader must have a
clear vision of the progressive, developed society.
The leadership should have the ability to insightfully
understand industry in the light of changing global
scenario; and decide the course of direction for the
industry. All politicians from all over the country
give Shri. Sharad Pawar top grades for this. Veteran
industrialist like Shri. Ratan Tata too has publically
admired Shri. Sharad Pawar.
When Shri. Sharad Pawar became the Chief Minister
of Maharashtra for the second time, the Maharashtra
accounted for 25 per cent of the whole industry in the
country. The industrial sector in Maharashtra had taken
its share of total employment opportunities in India to
16 percent.
Within just two years under Shri. Sharad Pawars
leadership, 32 thousand new small scale industries and
one thousand medium and large scale industries were
registered in the state. During that period, Shri. Pawar
strove hard to take the industry out of the golden
triangle of Mumbai-Thane-Pune to other parts of
the state. He declared many incentives to encourage
many national and international industrialists to set up
industries outside this golden triangle. After becoming
the Chief Minister in 1988, he declared a package of
encouraging incentive schemes. He wanted to create

jobs everywhere not just in the industrial areas where
investors set up industries creating jobs in those areas
only. And he wished to avoid migration of the rural
youth to these industrial areas. He had finalised at that
time itself the policy to get industry in the industrially
backward regions of Marathwada and Vidarbha.
With the same intention the largest industrial hub in
Maharashtra at Butibori in Vidarbha was established.
Total 165 locations were identified as Growth
centres for industrialisation beyond Mumbai-ThanePune. In 1998 a Task Force was created for rapid
development of these Growth Centres. In 1990 itself,
out of proposed 165 locations, ninety four locations
were given approval. Natural gas reserves were found
in the sea near Mumbai. He insisted to the Central
Government that industries based on this gas should
be established in Raigad district. Such industrial
projects were set up in Raigad in due course of time.
Shri. Sharad Pawar worked hard to make the Oil and
Natural Gas Corporation to expand industries based
on natural gas in Maharashtra, to get permission from
the Central Government for building petrochemical
project with joint investment of the government and
private investors. He has proposed to start educational
institutions to train skilled labour needed for these
industries, and to this end start various educational
programs.
He had a keen eye on the industry based on new
technological breakthroughs and modern technology.
In the decade of 1990s itself he had started preparing
the ground to establish the Centre for Development of
Materials for Electronics and Electronic Research and

Development Centre.
Pune is the central place for Kolhapur, Sangli,
Aurangabad and Nasik. Pune already had automobile
companies like Bajaj, Telco, Force amongst others.
Their production was in full swing there. It was obvious
that new automobile companies too were attracted to
the nearby region. General Motors came to Talegaon.
Fiat started a project in the industrial hub in Ranjangaon.
Piaggio started production of three wheelers in the
industrial hub in Baramati. Skoda made Aurangabad
its centre. Mahindra is in Nasik. As big companies in
automobile industry come, there is need for industries
to produce various spare parts these companies need.
These small industries started in the triangle of PuneAurangabad-Nasik. This has created employment
opportunities for over 60 thousand technical engineers.
The number of unskilled and semi skilled employees
too is exceedingly huge. Besides them, there are many
small business units and suppliers who offer other
services to these companies. This is why Pune is hailed as
the Detroit of India.
The Guardian
Angel of the
Working Class
ince his entry into the legislature, Shri. Sharad

Pawar has been insisting on making laws to give
rights and relief to the working classes. Whenever he
received the positions of power, he took all care to see
to it that laws are made favouring the working people
giving them justice. Rarely the demands of the workersfarmers-unorganised labour were quickly met than in the
period of Shri. Sharad Pawar. No wonder, time and again
all workers organisations, labour unions express their
gratitude towards Shri. Sharad Pawar.
Mathadi worker is basically a landless labour or small
landholding dry land farmer. This Mathadi worker has
to carry heavy loads and has to ignore his failing health
or security of his health and keep slogging to fill his
stomach. Wherever and whenever this Mathadi worker
became united and made demands for his rights, Shri.
Sharad Pawar has sympathetically extended a helping
hand to him. Keeping alive the tradition of the Late
Yashwantrao Chavan, Shri. Vasantdada Patil, Vasantrao
Naik, Shri. Balasaheb Desai and Shri. Narendra
Tidke; Shri. Sharad Pawar too has always extended all
cooperation to the Maharashtra Rajya Mathadi Transport
and General Workers Union. The Mathadi Mandal
was established vide the Mathadi Act, 1969 and grew
from strength to strength only due to the role of Shri.
Sharad Pawar. He gave vital help to its founder, the Late
Annasaheb Patil.
In a costly city like Mumbai where prices of land

have sky rocketed, it was next to the impossible for the
Mathadi workers to have ownership houses. In 198889, it was Shri. Sharad Pawar who took the decision of
giving 42 acre land at the rate of Rs. 1 at Wadala and
Chembur for the houses of these Mathadi workers. Due
to some differences and litigation out of this 18 acre
land has already gone to the Mathadi workers. During
1993 to 1995, he got five thousand houses built for
them at Koperkhairane in Navi Mumbai from CIDCO.
These houses were made available to these Mathadi
workers. The Central government had charged Rs. 248
crore income tax on the provident fund and other funds.
When he was the minister of agriculture, Shri. Sharad
Pawar strove hard to make the Ministry of Finance write
off this income tax.
Shri. Sharad Pawar gave the Mathadi leadership
the singular opportunity to work in the state legislature.
He gave election ticket to Mathadi workers leader Shri.
Shashikant Shinde from the Jawali constituency. He gave
him the post of cabinet minister. Shri. Sharad Pawar gave
Shri. Narenda Patil, son of the Late Shri. Annasaheb
Patil and leader of the Mathadi worker the singular
opportunity to work in the state legislature through the
legislative council.
Relief for the

People affected
by Developmental
Projects
10
n 1970, a decision was taken to build a whole new

city near Mumbai to shift companies, factories
and wholesale markets outside the metropolis in order
to reduce the population pressure on Mumbai. The state
government established a corporation named CIDCO
for building this city. The whole idea was that CIDCO
will acquire the land and build a modern, well-planned
city on it. Accordingly, CIDCO purchased thousands
of acres of land from the areas in and around Vashi.
It even began the work to build residential complexes
on the plots; of the land acquired from the farmers in
95 villages. But soon it realised that to build houses on
such a vast areas was beyond its means. Then it started
offering the plots to private builders. When it was seen
that these builders were raking in huge profits from
building these houses the people who had lost their land
for this project were awakened and since 1980 they began
their agitation and struggle. CIDCO had acquired their
lands by offering Rs. 10 to 12 thousand rupees per acre.
The very fertile and cultivable land was given the rate of
Rs. 15 thousand per acre.
In 1984 this agitation of the people affected by the
project took violent turn. A huge rally was organised
at Jasai near Uran. It turned violent. To control the
violence the police opened a fire. It led to the deaths of
5 people and 38 were fatally wounded. This sharpened

and hardened the feelings of the project affected people.
Shri. Sharad Pawar sympathised with this agitation
led by late D. B. Patil. Incidentally Shri. Sharad Pawar
became the chief minister during this period. Earlier, he
had extended complete support to the demands of the
people affected by this project. He stated holding talks
to meet the demands of these people. It was decided
that twelve and a half percent area of the plots was to
be developed and the remaining area was to be returned
to these people. Over 50 thousand agitating people
benefited from this decision.
Now the farmer could make use of the developed
plot for his own commercial benefit. Many people
themselves built houses on the plots they got back
from CIDCO. Many gave their plots to builders under
partnership for development. The people not only got
the reparations but also greatly benefited by this. Soon,
people affected by such developmental projects from
various places began to make demand on the same line
and they too got huge benefits. The government too
followed the same formula for giving reparations. In
1991 the Rehabilitation Act incorporated it.
The Implementation
of the Mandal
Commission Report
11
he Year 1990 is considered as the year that

gave a new direction to politics in India.
One of the major reasons for this was the Mandal
Commission. On 7th August, 1990 the then Prime
Minister Shri. Vishwanath Pratap Singh declared that the
recommendations of the Mandal Commission presented
to the Union Government in 1980 had been accepted.
The Mandal commission recommended various
concessions for 3743 castes of which 272 were from
Maharashtra. The Commissions recommendations were
based on 11 criteria of social, educational and economic
situation while the chief criterion was to identify social
backwardness.
Discontent against these recommendations erupted
all over the country. The central government went on
the back foot and withheld the educational concessions.
But in Maharashtra the then Chief Minister Shri. Sharad
Pawar decided to implement the recommendations of
the Mandal Commission with educational concessions
in the state. Maharashtra became the first state in India
in this regard. Shri. Sharad Pawar asked a fundamental
question - as a part of social justice backward castes
need to be given reservations in jobs but unless the
youth from these backward castes were given educational
reservations how could they possibly become capable to
take the benefits of these reservations in jobs?
Despite the huge allocations of funds on education
the states progress in education was far from being
remarkable. The state ranked second or third in the

country. Shri. Sharad Pawar realised that unless education
becomes inclusive and the dropout rates are checked; the
states education will not progress ahead. He presented
this fact to the people.
Maharashtra has a long standing tradition of
reservations. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule had demanded
reservations way back in 1882 from the then British
government. Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj had taken the
decision for 50% reservations the first in India.
Maharashtra had the glorious tradition of this decision
taken in 1902. While justifying the Mandal commissions
recommendations Shri Sharad Pawar stated that the
chaturvarna system was the first act of reservation in
India. As a result of this, Maharashtra remained free
from the heat of discontent that had engulfed the whole
country against the Mandal Commission. It was entirely
due to Shri. Sharad Pawar that Maharashtra emerged as
the first revolutionary state in India to have implemented
the Mandal Commission recommendations.
Without touching the reservations given to the
scheduled castes, tribes, and the nomadic tribes; Shri.
Sharad Pawar gave 39% reservation to other backward
classes. The condition laid down by the Supreme Court
that reservations under social criterion should not exceed
49% was adhered to; and yet maximum reservation was
given to the other backward castes and the nomadic
tribes received the benefit of 4% more reservations.
It is held that Shri. Sharad Pawar opened up the
pathway for the 52% population of the state trough the
Mandal Commission.
A House for a
Man of Integrity
and Honesty
12
e often get to hear the talk that there are

hardly any people left in the society who live
their life with the virtues of probity, honesty and high
moral values. No one will believe that such people are
there in the world of politics.
This is a small story but big enough to teach us
vital lessons of probity and moral behaviour in life.
Morarjibhai Desai, the former Prime Minister of India
belonged to Mumbai. He went on to Delhi to become a
union minister, and later got the opportunity to shoulder
the responsibility as the Prime Minister of India. In
Delhi he had a house given by the government. But
when he stepped down as the Prime Minister, he began
to stay at his sons residence at the Marine Drive in
Mumbai. Due to some legal wrangles he had to leave
that house. The former Prime Minister had no house
left to stay in Mumbai. Shri. Sharad Pawar found it
inappropriate that a person of such integrity, honesty and
probity should be left homeless in Mumbai. He decided
to give a house to Morarjibhai. But knowing the mind of
Morarjibhai no one ever dared to present the proposal to
him. The question was who will present the proposal o
Morarjibhai?
No senior official from the administration was
willing to accept this responsibility, so Shri Sharad Pawar
himself took it upon himself to talk to Morarjibhai.
When he broached up the subject, Morarjibhai at once

brushed it aside. He made it explicitly clear that while
so many people in Mumbai are desperately struggling
for finding a roof over their heads how could he take a
house from the government? It was not possible at all.
But Sharad Pawar persisted and when he gently explained
his feelings Morarjibhai reluctantly agreed to accept
the house. But he laid a stern condition that he would
accept the proposal only under the condition that the
house given to him would be for him only and would
not be given to any of his relatives after him and the
government must take it back.
Shri. Sharad Pawar had no option other than to
accept Morarjibhais condition. Morarjibhai accepted the
house and even stayed there. The lesson in this was that
for a person who had sacrificed and suffered so much
for the countrys freedom and even after holding the
highest position in the country living a simple, principled
life is paramount, and they need to be provided for after
demitting office.
Pawar on A
Peace Mission
13
he 1980s is known as the decade of unstable

Punjab. The insurgency movement, led by some
Sikh separatists demanding a separate Khalistan state,
was at its peak. The entire nation was in turmoil and
there was widespread restlessness. The attack on the
Golden Temple of Amritsar by Khalistan supporter
Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was the high point of the
decade.
Operation Blue Star was launched by the Indian
army from June 3, 1984 to flush out the terrorists from
the iconic temple. This worsened the situation and Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh
bodyguards on October 31, 1984.
The assassination of Indira Gandhi left the nation
divided with Sikhs getting isolated from the national
mainstream. Meanwhile, Khalistan separatist movement
was getting huge funds from Pakistan. Terrorist groups
such as Sharbat Khalsa , Khalistan Commando
Force and Babbar Khalsa enjoyed wholehearted
support from the ISI i.e. intelligence service of
Pakistan, in terms of weapons, logistics , etc. India
wasnt totally aware of the magnitude of the situation.
Rajiv Gandhi, who succeeded Indira Gandhi
as PM, was deeply concerned about the worsening
situation in Punjab. He wished to negotiate with the
leaders of Akali Dal to bring Punjab to normalcy. He
mulled over a range of options and came round to the
view that roping in Shri Pawar for negotiations would help
resolve the situation. Shri Pawar could negotiate between
Akali Dal leaders and the Centre, Rajiv Gandhi thought.

Noted civil servant Shri Ram Pradhan, who then
was secretary, Union ministry for home affairs, too
suggested Shri Pawars name to Rajiv Gandhi and the
latter requested Shri Pawar to mediate. Learning that
its a national problem, Shri Pawar readily accepted
the responsibility and started working on it. Akali
Dal leaders Prakash Singh Badal, Harcharan Singh
Longowal and Surjit Singh Barnala were kept in
solitary confinement at Pachmarhi, in Madhya Pradesh.
In the very first meeting with Akali leaders Shri
Pawar suggested that they should be relocated at some
place close to New Delhi if the Centre wished to hold
talks with them. Subsequently, all three leaders were
moved to Tihar jail in New Delhi. Shri Pawar visited
Tihar to meet them. Eventually they agreed to have a
dialogue with the Union government.
A secret meeting was held between Rajiv Gandhi
and Akali Dal leaders. They were set free in the
year 1985. On July 24, 1985, Rajiv Gandhi signed
an accord with Longowal. The 18- point accord is
famously known as the Rajiv-Longowal pact after
which Punjab started coming back to normalcy. The
demand for Khalistan diminished gradually.
History will acknowledge with gratitude Shri Pawars
role in the reconciliatory process in Punjab. Although
the accord was signed between Rajiv Gandhi and
Harcharan Singh Longowal, the spadework was done
by Shri Pawar. He could mould the separatist notions
of Akali Dal leaders, and he urged them to keep their
bond intact with the motherland. Shri Pawar played the
peace-makers role to the hilt.
Education
14
odern education and equal opportunity for

the women are the subjects very close to Shri.
Shard Pawars heart. In his long parliamentary career he
got the opportunity to serve as the education minister
only for a brief period. But as the Chief Minister he
took seminal decisions in taking education to the masses
and building modern education systems all over the
state. Even today many schemes and plans based on
the implementation of his critical decisions for building
educational infrastructure are still continuing.
In 1991 Shri. Pawar formed Gram Shikshan Samities
(Village Education Committees). At the taluka level these
committees consisted of the peoples representatives,
parents and educationists. Since the very formation
of these committees, care was taken that 50% of the
members should be women. Subjects like supervision
of the schools, improvements in the management, and
leaves of the principals and other difficulties faced by
education were kept in the purview of these committees.
After ten years in 2010 Educational Management
Committees were formed under the Right to Education
Act. Thanks to Shri. Sharad Pawar, such structure was
already in place in Maharashtra.
When Shri. Pawar was the Chief Minister Vardha
and Sindhudurg districts were selected for 100% literacy
target under the National Literacy Mission. In 1992
a Task Force was created with the then education
minister Shri. Salim Zakaria as its chairman. Its mission

was universalisation of the elementary education.
Since 14th November 1994 implementation of the
recommendations of this task force started. For the
qualitative improvement of the primary education one
central school and a centre-head was appointed for
every ten schools. The Zhila Parishad and Nagarpalika
schools had very meager provision of funds for the
additional expenditure. With the implementation of
these recommendations, 40% of the total salary of
the teachers appointed in a school was directly made
available for petty expenditure. To make the village
education committees effective; the decision was taken
to form education advisory committees at the taluka
level under the MLA, and at the district level under the
guardian minister.
Till then the middle schools were given 12%
additional grant other than the salaries. The equal
distribution of this grant led to injustice as needs of
schools were different. To do away with this injustice a
developmental index for schools was finalized during
the period of Shri. Sharad Pawar. The grant other than
salaries was decided on the basis of the criteria such as
the regional location of the school, the number of girls
and the proportion of the students from the backward
classes, the period of the school and the number of
students.
At the end of 1994 the Maharashtra Prathamik
Shikshan Parishad (Maharashtra Primary Education
Council) was established. With help of the World Bank,
District Primary Education program was implemented.
The Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, National Middle School
Mission too were implemented through this institution.

The Jagtik Marathi Academy established under the
initiative of Shri. Pawar was entrusted with the
responsibility of making recommendations to increase
the use of the Marathi language in governance and
public affairs. Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha was formed
by the committee headed by the renowned poet Shri.
Vasant Bapat.
During 1990 and 1995 when Shri. Sharad Pawar was
the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, major changes were
made in the curricula of primary education. In 1977-78
the tuition fees of college students were substantially
hiked. This had caused discontent in the students and
the parents. When he became the Chief Minister, Shri.
Sharad Pawar not only cancelled this hike in fee but
also issued instructions to refund in installments the
increased fees. He had appointed study groups to extend
the abolition of the tuition fee for the economically
backward classes and to scrutinize the weaker sections
and expand the schemes for the abolition of tuition fees.
Education for
the Deprived
15
s our society started realising the importance

of education, people who had to leave their
education midway for some or the other unavoidable
circumstance felt the need to re-join and complete it
formally. Many of the students in our society cannot
pursue higher education, as they cannot dedicatedly
attend a full time course. Such people need a chance
to complete the education while they are serving their
family responsibilities. Such students need a flexibility
in all aspects of education, like study hours, venue and
even teachers. Thus the need for an open university in
Maharashtra was realised. On the basis of this widely
accepted concept, Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra
Open University was established in Nashik, in 1989,
while Mr. Sharad Pawar was the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra.
Mr. Sharad Pawar got to know about the concept
of an open university in 1985, when he was a leader
of opposition. He even had suggested to implement
the concept right then to the Government. Later, in
1988, when Mr. Pawar became the Chief Minister of
Maharashtra for the second time, he got the chance to
manifest his idea of Open University. The University
was designed so as to bring the youngsters working in
various occupations and professions throughout the
rural Maharashtra and also the female population of
the state, in the main stream of Education. Mr. Pawar
comprehend the original concept of an Open University
by visiting worlds first ever Open University established

in 1969 in London. The working pattern and area of
operation of YCMOU has been finalized on the basis of
the same. Educationalist Dr. Ram Takavle was honoured
as the first vice-chancellor of the Open University,
who had also contributed in the establishment of the
University right from the beginning.
Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University,
which is established under Maharashtra State law, gets a
grant from University Grant Commission. The degree
offered by YCMOU is considered as equivalent to
that offered by the other Universities in the Country.
Maharashtra Public Service Commission has also
authorised the University. So the graduates from
YCMOU are eligible to opt for various competitive
exams conducted by the commission.
For the Love

of Sports
16
hri Pawar, since his childhood had a keen interest

in sports. He represented regional games as well
as sports like cricket at the international level. He is
known as a skilled sports coordinator across the world.
Pawar in his childhood had a soft spot for kabaddi,
kho-kho and wrestling. Even as a young lad he had
grasped the finer intricacies of the three sports and
actively participated in them. During his university
days he functioned as physical education instructor. He
established training centers for sportsmen at the tehsil
level. Also, he conducted quite a few workshops in order
to spread awareness about sports, as also for nurturing
fresh talent.
Shri Pawar has for long been president of the state
level kabaddi, kho-kho and wrestling organisations.
Moreover, he compelled the state government to make
a provision for the training and food facilities for the
players.
As president of the Rajya Kustigeer Parishad, Pawar
encouraged modern techniques like use of mats along
with traditional methods like playing in the red soil. He
brought reputation to the Maharashtra Kesari wrestling
competition. When he was president of the kho-kho
organisation, he successfully organized state and national
level kho-kho tournaments.
Initially he worked a lot to bring about unity
amongst the kho-kho players and teams. In order to
show gratitude towards Shri Pawar for his continuous,

tireless efforts in the field, his birthday is celebrated as
kho-kho day across the country.
The new generation is interested in speed. Hence,
Shri Pawar has given a thought to start Pro Kho-Kho
League which is patterned on the Pro Kabaddi League
in an attempt to revamp the sport.
Shri Pawar took strenuous efforts to ensure that
kabaddi gets its place in the sun at the international level.
He was president of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of
India during 1976-1984. Wherever kabaddi events were
organized in any part of the state Shri Pawar used to
help them in getting sponsorships by using his political
connections.
Kabaddi transcended Indian boundaries in the year
1970. In the same year, the Asian Kabaddi Association
was established. Pawar organized kabaddi matches in
countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri
Lanka. In 1981, our kabaddi team went on Japan tour.
At that time, Mr. Hayano was the mayor of Togano, a
city in Japan. Because of him two groups, each of men
and women, went to play in Japan. What we call today
as Pro Kabaddi League probably took off from there.
Because of Shri Pawars efforts, kabaddi was included in
the Asian Games held at Beijing in the year 1990. India
earned a gold medal in the tournament. He gave ample
encouragement to womens kabaddi as well.
In 2004, the first kabaddi World Cup was organized
in Mumbai. Pawar was the trustee of the South Canara
Sports Club which gave sponsorship for the event. The
second kabaddi World Cup was organized at Panvel in
2007. Due to Shri Pawars efforts, the participants could

get a huge 50% discount in the air fare.
Pawar was requested to become president of the
International Kabaddi Association in 2004. However,
he had already taken a responsibility of the agriculture
ministry in the Central government. He had decided to
make the nation self sufficient in terms of food grains,
for which, a lot of time was required. Hence, he politely
declined the offer.
Mallakhamba, a traditional sport, is considered to
be the pride of Maharashtra. Yet, Mallakhamba was
not accorded recognition as official sport. In order to
get the recognition, Shri Pawar backed the Mallakhamba
players, and ensured that they got the opportunities at
the national and international level.
Sports and youth affairs ministry was established in
Maharashtra during Shri Pawars tenure. This ministry
reached up to the district level and helped spread
awareness regarding sports in Maharashtra. At the same
time the government started giving various awards and
scholarships to sportsmen.
The practice of honoring Arjun Award or
Dronacharya Puraskar by the state government was
also started by Shri Pawar. He took a decision of giving
government jobs to sportsmen in order to support them
financially as well as to help them to focus on their game.
In 1993, national games were organized in Pune. On
the occasion of these competitions Pawar saw a dream
of establishing a well equipped sports complex. The task
got completed just in 11 months at Balewadi, near Pune,
on 270 acres of land. Known as the Shree Shivchatrapati
Krida Nagari, the one of its kind sports complex has a

wide range of facilities which can enable, at the same
time, as many as 30 matches, of the national-global level.
When the complex was in the initial phase of
construction Shri Pawar would make regular visits to
the site and conduct periodic meetings with officers,
this despite the fact that he had to handle a slew of
responsibilities as chief minister. The mammoth efforts
led to the creation of a well equipped krida nagari within
a very less span of time.
Art For
Hearts
Sake
17
olk-art and folk artists are considered to be

the true torch-bearers of culture. Folk art is
the medium through which traditions are transmitted
from one generation to the other. Shri Sharad Pawar
has a great respect for folk art and artists most of who
come from the lower strata of society, facing social and
economic problems.
Despite odds, they try to keep the art alive while
eking out a meagre existence. Whenever possible, Pawar
encouraged their art, gave them financial assistance and
never failed to guard their dignity. The Shahiri (bard)
tradition talks about our glorious history. In keeping with
the tradition, the Akhil Bhartiya Shahir Parishad was
flagged off in 1989, thanks to the efforts of Shahir Sable
and his colleagues. They placed the idea before Pawar,
the then chief minister of Maharashtra.
Not only did Pawar welcome the idea of a
representative body of shahirs, but also made a
budgetary provision for the purpose. Following an
annual grant, the Parishad could regularly host state-level
conferences across Maharashtra. Shahir Sable became
the first recipient of the Shahir Amar Shaikh Award
which was instituted to perpetuate the memory of Shahir
Amar Shaikh who played a major role in the Samyukta
Maharashtra movement in the 1950s.
An artists shelf-life is woefully short. Connoisseurs
admire them only when they are in limelight. Old age
brings with it financial worries and anonymity. Sharad

Pawar suggested that the Akhil Bharatiya Shahir Parishad
should extend help to such artists by giving them an
honorarium. The Parishad divided the artists into three
categories. Initially it was decided that the category A
artists would get Rs. 200, and Rs. 150 to category B and
Rs 100 to category C artists.
However Shri Pawar increased the amount to Rs.
700, Rs 600 and Rs 500, respectively. The provision
was applicable to the male artists who have crossed 60
years of age, and 50-plus female artists. The Parishad
requested Shri Pawar to reduce the age limit by 10 years
and he readily agreed. For most artists, the financial
assistance proved to be an important source of
livelihood.
Shri Pawar often takes the initiative in organizing live
concerts of these artists. Various institutions in Mumbai,
Pune, Baramati have organized quality programmes in
order to help folk artists. When cancer struck Lavani
queen Lakshmibai Kolhapurkar, Shri Pawar helped her
by providing financial as well as medical aid.
Legendary artists like Vitha Bhau Narayangaonkar
too got a helping hand from him. In 1994, Shri Pawar
was honoured by the nomadic tribes and folk artists
from Pune. On this occasion, Rashtrapati award winner
Tamasha artist Yamunabai Vaikar mentioned in her
speech that she wished to dedicate the remaining years
of her life to Shri Pawar.
An emotional Pawar replied, Giving blessings is
common, but who would wish to offer her own life to
the other person? He further said that he will always
be there for folk artists and their art. Legendary
classical dancer Kanak Rele had a wish that her Nalanda

Nritya Mahavidyalaya should be affiliated to the Mumbai
University (MU). However, she faced a whole lot of
bureaucratic hurdles. Many students would have been
benefited if a premier institution like Nalanda would
have been affiliated to MU.
Shri Pawar, a visionary, was quick to realise the
relevance of the idea and Nalanda soon came under the
wings of MU. Nalanda continues to serve as one of the
foremost dance institutions in Mumbai. Little wonder,
then, that people from all walks of life have great respect
for Shri Pawar.
Analyst, Literature
Savvy
18
t is a common belief that artists and writers are

often away from the politicians and politicians
too usually not interested in fields of art and literature.
Pawar is certainly an exception to this. Like his political
mentor, Yashwantrao Chavan, Mr. Sharad Pawar shares
keen interest in fields of art, drama, music and literature
and is said to enjoy the company of artists and writers.
Sharad Pawars reading, his presence during the screening
of films, dramas, dance programmes and art exhibitions
is very much acknowledged. He always helps and
encourages new ideas and innovations emerging in this
field. This is the reason why he is leading many of
the institutions in this field. Since many years, he has
been an honorable invitee of either an inaugural function
or ending session of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya
Sammelan . He has also been active in Akhil Bharatiya
Natya Sammelan . In the year 1989, he took a lead for the
establishment of Jagatik Marathi Parishad . Late Madhav
Gadkari, B K Naik, then Chief Minister Manohar Joshi
and Dr. Ravi Bapat were the pioneers of Jagatik Marathi
Parishad . The first conference of the Parishad was
conducted in Shanmukhanand auditorium, Mumbai with
Kusumagraj as the president. The second conference
was held in Mauritius, for which Maharashtras beloved
personality P.L.Deshpande was the president. The
Parishad is organizing worldwide conferences even
today. In the year 2002, Pawar took an initiative in the

organization of a conference on translation. From this
effort, a magazine called kelyane bhashantar was
started. The magazine is still continues to get help and
support from Pawar. In 1991, the Modern Marathi
Poetry project initiated under his auspices in order to
encourage English translation of Marathi poetry. This
project was started by poet Bhagwan Thag who got a
financial help from Chief Ministers Support Fund.
Pawar initiated a practice of honouring recipients of
the prestigious Sahitya Akademi award by giving them
a prize of Rs.1 lakh by the state government. Owing
to his interest in the field of literature he is often visits
various state and district level literary meets. Pawar
liberally cites references from contemporary Marathi
poetry in his public speeches. Literary stalwarts like
N.D.Mahanor and Laxman Mane could make their
debut in Maharashtras Legislature only because of Mr.
Sharad Pawar. Despite a progressive sociopolitical
culture, Maharashtra has witnessed the demands to ban
books carrying offbeat content or a staunch progressive
voice. Although Pawar has always taken a firm stand
in support of such literature respecting the writer's
freedom to express. The Vishwacharitra Samshodhan
Kendra in Goa initiated a project of creation of Marathi
encyclopedia. The first part of it was published in the
year 2000. Late P.L.Deshpande and M.P. Rege were the
part of the advisory committee in the initial stage of
this project. They were succeeded by Dr. Raghunath
Mashelkar. The project could not get a sufficient help
from the Government of Goa. When Sharad Pawar
came to know about it, he immediately raised financial

help through Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan to sustain
the project. Granthali Publications, which was in process
of publishing the first ever Concept Encyclopedia in
Marathi language, too received financial aid through
Pawar Charitable Trust. Pawar played an instrumental
role in reacquainting the Phule-Ambedkar thought to the
youth. He made a concerted efforts to publish the entire
original literary works of Dr. Ambedkar and Mahatma
Jotirao Phule on the occasion of their death centenary
and birth centenary respectively. For this purpose, he
constituted the Mahatma Phule and Dr. Babasaheb
Ambedkar Charitra Sadhane Prakashan Samiti .
Pawars Stellar
Role In Nurturing
Theatre and
Cinema
19
he quintessential Marathi maanoos is known,

and admired, for his passion for theatre. Shri.
Sharad Pawar always took time off his busy schedule
to watch Marathi plays. A true connoisseur, Shri Pawar
has excellent equations with leading artists, be it Pandit
Bhimsen Joshi, Latadidi Mangeshkar or renowned
vocalist Malini Rajurkar.
One must add in the same breath that artists
consider Shri Pawar as aapla maanoos (our own
friend), who they can go to any time. It is Shri Pawars
magnanimity that he never lets them down, extending a
helping hand to great artists whenever they need help,
and encouraging them in whichever way possible.
The Akhil Bhartiya Natya Parishad is the
representative body of the Marathi theatre world.
Shri Pawar has on countless occasions rescued the
Parishad from crisis. To keep any form of art alive and
growing, the presenters of art need to be united as an
organisation. Shri Pawar always believed and insisted that
for creation of great art the artists and their organisation
need not be financially dependent on others. The Natya
Parishad didnt have a place of its own in Mumbai.
This was a vital need. In 1993, Shri Pawar, as CM, made
available to the Parishad a plot for auditorium and an
administrative office too.
Removing all hurdles he extended every possible

assistance to the Parishad to flourish. He gave Rs. 4
crore as financial assistance to speed up the construction
project. Today, the Yashwant Natyagruh stands with
pride at Dadar, a home to Marathi theatrewallas.
Ghashiram Kotwal, Vijay Tendulkars masterpiece,
created history in Maharashtra. The play was accused
by a section of the public opinion of spreading
misunderstanding about Marathi culture, especially
the Peshwa era. Staging of the shows of the play was
stridently opposed by certain forces.
Shri Pawar took a firm stand on the issue, making
it clear that the play will not be banned. He firmly stood
by the play, thwarting all attempts by obscurantist forces
to stop the foreign tour of the play. Noted actor Shri
Mohan Agashe, a leading artist in the play, has written
warmly in his memoirs about Shri Pawars stellar role in
removing the hurdles in the plays foreign trip.
As Maharashtra CM Shri Pawar played a vital role
in providing a new lease of life to the Marathi theatre
world. In 1989 he started the scheme of refunding tax
to the producers of Marathi films. The Marathi cinema,
notwithstanding its glorious past, was in doldrums in
the 1980s following the increasingly waning patronage
and meagre box office returns. The refund scheme
encouraged new producers to take to film production
with renewed enthusiasm, thus brightening the filmdoms
prospects.
Shri Pawar has always been generous towards
Marathi theatre and cinema and all other art forms. The
help he gave Sinhasan, an iconic Marathi film, is now
part of the cinema folklore. It was thanks chiefly to
him that the films shooting took place in Mantralay and

Sahyadri, the state guest house. For this, Shri Pawar set
aside all opposition and rules.
He has also been instrumental, directly or indirectly,
in starting film clubs and film festivals. He always takes
the lead in felicitating artists, both from international film
personalities and their regional counterparts.
Most artists from Marathi theatre and cinema
have close relations with Shri Pawar. Artists all over
the country hold him in high esteem for his unstinted
support in their bid to preserve freedom of expression.
And They Saw

a Great Light
20
r. SharadPawar is known as a savior of

nomadic tribes who do not possess any
shelter, employment, who do not have any place in their
village or in any religion. Even the Chaturvarnya system
does not recognize the nomadic people. These people
have been away from mainstream developmental process
since many years. Britishers labeled them as criminals. In
the post independence era, Indian government declared
to remove this label, however, there was no qualitative
change in the lives of the nomadic tribes. From the
beginning,SharadPawarhas always tried to stabilize
them by giving them opportunities in the mainstream
developmental process.
When he became the Chief Minister in 1988, he
made 140 acres of land near Moola-Mootha river bank
available to nomadic people for building shelters. Later
on, he gave seven acres of land in Mundhwe area near
Pune district and Varaje-Malwadi area at free of cost
for establishing an ideal village. He also took a historical
decision of giving one buffalo, one cow, two goats and
ten coconut trees to each family so that it would help
them to manage their livelihood. To stabilize the lives
of nomadic people, he established cooperative housing
societies for them. As nomadic people do not possess
any tangible property, Mr. Pawar strived to establish
special Patsamstha for these communities, also provided
them with all the possible help from the government. For
the spread of education within these communities, many
Ashram schools and hostels were established.
Mandal Committee report had provided for

4% reservation for nomadic tribes. When Mr. Pawar
implemented this in Maharashtra, instead of 4% he
made the provision of 8% reservation for NTs. He also
tried to include Adivasis in the ambit of reservation. For
this purpose, he had requested then Prime Minister Mr.
Rajiv Gandhi. After that he had gone to Mr. Narsimhrao
as well for the same purpose. He had got a support of
more than 100 MPs for this particular demand.
When Mr. SharadPawar was defense minister, he
had included Dhangar and progressive Vanjaris from
Maharashtra in the ambit of reservation. Other nomadic
tribes were strongly opposing to it. To resolve this issue,
Mr. Pawar divided the reservation given to NTs into four
categories and tried imparting social justice. In 1974,
Congress had appointed SharadPawar as an observer
for the election of Mayor in Solapur. There, he saw to it
that Mr. BhimraoJadhavGuruji, a member who belonged
to Nomadic Tribe category gets elected. This incident
boosted the morale of the entire community.
For any community, education is the key to
emancipation. In order to help the new generation
of nomadic tribes to acquire education, SharadPawar
established educational institutions for them in
Kolhapur, Satara, Islampur, DevachiAalandi etc. and
made conscious efforts to support them through various
mediums. VidyaPratishthan at Baramati took up the
responsibility of their higher education. All these efforts
are unique and important because they brought back
the isolated tribes within the purview of mainstream
developmental process.
The Revolution
that was
Horticulture
21
gricultural experts, policy makers and farmers

were bedevilled for years by the complex
wrangle of unpredictable climate, erratic rains and
limitations of irrigation capacity and the huge population
dependent on agriculture. Various solutions were
attempted but no concrete dependable, proven solution
was in sight. One sure solution was the horticulture
development program initiated by Shri Sharad Pawar
when he was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. This
program was a great success and was later adopted at the
national level in a mission mode. The whole credit for
radical transformation in the age-old mindset of farmers
and thereby propelling the state and even the nation to
the leading position in horticulture goes to Shri Sharad
Pawar. No wonder, agriculture scientists hail him as the
Father of Indias Hi-tech Horticulture.
With the insightful understanding of the problems
of conventional farming the need was felt to give new
strength to the agri-sector in Maharashtra and the
horticulture program was initiated. As Shri. Sharad
Pawar himself was involved from conception to
implementation of this program it was executed in the
original scheme and hence became revolutionary. The
decade of 1990 saw over one lakh hector land coming
under horticulture. The lakhs of hector fallow and
uncultivated land with the small landholders, Dalits and
tribals in Maharashtra was brought under cultivation.

Earlier it all started with mere cultivation of various
fruit trees but soon rapidly expanded to high quality
horticulture, storage, transportation, marketing and
exports. This led to remarkable change in the dietary
habits of the society.
The state of Maharashtra was divided into six
regions for effective implementation of the horticulture
program. The maximum importance was given to
the Konkan region. With limited farming potential
the region had a huge potential for horticulture. The
preference was given to the Konkan region to exploit
this huge horticultural potential. As we all know mango
is an important horticulture produce in Konkan region
but equal attention was given to cashew, coconut, beetle
nut, pineapple and spices. In the Khandesh region, along
with banana sweet lime and lemon got prominence. In
Nagpure, organges dominated while in the northernmiddle region of Nasik, Ahmednagar, Solapur, Pune,
Satara, and Sangli grapes, pomegranate, bor, sweet
lime were given massive boost. In Marathwada, mango,
grapes, and oranges were considered as leading horticrops. The program involved various measures such as
bringing fallow, uncultivated land under horticulture,
vigorous revival of existing orchids, conversion of
local variety fruit trees into improved fruit trees, etc.
The provision to provide good quality seedling by
encouraging expasnsion of nurseries in the program
itself.
Orchards survive the vagaries of climate and erratic
rains better than traditional crops. But then the capital
investment is comparatively higher and it takes more
time to deliver the returns. Ordinary farmers cannot

afford this burden. Keeping this in view, the horticulture
program was connected with the employment guarantee
scheme (EGS). Till date, no better and more productive
work has resulted from EGS than the horticulture
program. As the EGS was directly taken to the farm
and the farmers were involved with the program
with various incentives and subsidies the problem of
necessary investment was easily resolved. Even the
hitherto socio-economically backward farmer too came
ahead to take advantage of this program. Most of the
farmers became successful with this program as from
1990-91 to 1996-97 the participating farmers were given
help as per their merit under a time bound-plan. The
huge dry, fallow and wasteland got a new leash of life.
The hitherto marginalised, ignored farmer was brought
into the mainstream of agriculture. The Konkan region
where farmers were least interested in farming saw a new
wave of zeal for farming. Wherever farmers adopted this
program, it brought a sea-change in their mentality. The
Father of Indias Green Revolution and internationally
renowned agriculture scientist Dr. M.S. Swamimathan
hailed Shri Sharad Pawar as the Architect of Horticulture
in India.
The horticulture program thus made Maharashtra
number one state in India in fruit production.
Maharashtra won 24 national level awards with first and
second number in fruit-flower and vegetable production.
The whole credit of course, goes to no one but to Shri.
Sharad Pawar. When he became the Union Agriculture
Minister for Agriculture he envisioned and planned
a National Horticulture Mission. The country saw
the arrival of international standard technology, crop

care and science and it struck roots and blossomed all
over the country. The farmer in India became eager to
embrace modern technology. This mission transformed
the very lingo of agriculture in India.
The horticulture revolution saw fruit stalls even
in rural areas now. Fruits produced in one corner of
the country are available all over country even in the
rural areas. Today according to the fruit crop various
fruit specific independent and capable organisations
have emerged due to this mission. Capability and
competencies to export successfully have been attained
through this mission and now the progressive farmer in
Maharashtra is talking the language of Dollars wholly
owing to this mission initiated by Shri. Sharad Pawar.
And Thus Ran the

Konkan Railway - The
Saga of Konkan Railway
22
he Konkan Railway project that connects the 741

kilometres of the coastal line in the four states
of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala is one of
the remarkable basic infrastructure projects in India. The
demand for the Konkan Railway is quite old. In 1952 Shri.
Arjun Balwant Walawalkar, a railway engineer published
a booklet on the rough design of the Konkan Railway.
Eminent parliamentarians Barrister Nath Pai and Shri
Madhu Dandawate continued with their demand for it.
But it was only in the year 1985 the survey of the major
stage of Madgaon to Roha of the Konkan Railway was
done.
The passage of Konkan region itself is very long and
difficult with terrains. The expenditure on this railway
passing through mountainous range was huge. This
made the commencement of this project very difficult.
During the Janata Party government both Shri Madhu
Dandawate and George Fernandes who persistently
demanded Konkan Railway became central ministers and
this actually sped up the Konkan Railway project. When
Shri Sharad Pawar was the Chief Minister of Maharashtra,
a meeting was organised in the Maharashtra Sadan to
evaluate the possibility and viability of the Konkan
Railway project. The then Railway Minister Shri George
Fernandes attended this meeting. Shri. Fernandes made
it categorically clear that the central government was not
in a position to provide any funding for the project. Shri.
Sharad Pawar took a step ahead. He expressed his firm
readiness and said, We will give all out support to this

project. Shri. Pawar envisioned that the beneficiary states
of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala should share
the expenditure. Accordingly, it was proposed that the
central government would contribute 51%, Maharashtra
government 22%, Karnataka government 15% and Goa
and Kerala would contribute 6% each.
When the meeting of the four state chief ministers
was convened; the chief minister Kerala expressed his
inability to give his states share of the expenditure. To
prevent the project from being derailed because of this
one reason, Shri. Sharad Pawar offered to contribute
Keralas share and only with this assurance the central
government made its contribution available for the
project. The completion of this project was delayed by
three years. There was a hefty 222% increase in the project
cost. But the Konkan Railway Corporation raised the
funds through bonds and completed this project that was
considered as one of the toughest projects in the country.
In May 1998 the Konkan Railway ran with passengers.
The Konkan Railway not only connected the four
states and brought facilities to the travellers, it also
connected the this region which was very important for
trade and commerce with safe and rapid transportation.
The two major ports of Mumbai and Manglore were
connected to this railway through land. The distance
between these two ports was reduced by a huge 1,127
kilometres and by 29 hours. This railway gave a great boost
to the development and progress in the Konkan region in
Maharashtra. On the one hand, the Konkan Railway and
on the other hand the flourishing horticulture transformed
the very mindset in the Konkan region.
He Laid the
Foundation of
the Santpith
but.....
23
very social group has its own psychological

peculiarities. These peculiarities are related
to that specific societys traditions, developmental
stages, and surrounding environment. It is believed that
traditions set by various Saints have played a key role in
moulding the minds and culture of the Marathi people.
The impact of the teaching of these saints and their
thoughts of social equality is seen even today. Due to
this, Maharashtra is seen as more progressive, tolerant
and spiritual than other states. The Marathi society has
a long tradition of these saints who came from various
castes. Though these saints came from varying social
background their social teaching and liberal views were
the same, There was no proper facility for the proper
study of this rich tradition. As the Chief Minister, Shri.
Sharad Pawar declared the establishment of the deeply
felt and missing need for the Santpith (a university for
the study of saints) and removed this shortcoming.
The demand to establish a Santpith for the study
of the saints in Maharashtra was an old demand.
A committee was established in 1980 to make
recommendations to the government. Former Chairman
of the Vidhan Sabha Shri Balasaheb Bharde who was
a well known authority over the literature of these
saints was its chairman. Eminent experts like Dr. U. M.
Pathan, Dr. Gandadhar Pantavne, Prof. Ram Shewalkar,
Dr. Dada Maharaj Manmadkar, Dr. Sarojini Babar

were members of this committee. The committee
recommended that a santhpith should be established for
the comparative study of philosophy, life and works of
the saints in the world and the saints in Maharashtra. Dr.
Pathan pursued this recommendation. While speaking
at the concluding ceremony of the seven hundredth
commemoration ceremony of Shri Dyaneshwari Chief
Minister Shri. Sharad Pawar declared the establishment
of this Santpith and the provision for the necessary
funds. Some seventeen acre land near the Dyaneshwar
Udyan in Paithan was made available for this santhpith.
The structure and objectives of this university are
different from other universities. It was held that this
Santpith as a teaching university engaged in the study
of the bhakti tradition, social psychology, history and
traditions should become the ordaining University of
the Saintly Traditions. The underlying consideration was
that the sermons, devotional practices such as bhajan,
kirtan and other social enlightenment means will be
studied here; and to carry ahead the legacy of this social
enlightenment necessary training to train necessary
kirtankars and preachers will be provide at this Santpith.
It was planned that elementary, intermediate and higher
grade training will be provided here and going beyond
mere bookish education the stress will be on imparting
value-based education with strong emphasis on social
orientation. But unfortunately despite having all physical
infrastructure, this Santpith could not become functional.
Shri. Sharad Pawar took all out initiative and provided all
necessary support from the government for this santpith
dedicated to the study of the varkaris spread all over
Maharashtra but nothing concrete happened after his

chief ministership.
With the decision of establishment of the Santpith,
Shri. Sharad Pawar had taken decisions to develop
Dehu, Alandi and Pandhrpur as places of pilgrimage.
Every year Dehu, Alandi and Pandharpur receive a great
number of varkaries and other devotees. Developmental
plans were made to provide necessary facilities for
their dindi and to ensure their happy journey to these
holy places. In 1990, the very first year, Rs. 1 crore 75
lakh were made available for this purpose. Building
underground drainage, providing drinking water, building
an S.T. Bus Station, building the ghats, controlling floods,
building bathrooms and toilets, building internal roads,
etc were included in this planning. Chief Minister Shri.
Sharad Pawar had taken a decision that the government
would build a dharmashala at Dehu under the
management of the grampanchayat of Dehu.
Let Us Sing
Their Glory....
24
e believe that the thoughts of ShahuPhule and Ambedkar have moulded our
Maharashtra. These great epoch-makers gave great
revolutionary thoughts in their respective periods
and brought great social churning. The progressive,
liberal image of Maharashtra today is due to these
great thinkers. It is due to their thoughts Maharashtra
is considered as more progressive than rest of the
country. The dalits and labouring people in all other
states of India are inspired by these three great souls of
Maharashtra. Progressive changes are occurring in these
states.
The voluminous written works of Mahatma Jyotirao
Phule and Dr. Babahaseb Ambedkar are available.
Most of Dr. Ambedkars writing in English remained
unpublished like the writings of Mahatma Phule.
Thought the information on the revolutionary decisions
implemented by Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj in his kingdom
was available, it was not collected. It was necessary to
record the social vision and the thoughts he expressed at
various times. As the Chief Minister, Shri. Sharad Pawar
decided to remove all obstacles in the path of taking the
thoughts of these great men to the younger generations.
Accordingly various committees were formed and the
collected volumes of this literature were published.
As the Chief Minister of Progressive Democratic
Alliance in Maharashtra, Shri. Sharad Pawar formed the
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Charitra Sadhane Prakashan

Simiti. In 1990 the memorial centenary of Mahatma
Jyotiba Phule and in 1991 the birth centenary of Dr.
Babasaheb Ambedkar were celebrated. It was decided to
publish and make available the collected works of their
literature on the eve of their centenary year celebrations
to the people of Maharashtra. Accordingly a committee
was appointed under the chairmanship of the education
minister. The collected works of Mahatma Jyotirao
Phule were published in Marathi and later these volumes
were published in Hindi and English.
Later the government of democratic front
government published the volumes related to Rajarshi
Shahu Maharaj. These publications were well received
by readers all over Maharashtra. Even today these
publications are still in great demand.
Resolving
the Regional
Imbalance
25
egional imbalance of development is a global

problem. It is very severe in our country.
Discontent is brewing in Maharashtra due to the issue
of regional developmental imbalance. Vidarbha has
already made a roaring demand of separate Vidarbha.
On and often we hear the talk of separate Marathwada
and separate Konkan. But it lacks force. The support for
the demand for separate Vidarbha is questioned even
today in Vidarbha region itself. But it is true that there is
persistence in this demand.
The issue of regional developmental imbalance
was discussed since the time of the formation of the
state of Maharashtra. A fact finding committee was
formed with senior economist Shri. V.M. Dandekar as
its chairman to look into the issue of regional imbalance.
In 1984 the Dandekar Committee submitted its report
to the Government. Though it was not completely
accepted; special budgetary provision began to be
made to remove this regional imbalance from 198586. As many years had passed since the submission
of Dandekar Committee report, in 1992 under the
leadership of Shri. B.A. Kulkarni the State Planning
Commission formed a new committee to identify the
backward areas in Maharashtra. This committee was
to identify backwardness based on the twelve guiding
principles. This committee declared 17 districts as
backward. These included six were from Marathwada,
eight from Vidarbha and remaining Maharashtra had

three districts. The Marathwada and Vidarbha region
persistently complained that they did not get adequate
share in the budget and justice was not done even in the
developmental plans. So as a solution to it, a proposal
emerged that independent Statutory Development
Boards should be established for Marathwada, Vidarbha,
Konkan and rest of Maharashtra. In 1991 Shri. Sharad
Pawar knocked the doors of Delhi with the demand for
Statutory Development Boards. He led delegations first
to the Prime Minister Chandrashekhar and then to Shri.
Vishwanath Pratap Singh.
For some time the statutory development boards
were opposed for the reason that these boards would
break the emotional unity of Maharashtra and through
these boards the Governor was seen encroaching upon
the rights of the representatives of the people. But
to remove the regional imbalance no better credible
solution was found, and as the political leadership in
the backward regions insisted upon the formation of
the boards, Shri. Sharad Pawar endeavoured to establish
these statutory development boards in Maharashtra.
In the beginning, such four development boards
were proposed to be formed for Vidarbha, Marathwada,
Konkan and rest of Maharashtra. Accordingly,
representations were made to the Central Government.
But to form a separate statutory development required
some constitutional amendments and this process was
time consuming. To avoid it finally three boards were
formed for Vidarbha, Marathwada and for Konkan with
rest of Maharashtra. This decision was taken when Shri.
Sharad Pawar was the Chief Minister. On 9th March
1994, under the ordinance of the President of India

according to the Article 371(2) in the Constitution these
three statutory development boards came into existence.
Though there was an executive board appointed by the
government, the Honourable Governor was entrusted
with the responsibility for the prioritisation of the funds.
The complaint of injustice done to the backward
areas ceased with the establishment of these statutory
development boards. But the representatives of the
people from these regions kept complaining that the
backlog in some areas still persisted. In 1995, the
Governor Dr. P.C. Alexander appointed an Index and
Backlog Committee to study the changes occurred
during in the past ten years of the report of the
Dandekar Committee. In 1997, the Central Government
too appointed a Committee under Shri. E.A.S. Sharma
to identify 100 poorest districts in India. This Committee
declared in whole Marathwada as backward. With
Gadchiroli, Buldhana and Yawatmal districts total 11
districts were declared as the most backward districts.
As per the research paper published by Shri. M. H,
Suryanarayan on the region wise economic condition in
Maharashtra and Karnataka, the economic conditions in
Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nasik were same as the rest
of the 31 districts in Maharashtra.
Till today, statutory development board is the only
acceptable solution found for regional imbalance. Every
year efforts are made to remove this imbalance in the
budget of Maharashtra. The backlog in various fields is
now ending.
Pawar- Early
Advocate of the
Globalisation
26
hri Sharad Pawar was one of few formost leaders

who had advocated and later welcomed the
process of economic liberalisation in the country. In fact,
he was the one who had realized much before anybody
else how inevitable this process was. The then Prime
Minister Narasinha Rao and the then Finance Minister
Dr. Manmohan Singh were the pioneers who are credited
with initiating this process in India. Both of them have
publically acclaimed many a times Mr. Pawars insight
into future and his courage in taking such a bold view.
It must be noted here that Mr. Pawar was not a mere
advocate of this new economic policy, but had started
implementing the same as much as possible quite earlier
in Maharashtra.
As Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1990, he had
mooted the idea of inviting more and more private
investment into the governments development project.
In fact, he was very keen to build up a public opinion
upon this subject, and hence, used to emphasis more
and more in his public speeches about public-private
partnership. No wonder then that when the liberalisation
arrived at the national level, Maharashtra was the front
runner state to reap advantages of the implementation
of this policy. Thanks to the solid groundwork done by
Mr. Pawar earlier on, people of Maharashtra were quite
ready for it.
In 1990 Maharashtra was not facing any shortage of
electricity. But it was because of the fact that the demand
for electricity was less. In a liberalized and globalised

economy more and more investment in industry and
service sector was likely. And for this to happen, supply
of uninterrupted power supply was essential. Mr. Pawar
has begun working on this in 1990. The power sector
needs huge capital investment and long term planning.
Accordingly opening this sector for private investment
was the only option. He did all the preparation, took the
consent of the cabinet and mooted the proposal to invite
private investment of Rs. 1900 cr in two new power
projects in the state. He appointed a committee under
the headship of Mr. K. B. Shrinivasan, the then chief
secretary, to look into it. Accordingly this committee
proposed to invite tenders for two project - one at Uran
and another at Khaparkheda. In addition to this the
Maharashtra State Electricity Board ( MSEB) prepared a
plan of another seven power projects of 25 mw capacity.
The policy to encourage the co-generation power
projects in the sugar factories was announced.
Good roads and the highways in the state were
going to be key in the development agenda. Mr. Pawar
was the first to talk of Express Highway projects in
the state. In those days,about 65000 vehicles used to
ply on the old Pune Mumbai state highway every day,
far too much more than its capacity of 35000 vehicles
per day. Mr. Pawar has prepared a plan and got the
sanction of the central government to develop this road
as express highway with the help of private investment.
Unfortunately, Congress lost the power in 1995 and
Pawars dream project of this highway began five years
later.
Enron
27
aharashtra is considered to be the most

developed state in India. The rate of
urbanisation is the highest in India. Growing
urbanisation, industrialisation and changing modern
lifestyle shave led to an ever growing demand for
electricity in the state. With improvement in the
agriculture sector and the advent of new industries
mushrooming in various parts of the state there was and
is a demand for electricity24/7 in Maharashtra.
Development does not happen overnight, it is an
dynamic evolving process. Necessary decisions need
to be made from time to time; as any delay can impede
progress that has been planned for. This is critical
for infrastructure development timely planning is a
must.. During 1988-90 the wide spread belief was that
Maharashtra was self sufficient in Electricity generation,
. but the distribution network of power was lacking,
and that was why the availability was limited. In order
to achieve all round development of the state industry
and irrigation need to grow, there had to bean adequate
supply of power, along with roads and water resources.
This system has to be built with careful planning. You
cannot quench your thirst by starting to dig a well after
feeling thirsty. The then Chief Minister Shri Sharad
Pawar thought of all these factors and pondered over the
long term future of Maharashtra. The potential demand
for electricity was part of it.
During the 90s the cost for one megawatt electricity

generation was around Rs. Four crore. In this way, for
generating 500 megawatt power the investment needed
was Rs. two thousand crore. The state had no financial
capacity to make this huge investment. The question
was whether to opt for other means of investment or to
stagnate the development of the state. An option was to
opt for private sector investment. Earlier this option was
exercised in the state, The British had given permission
to the Tata Power Company to generate electricity. The
Bombay Suburban Electric Supply (now Reliance Power)
was operating in the state as a private sector company,
and, in 1998, a project was given permission for power
generation. This way, through the private investment it
was possible to meet the states demand for electricity.
The American company Enron expressed interest
in electricity generation in Maharashtra. Given the rising
awareness about environment protection it was necessary
to decide the way to generate power. As now widely
admitted, power generated from coal causes pollution.
Hydro power is one of the cleanest forms of power
generation, however the water source is critical foe the
same. The other option was gas based power plants, for
which gas is relatively cheaper in gas producing countries.
The time Enron expressed the interest to set up
a power plant in Maharashtra, Oman and some other
countries were ready to supply gas with one rupee per
unit rate. Given the vast coastline of Maharashtra it was
possible to build a power generation project by getting
this gas cheaply. After considering the Pros and Cons,
Shri Sharad made the decision to build a gas based power
generation project at Anjanwel in Ratnagiri district. GE
and Bechtel became partners in Dabhol Power Company

along with Enron.
The participation of overseas companies in the
development of a power project, led to a political
slug fest for allowing foreign companies in to the vital
infrastructure sector, whilst denying Indian Companies
the opportunity. Since all the 3 partners were either US
or Europe based companies, a hue and cry was raised
against their participation. A false propaganda was made
that this project was endangering the national security,
and was used as a election campaign for the ensuing state
elections. Based on this politically motivated campaign
the Shiv Sena and Bhartiya Janata Party which came to
power in the 1995 elections, and unseated the Congress
Government led by Shri Sharad Pawar. One of their
first acts was to cancel the Enron project, which was
a big jolt for the international companies which had
taken part in this project. Not only the governments in
America and Europe took a serious view of this decision
but also companies in other countries became sceptical.
Companies interested in investing in India, especially in
Maharashtra withheld their investment decision. This
decision led to significant reduction in foreign investment
in Maharashtra.
As the Enron project was so abruptly abrogated,
the concerned companies knocked the doors of
the International Court. When the Shiv Sena-BJP
government realised that the state will be liable to pay
huge reparations and fine, the same government decided
to re-implement the Enron project. But meanwhile
as over one and half years had lapsed, the companies
supplying gas raised their prices to 4 to 5 rupees. As a
result the state government could not afford purchasing

electricity at such higher rates. Given this precarious
situation of the state, the company wound up the whole
project.
The investment in the Enron Project was complete
with the plant lying idle. The demand for electricity was
rapidly growing due to which In such situation in 2004
the government of Dr. Manmohan Singh as Prime
Minister formed a committee headed by union minister
Shri. Sharad Pawar as its president. This committee
decided to purchase the Enron project. It was decided
that the central governments share will be 70% and
the state governments share will be 30%. With this the
Ratnagiri Power Company was formed as jointly owned
by the central and state government. However, due to
the loss of time due to shortsighted political gains, the
project remained unviable. Even today, Maharashtra is
not known as a self sufficient in electricity generation.
This is an excellent example for the future generation
as to what happens when politics is brought into the
developmental decisions.
Defence
Minister
28
mong the 31 defence ministers that nation

witnessed so far, Sharad Pawars stint of
about 18 months remains to be quite memorable for
all the three forces. The country was passing through a
difficult phase when the Prime Minister Mr. Narsimha
Rao called Mr. Pawar, who was then a Chief Minister
of Maharashtra, to come to Delhi and take over this
important portfolio. Years ago, Yashwantrao Chavan had
similarly shifted from Mumbai to Delhi and subsequently
proved as an able Defence Minister on the backdrop of
1962 setback that India had to face in the China War.
Pawar was determined to follow his Gurus footsteps.
And the tasks before him were equally daunting. The
Ayodhya issue was getting complex every day and Ulfa
agitation was at its peak. Our neighbors were creating
one or the other problems. Pawar proved his mettle in
a short span and left a deep imprint on departments
functioning.
After assuming office, Pawar carefully studied the
decisions taken by Yashwantraoji as Defence Minister.
Accordingly, he realized that modernization and raising
the morale of the forces were the need of the hour.
Indias defence expenditure was less than 3 per cent of
our national income. Considering that both Pakistan and
China were spending more and more on the defence and
that the situation in the subcontinent was quite unstable,
there was an urgent need to increase the expenditure
substantially. Pawar did the same. His other major
decision was to run the factories producing arms and
ammunition through all the shifts and with full capacity.

This helped to improve our own supplies as well as to
earn more foreign exchange by increasing their exports.
The meager pension of the retiring soldiers was
another vexatious issue. The newly retiring lower level
officers were getting almost the same pension as the
earlier retirees from the higher level, especially after
the implementation of the fourth pay commission
recommendations. This was quite frustrating for the
higher rank officials. Pawar did away this anomaly by
bringing in one rank one pension scheme. His other
landmark decision was to give 11 per cent reservation for
women in the army posts. Till then women did not have
an entry into army. Many people doubted, but Pawar was
quite confident about the capability of women. He broke
the tradition and opened the gates for women. It is only
because of Mr. Pawars decision, today, we see lot of
women in all the three wings of the services.
While on one hand he increased the defense
expenditure, he also insisted cutting down unnecessary
spending. India. The pact with China to reduce the forces
from both the sides of the border is a case in point. The
area in the Indian side nearing the border falls in one a
very difficult terrain. This is situated at the considerable
height in the Himalayas and supplying the logistics to our
battalions posted there was hugely costly affair. China, on
the other hand, was better placed since its areas nearing
the border were at lower heights. Through the pact, done
at the instance of Mr. Pawar, both the countries agreed
to withdraw the soldiers from this area, paving the way
for substantial savings in the costs.
In the matters of defence and international relations,
Russia was our long-standing friend over all these years.
But post-cold war the situation was changing rapidly.

The USSR had disintegrated. The USA was going to be
sole power. Mr. Pawar was amongst the very few who
realized it quite early. So, even while many frowned, he
decided to break from the past and give a go-ahead to
hold a joint naval exercise with the American Navy. His
initiative to arrange many Indo-American joint discussion
sessions of the Army officials was quite noteworthy. He
himself used to attend and sit throughout most of them.
Exploring new subjects and newer territories has
always been a passion of Mr. Pawar. His visit to Siyachen
has been one such very memorable exploration. At the
height of about 22 thousand feet above the sea level
and temperatures always ranging between minus ten
to twenty degrees Celsius, Siyachen is one of the most
difficult regions in the world to protect. Pawar is among
the handful of defense ministers who visited it and
heard firsthand from the soldiers manning it about their
travails.
Around the same time, the anti-national activities
of ULFA, the banned terrorist organization in Assam
were on the rise. It had taken many officials and civilians
as hostages. Pawar decided there to intervene through
army and these hostages were released. A huge quantity
of arms and ammunitions were seized which ultimately
helped broke the back of ULFA. It was forced to take
back its agitation and agree to take part in a dialogue with
the centre. The situation in Kashmir was also not very
different from what we see today. But Pawar impressed
upon the army-men deployed there to handle it
sensitively and carefully. It helped. The terrorist activities
were reduced considerably.
The Killari
Earthquake
29
s the people of Maharashtra were about to call

it a day after the immersion of Lord Ganesha,
Latur was struck by a major earthquake in the early hours
of 30th September 1993. The natural calamity that struck
Maharashtra was unprecedented in history. The epicentre
of the earthquake was near the village Killari in Latur
district. The earthquake wrought untold devastation.
As the Home Ministry was with Shri Sharad Pawar,
he was monitoring the Ganesh Visarjan ceremonies
across the state to ensure they went off without any
untoward incidents. He retired late in the night after all
the reports of a peaceful visarjan, but before he could
sleep his bed trembled, and windows started shaking.
Immediately he realised an earthquake had struck, and it
was communicated to him immediately that the epicentre
of the earthquake was at Killari in Latur. He tried to
contact the local authorities at Laure over the phone but
no one from the district administration was reachable. He
sensed that something awful had happened. Immediately
he contacted his office staff and secretary and instructed
them to keep an airplane ready by 7am, so that he could
reach Latur. By 7.40 am, Mr Pawar had landed in Latur,
from where he proceeded to Killari. The devastation was
immense - entire villages were buried under mounds of
rubble. As the sun rose, what had happened in the dead
of the night became visible this was a major disaster.
The need of the hour was to respond to this
calamity as never before. Chief Minister Sharad

Pawar swung into action immediately. With his
vast administrative experience, he mobilised the
necessary personnel and resources, and the rescue and
rehabilitation began in full swing from 30th September
1993. Approximately 9,774 people were buried alive
underground, and over 15565 were wounded with
over 30,000 houses having collapsed. All government
offices had been devastated, and to add to the woe, the
torrential rains created barriers in rescue work. Besides
the human loss of life, livestock in thousands had died,
rendering those who survived the potential of having
lost a source of income. The entire exercise of rescue
and rehabilitation started on 30thSeptember 1993 would
continue for a few months.
Chief Minister Shri Sharad Pawar stayed back
and moved his office to the circuit house in Solapur,
which allowed him to tour the devastated regions daily,
including the areas around the Latur-Usmanabad region
which was the worst affected area. The work was divided
with utmost care. The international organisation of
European doctors that had sound expertise in handling
such calamities had begun work in the devastated area.
Its spokesperson Shri. Hans Juison shared his experience
and said, In the event of such natural disasters,
wherever we go; we come across chaotic situation caused
by the calamity. Planning is seen desperately missing, we
see disease and death everywhere; but here we witnessed
nothing of it and the credit undoubtedly and entirely
goes to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra who is a very
able leader.
Even without any past experience of rescue and
rehabilitation operations and without any formal training;

Shri Sharad Pawars work gave him recognition as an
expert on disaster management. When the National
Democratic Front government came to power at the
Centre in 2001 the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
requested Shri Sharad Pawar, who was sitting in the
opposition to become the Vice Presidents of national
Disaster Management Committee. The guidelines
given by the committee and the infrastructure created
by it under the leadership of Shri. Sharad Pawar
rendered critical contribution in facilitating rescue and
rehabilitation work in years to come, including during
the Gujarat earthquake and other natural disasters.
Today disaster management has emerged as a subject
of importance and awareness. The credit for this
undoubtedly goes to Shri. Sharad Pawar.
Twelve Instead
of Eleven
30
n the aftermath of the demolition of the Babri

Masjid, there were riots all over the country. In
Mumbai specifically, being the economic capital of the
country any untoward incidence that disrupts normal
life reverberates all over the world. Controlling any
incidences of riots, violence, mayhem or disasters in
Mumbai becomes critical so as to prevent incidences
arising in other parts of India, and to project to the
world that prompt and efficient action is possible.
As the riots of 1993 started getting out of hand in
Mumbai, the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao called
a meeting of his senior cabinet ministers. In that meeting
everyone held that if Shri Sharad Pawar accepted the
responsibility as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra once
again, and took necessary measures normalcy would
return to Mumbai.
As it was critical to restore normalcy and assure the
world that the administrative machinery was bringing
Mumbai back on stream, Shri Sharad Pawar resigned as
the Union Minister and returned to Maharashtra and
took over the responsibility as the Chief Minister. He
promptly took review of the law and order situation and
took necessary decisions, to control the riots and the
after effects. But riots cannot be controlled entirely by
administrative decisions. The leadership has to endeavour
for social dialogue. From the very first day of his taking
oath as the CM, Shri Sharad Pawar started visiting
various riot-affected areas and started interacting with
the citizens there. This brought good success.

Soon after taking over as CM, Shri Sharad Pawar
was busy working in his office on the sixth floor of the
Mantralaya, the sound of a huge explosion was heard at
around noon. The blast was so powerful that it shattered
the window panes. He rushed to the window to see what
had happened and saw people running helter-skelter
near the Air India building a short distance away. As he
was trying to gather information on what had happened,
more explosions were heard. He immediately tried to get
information on the police wireless. He came to know
about a series of bomb blasts in Mumbai, 11 in total
that had taken place in various parts of Mumbai. All
these were busy commercial locations wherein on any
given day there is a high concentration of people. The
objective behind these blasts was to create tension
between the Hindus and Muslim communities. The
severity of the blasts and the modus operandi and
dynamite used, it was evident that the perpetrators of the
same had got outside help to conduct the same.
The blasts occurred on Friday 12th march, 1993
in the afternoon. It was necessary to act immediately
to prevent any retaliation by any community against
the other. As the leader of the state, Shri Sharad Pawar
immediately decided to talk to people on television and
the radio and to take them into confidence and appeal
them for peace. While giving information on the places
where the blasts had occurred, he mentioned that there
was a bomb blast at Masjid Bunder, a predominantly
Muslim dominated area. This gave the impression that
the blasts had occurred at places inhabitated by Hindus
and Muslims, and not in the areas of any one particular
community only. This helped arrest the spread of

rumours and the situation remained well under control.
Two things needed to be done to prevent the
achievement of the objectives behind these bomb blasts
- to maintain peace and harmony; and to normalise the
public life in Mumbai as early as possible. Shri Sharad
Pawar used all his administrative experience to ensure
this was the case. Later, the Sri Krishna Commission
was appointed to inquire into the blasts, and asked Shri
Sharad Pawar as to why he had mentioned that there
were twelve blasts when actually 11 blasts had occurred.
Shri. Sharad Pawar explained his good intentions, which
the Commission applauded in its report, stating that this
presence of mind that had saved the city of Mumbai
from a conflagration.
The Manifesto
of Womans
Freedom
31
hri Sharad Pawar has been influenced by

two women his mother Shardabai the late
Prime Minister of Britain Margaret Thatcher. Shri.
Sharad Pawar firmly believes that if women are given
opportunities they can face any situation more ably and
prove themselves as achievers. All those countries which
kept their women in bondage and restricted their work
and achievements are known as backward countries. On
the contrary the countries which gave equal opportunities
to women have risen as developed countries. Shri. Sharad
Pawar held that unless women in India are given equal
opportunities, India cannot develop and move ahead.
With this belief, Shri Sharad Pawar drafted the first policy
for women and made all necessary provisions thereby
making Maharashtra the first state in India to have made
such a policy for womens development.
The year 1975 was declared as the World Womens
Year. This had prompted worldwide discussions on
various problems facing women and the injustice
inflicted on them. The World Bank had published a
report on gender discrimination and had shed revealing
light on the pathetic condition of women in India. The
National Investigation Agency too had started publishing
their reports during this period. The statistics of rapes,
dowry deaths and molestations were shocking. Shri.
Sharad Pawar was some of those who, as a ruler, held
themselves accountable to change this dire situation

facing women. To prepare the policy aimed at shaking
off the social and familial misgivings and beliefs
about women, there was a need to create an enabling
environment in the society. He was determined to
prepare the policy for women and also to prepare the
ground for it.
While as the Chief Minister he handed over the
responsibility of the important Home Ministry to his
other colleagues and took the charge of the ministry
of social welfare. He separated Children and women
Welfare departments and created a separate ministry
for them. To involve women workers in drafting of the
state policy for women he held 21 meetings with 100
prominent women workers. Shri. Sharad Pawar attended
every meeting. While preparing the draft policy help of
legal experts was taken to avoid any legal flaws. After
prolonged discussions and deliberations in the legislative
assembly the policy was approved. The initial thinking of
welfare of women now moved to women development.
The further policy implementation happened on the
same lines.
This womens policy led to all out rethinking about
increasing the participation of women at all levels in the
state, and to involve them in decision making process
necessary changes were made. A provision for 33%
reservation in Panchayat and Nagarpalika was made. The
provision for statutory committee was made at the Zhila
Parishad level for women and child development; and a
policy decision was decided that the committee will be
chaired by women only.
On the lines of the national Womens Commission,
the State Womens Commission was formed.

Maharashtra became the first state in India to have
formed such a commission. The implementation of
his womens commission has led to increased social
participation of women and this changed the perception
towards women and the confident behaviour of women
in various fields is visible everywhere.
In a way, this was the inauguration of a new
Manifesto of Womens Freedom in the state of
Maharashtra.
The Solution
on Ayodhya
32
n the closing years of the twentieth century,

India saw two major political movements which
changed the fate of the country. First, the separatist
Khalistani movement, and the second was the Ayodhya
Ram Janmabhumi movement that led to communal
divide in the country. These churned the whole country
and more so, created crises for the country. It was only
Shri. Sharad Pawar who was earnestly called upon to
resolve these two problems. The then highest authority
of the country gave free hand to Shri. Sharad Pawar
with a request to find the middle path to resolve these
grave problems. Shri. Sharad Pawar did not think for
a moment whether it was a responsibility incumbent
on him or whether he was related to these problems;
he gave utmost priority to resolve the problems facing
the country and created the grounding for honourable
solutions to these problems.
The 1989 Ram Janmabhumi movement had
created an environment of huge tension and suspicion.
Sometimes the problems become so complex and critical
that to resolve them they are left to the flow of time.
The then Prime Minister Chandrashekhar felt that if
the problem of Ramjanmabhumi is allowed to drag and
fester it will jeopardise unity and integrity of the country
by striking at the very roots of the country. He was
firmly convinced that this issue needed to be resolved
urgently through whatever ways and means possible.
During the period of Shri. Chandra Shekhar as the

PM, the countrys political scenario had become very
unstable and economic condition was very precarious.
In such a dire situation no one would have given priority
to resolve the Ayodhya problem. This was a huge risk;
but Shri. Chandra Shekhar whose leadership was rooted
in this countrys soil was clearly aware of the heat of
this problem and its consequences. For him his country
and social well being came first and his leadership gave
priority to resolve this problem. He had chosen Shri.
Sharad Pawar and the then veteran leader of the Bhartiya
Janata Party Shri. Bhairvshinh Shekhawat to resolve this
problem. Shri. Chandra Shekhar suggested that Shri.
Pawar should hold talks with the leaders of the Ram
Janmabhumi Nyas and Shri. Shekhawat should hold talks
with the leaders of the Babri Masjid Action Committee.
The Rashtriya Svayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa
Hindu Parishad were controlling the Ram Janmabhumi
movement. Shri. Moreshwar Pingle, a veteran leader of
the RSS had a key role in deciding the strategy of the
Ram Janmabhumi movement. Thus, discussions with
Shri. Pingle were very important. First, Shri. Pawar
held talks with Shri. Pingle. After this first round of
discussion he went all the way to Reshimbaug at Nagpur
to visit the head office of the Rashtriya Syamsevak
Sangh. He held discussions with the concerned,
responsible leaders and made them ready to hold talks
jointly with the Babri Masjid Action Committee. On
the other hand, Shri. Shekhawat too had held furthered
the dialogue with the leaders of the Babri Masjid Action
Committee. They too were prepared to hold talks with
the leaders of the Ramjanmabhumi movement. The
leaders of both sides were invited for food at Shri.
Shekhawats residence. The leaders from both the sides

attended this luncheon meeting. It was a great feat to get
the leaders of both the sides to meet and talk together
who had flexed their muscles against each other setting
the whole country on fire.
Both the sides had come to the final solution that a
Ram Mandir be built on one side of the disputed land
and a Masjid on the other side with separate entrances
to respect the religious sentiments of the people from
both the sides. Keeping their hard positions aside the
leaders from both sides were talking to each other in a
jovial manner. Unfortunately, while the consensus was
emerging the Chandra Shekhar government collapsed. If
this government had lasted even for four to six months a
satisfactory solution on this burning problem would have
been found. The environment of political and religious
tension would have changed. May be, the country and
the Asian continent would have moved in a different
direction. Shri. Lal Krishna Advani, the Hero of the
Ayodhya Rathyatra too admitted in his autobiography
that Shri. Chandra Shekhar had taken right steps to
resolve this problem.
Shri. Sharad Pawar mediated in the problem of the
Khalistani movement and it resulted in a successful pact
between the then Prime Minister Shri. Rajiv Gandhi
and the leader of the Akali Dal Shri. Harcharan Singh
Longowal. This ended a grave challenge of separatism
facing the country. Shri. Pawar successfully mediated
in the Ayodhya problem but before it reached fruition
the union government fell and it blocked all efforts to
resolve it. Had it not happened; this major challenge
facing the country too would have been resolved.
Ladies Lost
and Found!
33
his story is of 1995-96. Some ladies whore were

Anganwadi workers in Maharashtra had come
to Delhi for a morcha. They had already decided to roam
in Delhi after the morcha. These ladies who came from
Ahmednagar district arranged four buses and after the
whole days Delhi darshan, three buses returned late in
the evening. But one bus was missing. The ladies waited
till 11- 11.30 at night and as the clocked ticked ahead,
they lost their courage and their leaders rushed to the
nearby Nizamuddin police station. They filed a complaint
but nothing seemed to be happening. There were ladies
with many young girls and this had frightened these
ladies to no end. At midnight 12.30, they called Shri.
Nitin Vaidya who was a journalist in Delhi and pleaded
for help.
Till the dawn all such efforts to find the missing
ladies were going on. The leaders of the morcha
decided to approach Shri. Vaidya again and they called
him again at 5-5.30 in the morning. Now Shri. Vaidya
too sensed the gravity of the situation. But what could
be done? Whom to wake up so early? In those days
there were no mobile phones. Even if he decided to
talk to the concerned minister or senior officials it was
not sure whether the operators would connect the call.
Confounded as to what to do next; Shri. Vaidya suddenly
got the idea calling Shri. Sharad Pawar.
That time Shri. Sharad Pawar was the leader of the
opposition in the state legislative council. But he was
in Delhi the day before to attend the meeting of the

Congress working committee. He was to take a flight for
Mumbai early morning. Shri. Vaidya knew his schedule.
He immediately called the place where Shri. Pawar was
staying. Shri. Pawar himself picked up the phone. He
understood the problem and became worried as the
women were from Maharashtra. Let me see what could
be done, he said and kept the phone. In the morning at
7 am Shri. Pawar himself called Shri. Vaidya who was in
the Nizamuddin police station. The wheels of the police
investigation had moved rapidly and the lost ladies were
found. When these women saw Shri. Sharad Pawar at the
police station they were exceedingly happy.
After receiving information from Shri. Vaidya,
Shri. Pawar immediately contacted the Delhi Police
Commissioner Nikhil Kumar and explained him the
grave situation. Shri. Nikhil Kumar issued orders and all
borders of Delhi were sealed. All police stations in Delhi
were given orders for investigation. As all machinery had
swung into action; the lost bus was found at Haridwar.
The police commissioner there himself went to the spot
to ascertain that the bus that was found was the same
missing bus. The ladies in the bus had goaded the bus
driver to take them to Haridwar and had reached there.
The police found the bus and counted the ladies and they
were exactly 52 and conveyed this information to Shri.
Nikhil Kumar who conveyed the good news. Shri. Pawar
called Shri. Vaidya on phone and told him all that had
happened.
Shri. Vaidya was embarrassed to see Shri. Sharad
Pawar who was sitting in the police station doing all that
was possible to find the ladies. Shri. Pawar had changed
his schedule. He missed his plane when he came to know

about the incidence. The whole mess was because of
the ladies who had changed the plan on their own. Shri.
Pawar insisted to Shri. Vaidya not to make a news of
this event and not tell anyone what he had done to find
the missing ladies. In fact this incidence was the stuff
for a major headline. Shri. Vaidya had even prepared
the headline in his mind. But Shri. Pawar insisted on not
giving the news. Shri. Vaidya was confused with a Why
not? Shri. Pawar himself gave the answer, This will
make a news for you but the 52 husbands of these ladies
will never take them anywhere in whole of their life. So,
please do not make this mistake of giving this news.
A True
Embodiment
of Sensitivity
34
hat year was 1993. The Mumbai riots had just

began to quell and while life was returning to
normal, news of deaths of children from one region of
Dhule district started making regular news. Every day
children were dying. On one day 12-12 children had died.
Chief Minister Shri Sharad Pawar who was in Mumbai
felt the gravity of the situation. He decided to personally
visit that area. Instructions were given to decide the route
to reach that area. But the officers started giving different
advice. There were no roads to reach the tribal hamlets
where children were dying. Not just to reach the tribal
hamlets reaching that area itself was difficult. Officers
began to advice The Chief minister should not go
there. But Shri. Pawar was determined to visit the area
and thus the officers had to find the way to reach there.
As the whole land was mountainous there was no
plain land to land the helicopter. The easiest and shortest
way was to go to a village called Beliyapada in Gujarat
via helicopter, and then from there walk 12 kilometres
on foot! Shri. Pawar selected this route. With colleagues
Shri. Swarup Singh Naik, Madhukar Pichad, Manikrao
Gavit Shri. Pawar reached Baliyapada and with officers
he reached Horaphali. He visited and surveyed Horaphali
and other hamlets in neighbouring areas. As the whole
area was of descending mountains there was no farming
in the area. Due to mountainous remoteness there were
no roads. There was no rationing shop offering cheap
food grains. There was no sign of any government

machinery functioning in the area. The small children
were in pathetic condition and most of them were in the
doors of death. This scene brought tears to his eyes.
Shri. Pawar reminiscences these visit in his
autobiography Lok Maze Sangati - What is the point
in ruling the state as its chief minister while in one
corner children are dying, what is the point in running
the government? My heart was filled with these extreme
bitter thoughts. He firmly decided to change this
situation. From that remote region he contacted the
chief secretary of the state. He expressed his desire
to make allocation in the state budget for the tribal
people in proportion to their population. But making
such provision entails changes in the budget and new
orders need to be issued. This would have required a
huge preparation at the administrative level. When the
concerned officers said so; Shri. Pawar asked a stern
question- When people here are dying how much time
are we going to waste in paper work and formalities?
He issued a direct order to the officers to take necessary
information and keep the draft proposal ready by the
time he reaches Mumbai.
This seminal decision for the tribal people gave
the most ignored and depraved sections of the society
their rightful share in the budget. It became impossible
to reduce provisions made for the tribal people. This
decision of the national level has proved revolutionary.
Soon it was embraced by the whole country as a guiding
formula.
Of Hills
and
Holidays
35
alk of vacations and one realises that people

of Maharashtra have limited options:
Mahabaleshwar, Matheran, Lonavala-Khandala, Saputara,
Chikhaldara, etc. But few know that the hill stations were
developed in the British era. We havent developed a
single hill station in the post-Independence era.
When Shri Sharad Pawar was on a tour of the Lake
District in Britain, he had the same concern in his mind.
He thought about the ways in which the government
of Maharashtra could develop new tourist spots. He
also thought about developing an area ranging from
Bhandardara, Nilvande, Kukdi, Chasakman, Mulshi,
Varasgaon, Panshet, Bhatghar, Neera-Deoghar, Dhom,
Koyna, Varana, Radhanagari to Kolhapur in the Sahyadri
ranges.
He started taking keen interest in the development
of scenic Sahyadri and the surrounding areas. The
initial steps were obviously taken in the Pune district.
Shri Pawar himself conducted a tour of Varasgaon
dam. After checking a few facts, he told the concerned
departments to take into consideration the possibility
of developing Varasgaon and New Mahabaleshwar as
tourist spots. For this purpose, a committee of local
authorities was established.
The committee visited the Lake Area and
presented a report which soon got a seal of approval
from the council of ministers. Even as the project saw
considerable progress, speculation was rife regarding its
fate. This led to a search for private developers.
Soon, Shri Ajit Gulabchands name--he is a well

known businessman--was finalized. He also showed
immense interest in the project. Successful architects
across the world were invited for the endeavour. All
of them finalized a draft of a hill station which could
comprise nearly five lakhs of people. The work started in
2002 and the first stage got completed in the year 2010.
Today, the land bought up by the Lavasa Corporation
Company has houses, hotels and educational institutions
which can accommodate more than 80,000 people.
The area is known as Lavasa hill station which is
comprised of total 18 villages. Earlier, 89% of the land
was dry and rest of the area was infertile. Today, there are
around 20,000 to 30,000 tourist footfalls during holidays.
As a result, the overall economy of villages in Lavasa has
changed.
When Shri Narendra Modi was the chief minister
of Gujarat he had visited Lavasa. Modi lost no time in
inviting Shri Gulabchand to develop a similar project
at Dolera in Gujarat. Needless to add, the present-day
discourse on Smart Cities can trace its roots to Lavasa
in Maharashtra.
If we look at Lavasa closely, we can easily identify
how the architects have done an exhaustive study of
contemporary lifestyle, recreational facilities, trade,
education, etc. For sustainable environment, lakhs
of trees have been planted with the use of modern
technology. After using water in Mose valley for Pune
and nearby districts, the excessive water will be used for
Lavasa. The water requirement of Lavasa is as low as
0.08 TMC. In the years to come, around 20 projects like
Lavasa will be developed in Maharashtra.
Godowns Filled
with Guaranteed
Prices for Farm
Produce
36
hat farm produce should get remunerative

guaranteed prices has been the demand made
over the years though farmers movements. These
movements argued that if farm produce receive the
right prices then it would solve many problems facing
farmers. When Shri. Sharad Pawar took over the reins as
the Union Minister of Agriculture he made some priority
decisions, of which increasing guaranteed prices of farm
produce was one of decisions.
The decision to increase guaranteed prices includes a
committee which comprises the Prime Minister, Finance
Minister, Agricultural Minister and other concerned
ministries. The decision entails taking numerous factors
into consideration one of which is the effect of raising
prices of farm produce leading to a price rise of the
contributing to overall inflation growth. Generally the
governments policy is to keep prices of essential goods,
that is of farm products stable, which leads to a loss
for the farmer as against a guaranteed minimum price.
This is because, in the market prices of other goods
keep rising and this increases the production cost. The
living expenses of farmers climb up. At the same time
however, the prices of agricultural produce does not go
up, leaving the farmer at a disadvantage.
As a farmer himself who had worked on his own
farm, and tried to sell his farm produce in the market
in his early years; Shri Sharad Pawar very well knew the
pain and suffering of farmers. To address this anomaly,
it was important to explain the policy to other members
in the government. An internal conflict was inevitable.
Shri Sharad Pawar braved it. Earlier the guaranteed prices
would rise marginally -just by 5 to 10, in order to keep
inflation in check and the general effect on the overall
economy. Shri. Sharad Pawar raised the guaranteed price
to a whopping Rs. 60 which was a first in India. This led
to the expected impact in states like Punjab, Haryana,
Madhya Pradesh and north-western UP a massive growth
in wheat production was seen. The guaranteed prices for
crops such as rice, pulses, Cotton and groundnuts too
were raised in the same manner.
Shri. Shard Pawar did not stop at just raising the
guaranteed prices. He proposed the idea of bonus and
began to implement it forthwith. The Food Corporation
of India (FCI) goes to various markets to purchase food
grains from the farmers. If traders paid Rs. 400 to the
farmers the FCI started purchasing food grains at higher
prices. Farmers began to sell where they got higher
prices. This way, the FCI began to get more food grains.
The godowns of the country were full with food grains.
This was the reason behind the godowns overflowing
with food grains when Shri. Sharad Pawar was the union
agriculture minister.
One has to endeavour at the roots to change any
particular idea that is deeply rooted in the government
system. Shri Sharad Pawar had to do the same. The
Economic and Planning Departments were firmly
against raising the guaranteed prices so high. But Shri
Sharad Pawar ably defended the farmers side -Right
prices is a misleading concept. While arriving at the

guaranteed prices the production cost incurred by the
farmer has to be taken into account. He should feel that
his hard work receives remunerative price. Without this
he will have neither the inclination nor the enthusiasm
to engage in farming. If this does not last long, the
countrys need for foodgrains will not be met; and we
will end up spending huge foreign exchange to import
foodgrains. When Shri Sharad Pawar put the mind of
farmers in the language of economics, the concerned
people understood it well and the farmers could be given
remunerative guaranteed prices and the godowns in the
country were full to the brim.
From Prosperous
Fields to Able
Foreign Policy
37
hri Sharad Pawar always dreamt of self

sufficiency in food grains for Indias growing
population. The India of his dreams produced necessary
food grain within India and was not dependent on
imports. This was his cherished dream since the days he
was the minister of state for agriculture in Maharashtra.
After becoming the Union Minister for Agriculture he
began his mission work for realising this dream. There
were many problems such as growing population,
declining farm land, erratic rains, and lack of capital and
modern technologies, and a huge population dependent
on agriculture. The critical problem was the neglect
of agriculture by politicians and a lack of planning. To
resolve the whole gamut of problems facing agriculture,
it was necessary to work keeping in view the last two
reasons. He focussed his attention to them.
After the first Green Revolution, agriculture was
neglected. Except for the 5 years from 1984 to 1989; ,
until 2005 the agriculture ministry had no minister for
a complete term of 5 years. This had resulted in lack of
consistency in policies and implementation. This had led
to apathy in the ministry.
The country was facing a brewing crisis in
agriculture. During 1996-92 the rate of growth of
agriculture had declined to the lowest - to 1.92%. And
in this adverse background Shri Sharad Pawar wanted
to realise his dream of making India self-sufficient in
food grains. He insisted that all departments related to
food processing, consumer welfare, civil supplies and

water conservation should be brought under one person.
This demand was accepted. All these departments were
entrusted to Shri Sharad Pawar. This resulted in collective
decision making of all concerned departments related to
agriculture ministry.
To make agriculture self-sufficient it was necessary
to give priority to research and with necessary basic
infrastructure. The country had established some
research institutions since the early days, but due to
lack of autonomy they had almost become defunct.
These research institutions needed the freedom to take
decisions and work in a positive environment. Such
decisions were taken promptly. Some new research
institutions needed to be established to make necessary
changes in agricultural technologies and to inculcate
a new vision in farmers. Some insects are friends of
the farmers. The National Bureau of Agriculturally
Important Insects was set up. It was necessary to
strengthen the bond between the farmers and the
institutions working for agriculture. To achieve this, a
network of agriculture universities, research institutions,
agriculture projects, agriculture science centres was set
up. The first agriculture development centre was set up
in India in 1974. After that in the last 20 years number
of these centres had reached to 290. During the 10 years
tenure of Shri Sharad Pawar as the union minister of
agriculture more than such 340 centres were added.
The states of the Punjab and Haryana were the
leading states in wheat and paddy crops. As these crops
needed more water it had led to excessive pumping of
ground water. In fact, the states such as Assam, Odisha,
West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh have abundant
water supply. A new policy Brining Green Revolution to

Eastern India was adopted to use these water resources
in these states to meet the rising needs of rice in the
country. The policy not only became hugely successful
but also it made huge quantities of rice available for
exports. India came to be recognised as the leading rice
exporting country.
Along with the Punjab and Haryana, Madhya
Pradesh began to produce more wheat in quantity and
quality. This made India a wheat exporting country.
Today India is the #2 wheat exporter in the world. As
the centre of paddy crop moved to the eastern part of
country, the water from the Punjab and Haryana was
diverted to pulses and oil seeds. New varieties of cotton
and sugarcane were developed to boost their production.
The production of cotton from Maharashtra, Tamilnadu,
Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh grew to such an extent
that it made India the #2 exporter in the world. We rank
next to Brazil in exports of sugar.
This changes in the production of agriculture
goods not only enhanced the image of the country at
the international level; it was positively reflected in our
foreign relations. Countries that were dependent on
importing food grains at times with tough conditions
attached, now had an alternative source of supply to
turn to. These countries started importing food grains
from India. These opportunities for exporting food
grains enabled our country to make many useful treaties
with many countries. The revolution that began with
agriculture reached to the foreign relations. This greatly
contributed to the foreign affairs of the country.
Liberating the
Farmer the
Baliraja from the
Clutches of Loans
38
acking capital when most needed is a critical

problem facing the farmers. The government
periodically declares policies for the formal lending
institutions which provide credit to the farmers. Targets
are given to the banks. But this does not meet the
needs of the farmers. Given the situation that Indian
agriculture is dependent on erratic rains and the markets
are beyond the farmers control; farmers find it very
difficult to repay the loans. This adds to the burden of
loans on the farmers. When the farmers are blessed by
Mother Nature he lacks capital to increase the produce
on his farm, affecting productivity. Hence when nature
gives a helping hand,the farmer cannot from the same
and help repay some of the outstanding debt due to the
lenders. When the farmer is trapped in this situation
there is no alternative to receiving help from the
government.
After assuming the responsibility of Union Minister
of Agriculture, Shri Shard Pawar was determined to
liberate farmers from this malaise. In every sowing
season,farmers need capital for seeds, fertilisers, and
various farm implements. If this necessary capital is
made available the farmer can add his hard work and
creates wealth. When Shri Sharad Pawar took a review of
the agriculture he found that 64%farmers in India were
reeling under the crushing burden of loans. It was almost

impossible for them to repay these loans. These farmers
were crushed under the onslaughts of drought, floods,
low quality seeds, inadequate supply of fertilisers and
they were troubled by the burden of paying capital and
the many-fold interest. New loans were not forthcoming
and in this sense the farmer had lost all credit worthiness.
There was an urgent need to make his credit worthy
again.
The total amount of the loans of these 64%
farmers was around 67 thousand crore. To free their
neck from the gridlock of loans it was necessary to lift
off this burden off their chest. Keeping in view the
countrys economy, the investment in the agriculture
was stagnating. The growth of agriculture had come to
a grinding halt. Agriculture minister Shri Sharad Pawar
talked to all concerned people in the government and
wrote off the entire outstanding loans of the farmers.
Over 3 crore 69 lakh farmers directly benefited from this
decision. More farmers suicides were seen in states like
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala.
From these states 32 districts were given a rehabilitation
package of Rs. 19,910 crore. In the whole country total
Rs. 140,000 crore loan was written off. This led to a four
fold growth in credit supply of short, medium and long
term loans. Food production broke all past records. This
was the reason why India was not adversely affected by
the global recession that came in the year 2008.
Loans were written off but that was not enough to
solve the problems facing the farmers in India. The key
question was at what rate the farmers would get new
loans? It was necessary to lower the rate of interest from
12%. Shri Sharad Pawar endeavoured round the clock

and brought this rate of interest down from 12% to
10%, from 10% to 8% and from 8% to 6% and from 6%
to 4%. He had to struggle at various levels for over fivesix years. Shri. Sharad Pawar insisted that once the central
government brought down this rate of interest; the states
should give their share and bring this rate still further
down. He was persistently talking to the chief ministers
of various states. Karnataka was the first state to respond
to him. States like Kerala, Tamilnadu, Maharashtra, the
Punjab, Haryana followed and responded positively.
This brought a new wave of life and enthusiasm in the
agriculture sector of the country. Farmers got a huge
boost. He worked hard and produced more and more
food grains for the country.
Thus We Lost the

Golden Opportunity
39
his century began with a raging controversy

in agriculture of the country. The whole
controversy was centered around the question of using
the Genetically Modified sees (GM seeds) - to use or
not to use them. GM crops was an outcome of the
development of new seeds by manipulating genes in
the crops to remove the deficiencies in them. This
technology makes necessary changes in the DNA of
the genes with help of genetic engineering and creates a
new variety of seeds with new qualities. This technology
is a blessing as it creates new resilient seeds which can
withstand pests, weeds, diseases and drastic climatic
changes.
The first GM Tobacco plant was developed in 1982.
In 2002 BT Cotton seed was brought to our country.
A hue and cry was raised against it that these seeds
make farmers dependent. All over the world we see two
schools of thought on this issue. Developed countries
oppose the use of these GM seeds but themselves
actually use them. There was a huge controversy on the
issue of using the BT Cotton seeds in India. Doubts
were raised about the utility of the GM technology.
Views and opinions of the others and not of scientists
were given importance. To resolve this issue it was
decided to use this technology first in other crops except
food grains. So, first of all this technology was used in
the cotton.
Cotton flower buds (cotton ball weevil) larva is a

major trouble for cotton growers. It feeds on the inner
parts of the flower bud and devours it; and this causes a
big damage. But in the case of BT Cotton seeds as the
plant grows the chemical in the seed keeps spreading in
the plant. When the larva enters into the cotton flower
bud, it is destroyed and the crop is saved. The so-called
environmentalists and NGOs raised a storm against
these seeds. But the cotton growing farmers cared for
their own interests and purchased the seeds on a big
scale. These seeds saved them from the worry of the
cotton flower bud larva and they were assured of the
cotton production. This saved the farmers over Rs. 4000
per acre in production cost. Today in our country over
94% cotton production comes from GM seeds. These
seeds have led to massive growth in cotton production
in our country. Now we hold the second rank in cotton
production in the world.
Even today these seeds are not permitted for food
grains. When some people approached the Supreme
Court against these seeds; the Honourable Supreme
Court in its order banned these seeds except for
cotton production. Banning the use of these seeds
was considerable, but the Supreme Court banned even
further research in these seeds. Indian scientists had done
remarkable and substantial progress in GM technology.
But this research had to be abandoned half way. The
seedlings developed from these seeds too had to be
destroyed. Agriculture experts hold the view that India
could have indisputably become number one in the
world in agriculture, but the capability was lost.
Food Processing
Industry to
Accelerate the
Development
Process
40
he Food processing industry is one of the

industries fasted grown in India in recent years.
This sector is very important in terms of the potential
for growth of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) and
employment generation. The average annual growth
rate of this sector during 2004 to 2012 had been 8.6 per
cent. This growth rate of a sector related to agriculture
is quite remarkable. This is because during this period
the average growth rate of agriculture was 4 per cent.
This sector is going to help in a big way to reduce the
wastages of agriculture products. That is why, this sector
involves the interests of the farmers, the food processing
industrialist and the consumer.
In the year 2011-12 some 17.77 lakh people
got employment opportunities in this sector. When
the responsibility of this department was with Shri.
Sharad Pawar, in the seven years from 2004 to 2012
employment generation in this food processing industry
grew by average 4.09 per cent every year. In terms
of capital investment this sector saw the growth of
19.72 per cent during the same period. Exportability
is a distinctive feature of the food processing industry.
While Shri. Sharad Pawar prepared various plans for the
development of this food processing industry; exports
proportionately grew by average 22.3 per cent per

annum. The share of this sector grew by two and a half
percent in the total exports of the country. During this
period the food processing industry attracted substantial
foreign direct investment. During 2000 to 2012 the 117
million US dollar foreign investment zoomed up to 3.462
billion US dollars by December 2013.
India can take lead in producing a great variety
of farm products with her diverse climatic zones,
availability of huge land and diverse environments. After
achieving qualitative and quantitative growth in these
farm products the next important step is processing
them. That is why, under the able leadership of Shri.
Sharad Pawar, with the determination to develop the
food processing industry sector, the Agriculture and
Food Processing Department decided to work round
the clock. Accordingly, the policy was launched to set up
Food Parks and Mega Food Parks. The decision was
taken to set up total 56 food parks with an expenditure
of Rs. 208.544 crore. Under this scheme, by 2013 out
of 4 thousand 150 plots developed for this purpose 2
thousand 210 plots were distributed.
In 2008 the Central Government declared the
scheme of Mega Food Parks. The scheme entailed
providing common basic infrastructure needed for
processing a specific farm product at one place. This
would help in processing the farm product where it was
produced on a large scale. This saves the wastages in
handling these farm products. With farm products, it is
possible to reduce the wastages of poultry, animal meat,
milk and fish. The Central Government has offered 50 to
75 per cent of the project cost as grant.
Along with Food Park and Mega Food Park,

building chains of cold storages too was encouraged
during Shri. Sharad Pawars tenure. Substantial provision
was made in the eleventh and twelfth financial plans. In
eleventh financial plan 79, and in twelfth financial plan
75 cold storages were sanctioned. Actually 122 projects
were given aid. By February 2014, this resulted in the
creation of 1.91 lakh metric tonnes capacity of cold
storage and 79.06 lakh litre capacity of cold storage for
milk was developed.
During this period, encouragement was given to
build modern slaughter houses. This helped in better
production of meat and increased exports. Attention was
paid to modernisation of the food processing industry
to avoid wastages of perishable products like fruits,
vegetables, meat, eggs, fish and milk. This not only saved
the farmers from wastages of their produce but also
resulted in more value addition. With this, the farmers
the markets, consumers benefited. The country was a
major beneficiary as with increased exports the country
earned more foreign exchange.
Reforming the
Co-operative
Movement
41
hile we embraced democracy as a polity,

we were in search of an economic system
based on the active participation of the common man.
The system of Cooperation emerged from this quest.
Maharashtra provided a fertile soil for the cooperative
movement that brought forth the system that fitted well
in the mixed economy model of the country wherein
the common man was the owner and the interests of
the common man were given priority. Many dedicated
ambitious leaders sowed the seeds of this cooperative
movement and endeavoured to grow it and achieved
development of their areas. Through the cooperative
movement they brought the common man in the
economic mainstream and at the centre of economic
development.
India embraced the economic policy of
liberalisation. The private sector greatly benefited from
this. There was an expectation that the cooperative
sector should also benefit from these reforms. To
achieve this, many committees were appointed which
propounded many reforms. But these could not be
implemented at the national level. The government of
Andhra Pradesh implemented Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Act. The states of Bihar, Jharkhand,
Madhya Pradesh, Jammu-Kashmir, Karnataka, Odisha,
Uttarakhand too implemented similar acts. In 2002, the
central government declared national policy for the

cooperative sector. To reduce the regional imbalance,
to offer training related to cooperatives, to spread
literacy amongst the members, to bring in the culture of
professionalism in the functioning of the cooperatives
were the stated objectives of this policy. To realise these
objectives it was imperative to adopt uniform policy and
act at the national level. This need was fulfilled by the
97th constitutional amendment.
Even after 50 years of independence the cooperative
sector found no place in the constitution of India. The
Directive Principles of the State Policy in the Part 4,
para 43 states that the states have the powers to promote
and nurture cottage industry through individual or
cooperative basis. The second mention is in the second
schedule which is related to the states (schedule number
thirty two). But this mention is not sufficiently clear and
categorical. The attempt to give constitutional status
to the cooperative sector was made when Shri. Sharad
Pawar was the union minister. In 2004 he took a step
to give constitutions status to the cooperative sector
by forming a high level committee with Shri. Shivajirao
Patil as its chairman. Based on the proposals made by
this committee, Shri. Sharad Pawar presented a Bill in
the parliament and gave constitutional status to the
cooperative sector in India. He did not stop there; he
created confidence in the hearts of people by including
the word Co-operative in Article 19(10) (C) in the act of
right to establish co-operative societies.
From the perspective of the cooperative sector, the
preface and the statement Shri. Pawar made in reply to
the discussion while presenting the Bill on Co-operative
sector is very significant. He espoused the principal

that the role of an ordinary member is not restricted to
investing his or her capital; the member should have the
active participation in the functioning of the cooperative.
This Bill fulfilled the need for necessary controls and
regulations which were needed for the healthy growth of
the cooperative sector. The deadlock of centralisation
happening through the cooperative movement was
broken. Due attention was given to decentralisation
which is the soul of the cooperative movement. The
slogan Without Cooperation No Salvation! came
true for the common man.
On the Cricket
Play Ground
42
n 2001 Shri. Sharad Pawar became the President

of the Mumbai Cricket Association. Earlier he had
been elected as the President of the Garware Club House.
Though the talk of Sharad Pawar and Cricket has been
going on since 2001 this relationship is quite old; earlier to
his becoming the President of the Garware Club. In fact,
it is from his marriage. The world of cricket relates it in
a jocular vein to his marriage with Pratibha, the daughter
of the leg spinner Shri. Sadu Shinde and since then began
this relationship.
We all know Shri. Sharad Pawars love for sports.
After working for Kabbadi and Kho Kho and wrestling
through various ways for over 30-35 years he entered
into the cricket ground in the new century. From 2001 to
2011 for 10 years consistently he was the President of the
Mumbai Cricket Association. In 2011 he was elected as
the President of the International Cricket Organisation.
Since then till date he is again the President of the
Mumbai Cricket Association.
When he was the Minister of Sports in the State
government he played a major role in making available
the land for the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This
is the most important stadium in the country where
international cricket matches are oraganised. Going
beyond the limits of the earlier Brabourne Stadium this
Wanklhede stadium has given a permanent place for
Mumbai on the global map. Keeping in view the changing
face of cricket and the new needs stemmed from new
technologies it was he who took lead in modernising

this stadium in 2011. Many tried to put a spanner in this
work but Shri. Sharad Pawar in his usual characteristic
determined style completed this work. That is why the
World Cup final match of one-day international could be
held at this Wankhede Stadium in 2011. India won this
final match and even the World Cup.
As per the constitution of the Mumbai Cricket
Association no person can remain as the President for
more than eight years. Considering the great work of
Shri. Sharad Pawar for the Mumbai Cricket Association,
all members in 2011 unanimously removed this condition
of this eight year in the constitution and again entrusted
him with the responsibility of the President. The
Mumbai Cricket Association and the Garware Club
had long standing lawsuit. for years. After assuming
the responsibility as the President Shri. Sharad Pawar
ended this strife. In his tenure the Association became
economically strong and enriched with all necessary
equipments. During his tenure the Recreation Centre of
the Mumbai Cricket Association, the Indoor Academy at
the Associations Stadium at Bandra-Kurla Complex and
new Gymkhana at Kandivali were constructed. He started
a scholarship scheme for the rising stars of cricket. It was
due to him the huge consolidated fund was raised what
enabled the Association to give financial assistance to
other clubs associated with the Association. His decision
to give pension to retired, old cricketers was indeed
revolutionary. This benefit of pension is extended even to
those cricketers who are not eligible as per the regulations
of the Indian Cricket Control Board. The pension that
starts at Rs. 10000 at the age of 55 years reaches to Rs.
20000 by the age of 70 years.
As Shri. Sharad Pawar is quite clear in his mind

that all decision pertaining to cricket should be taken
by the cricketers and the organisers should work to
create facilities needed for the game; he does not allow
any outsider to meddle in the decisions related to the
game. Immediately after taking over as the President of
the Association he founded the Cricket Improvement
Committee of veteran cricketers. He entrusted all rights
to select the cricket coach and players to this committee.
He was elected as the Chairman of Indian Cricket
Control Board for the three years from 2005 to 2008.
He persisted in his insistence that women should get
all opportunities to progress in all fields and insisted
that even in the game of Cricket women should get all
the opportunities. He brought womens Cricket under
the ambit of Indian Cricket Control Board. He started
monthly pension for the test cricket players, old cricketers
who played one-day matches and retired umpires and
retired Ranji players. He made a significant provision of
giving pension and other economic help to the wife of
the deceased retired test player and retired umpire.
It was Shri. Sharad Pawar who raised the grant
amount from Rs. 4 crore to whopping Rs. 50 core given
to the cricket stadiums for modernisation or to build new
facilities. In 2008 he stated the Indian Premier League a
new competition which is now extremely famous amongst
all sports lovers. From 2010 to 2012 he was elected as the
President of the International Cricket Committee. In this
period the World Cup matches were organised in India
and India won this World Cup.
The Package of
Self Confidence
43
he wave of suicides by cotton farmers was

spreading to other areas. In 2005, six hundred
farmers had committed suicide. The official figure of
total number of suicides reached over 1600. All over the
country there was a great worry on the one hand and
anger on the other hand. Farmers suicide was the main
agenda of the December 2005 winter session of the
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The state government
declared a package of Rs. 1075 crore for the farmers
from the districts of Akola, Amravati, Washim, Buldhana
and Yawatmal from the Amravati region. But the
members of the Legislative Assembly were not satisfied
by this package. Only the state government is not related
to the problem of farmers suicides as various subjects
of the Central Government too are part of it. A demand
was made in the session that the Prime Minister should
visit the region and give justice to the farmers.
As the members were not satisfied by the declaration
of the package; the state government finally agreed
to request the Prime Minister to visit the region. Shri.
Sharad Pawar was the union minister for agriculture.
The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Shri.
Pawar toured Vidarbha for two days on 30th June and
1st July. They visited some of the villages where farmers
had committed suicides. Dr. Manmohan Singh listened
to what the farmers told him and asked them some
questions. Shri. Pawar played the role of the mediator
between the farmers and Dr. Manmohan Singh. After
visiting the villages on 1st July 2006, the Prime Minister

held a meeting at the Nagpur Raj Bhavan with the
concerned central and state ministers and members of
the planning commission and other officers. He took a
review of the situation. There and there the decision to
declare the Vidarbha Package was made.
Out of this approximately 3000 crore package,
Rs. 712 crore were for writing off the loans of the
farmers, Rs. 126 crore were for restructuring the farmers
loans of 3 to 5 years duration, Rs, 78 crore for micro
irrigation, Rs. 2177 core for completion of the projects
of small, medium and big canals, Rs. 240 crore for
water conservation, Rs. 225 crore as the subsidy for the
implementation of national horticulture, Rs. 135 crore
for animal husbandry, and Rs. 180 crore for the improved
cotton seeds. This package was accompanied by Rs, 1075
crore package from the state government. As a leader
of Maharashtra and the union agriculture minister, Shri.
Pawar had made this happen.
The objective of this package was not limited to
freeing the farmers from loans. The purpose was not to
make the farmer dependent on others or to make any
favour to them. If we look critically at the provisions
of this package we will find that the objective of this
package was to infuse new life into agriculture, to free
the farmers from the clutches of loans and to empower
them to rise gain for cultivation. If the farmer gets this
empowerment and becomes productive again with a new
zeal, his economic condition definitely improves. This
in turn improves the economy of the country. Thus, the
basic objective of this package was not to give subsidy
and financial help for non productive purposes but to
encourage farmers to become productive again and to

enable them to stand on their own feet and thereby give
his lost confidence back to them. This kind of package
was designed because both Dr. Manmohan Singh and
Shri Pawar held the same opinion. Later, a decision was
taken to announce this package for the farmers troubled
by suicides from the states of Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh and Kerala. The districts troubled by farmers
suicides greatly benefited from this package.
Rejuvenation
of the Gods
Own land
44
hese days, lot many people talk about the

environment and need to protect it. In
Maharashtra, droughts or deluges are alternately frequent
occurances. Through them people are somewhat
aware of the consequences of degradation of nature.
But narrated here is an instance from Kerala, which
deservedly calls itself as Gods own country, but has to
bear the nature
Kerala receives abudant rains every year, which
keeps it green all through the year. But unhindered
development had its own ill-effects. In Kuttanad, for
example, the water became scarce making peoples life
miserable. Agriculture was destroyed. Fishing was in
trouble. The incidents of farmers suicides increased.
Administratively speaking this was an environmental
issue. So it was possible for the other departments
including the agriculture department to leave it to
environment ministry. But the agriculture ministry
under Sharad Pawar did not do that. Instead, he took
over the responsibility of improving the situation in
Kuttanad upon himself as he knew that the destruction
of biodiversity leads ultimately to the deterioration of
the agriculture in that particular area. Pawar appointed
a study group, with Dr. Swaminathan as its head. It was
supposed to investigate and make suggestions about
the problem. The group duely filed its report. Pawar
accepted their recommendation and sanctioned a scheme
of Rs. 1800 cr. for the rejuvenation of the area.

Kuttanad consists the districts of Allapuza,
Kottayam and Pathanamthitta. It receives torretial heavy
rainfall every year. It is quite rich in nature but people
are poor. Situated at barely 2 meters or 6 feet above sea
level, it often gets flooded. Rice, coconut, banana etc are
the main crops here.Density of population is very high.
Almost eighty per cent of the population is dependent
on agriculture, but the average land holding is very small.
97 per cent of the farmers own less than 0.4 ha of land.
Many of them have been forced to resort to collective
farming. Notwithstanding all this rice production was
very good. Kuttanad was known as rice bowl of Kerala.
It was also leading region producing shrimp.
All of it changed in last few years very rapidly.
The sea water started coming into the inlands. The
land turned alkaline resulting into decreasing the rice
production. Erstwhile, a very huge reservoir called
Bembnad in the area was quite useful in controlling both
the flooding of rivers and the tidal water flows coming
into the inlands. But with the growing urbanization huge
number of buildings came up around the reservoir. So
did increase the encroachements. The reservoir got filled
with sediment and its capacity shrinked by almost 78 per
cent. It affected adversely the fertility and production
of fish. As the reservoir could not accomodate the tidal
water it started submerging the nearby areas. As a result
of this about 12000 ha of farm land got damaged.
As the rainwater and this tidal water kept the farms
filled up for major parts of the agriculture season, the
essential organic elements in the soil and the fertilisers
washed away. The cost of production increased and the
farmers got into deadly debt trap. The land under paddy
cultivation came down from 61000 ha in 1967 to merely
37000 ha in 2003.Many of species of the fish found in
the Kuttanad got vanished due to the onslaught of this
development. Population of rats increased leading to the
increasing health problems of the people.
Curtailing the degradation and decay of Kuttanad
was a major challenge. Mr. Pawar took it upon himself
the task. A special scheme to help restore the life of the
region and prevent the environmental destruction was
launched. Special measures to curb the floods in the area
were undertaken. The deepening of the canals alongside
the farms and building the drainages inside them was
done. The newer varieties of rice and coconut were
introduced. They were distributed freely and widely to
the farmers. Break-walls were raised between the sea and
the farmlands. The growing of the was encouraged. It
helped reduce the losses in the agriculture and fishing.
The region was saved from submerging into the seawater. The quality of environment and the life of the
local people improved.
Medication
45
rime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had a

unique style of working. During his tenure, a
system of Group of Ministers was adopted in order to
take any decision after a detailed discussion and analysis
within a council of ministers. Groups of Ministers
were formed for taking a correct decision regarding the
subjects having variety of angles/perspectives worldwide.
These decisions were to be taken carefully, hence,
experts from various fields were invited to the Group
of Ministers. Most of these groups were led by senior
ministers like Pranab Mukherjee or SharadPawar. Pawar
was of the opinion that because of these groups, the
quality of governance enhanced as well as progressive
policy making was made possible. Instead of simply
discussing the issues in the council of ministers, serious
discourse on various subjects happened in the Group of
Ministers.
Dr. Manmohan Singh gave Mr. Pawar aresponsibility
of leading the group of ministers who were assigned to
finalize medicine related policies. After globalisation, it
was necessary to formulate new directive policies for the
field of Pharmacy. Indian Pharmaceutical companies
indeed had a capacity to compete and expand their base
in the global market. Moreover, Indian companies were
successfully fulfilling a demand for generic medicines by
many developed countries. If foreign investment would
be there in this field, Indian companies would have easily
reached to the international level. Giving boost to the

research in this field was also aneed of an hour.
While finalizing a policy for our nation, the prices of
the medicines, their quality, the benefit of the producers
and prospects of further research had to be considered.
Civil society and media were very sensitive about the
prices of the medicines. If the research in medicines
was to be encouraged, the expenses required for it were
supposed to be included in the production price of
the medicines. However, many consumer forums were
strongly against it. Ultimately Pawar had to intervene
and find a way out. A group of ministers took decisions
considering both research and development probabilities
in this field, government soon accepted all their
decisions. It benefited the Indian companies and they
started expanding themselves in the international market.
Floods of
Milk
46
ndia is blessed with large amount of livestock,

especially milch-animals, since ancient times.
Mentions of cows or similar animals are found invariably
in all our old scriptures and puranas. But over the years
we neglected our own great tradition of rearing and
caring of our cattle population. They were called as
friends of farmers, but we invested very little in the
scientific research relating to this field. It resulted in a
great shortfall of milk, eggs and other such products.
The per capita consumption of these was very low.
The department of animal husbandry comes under the
agriculture department. When Sharad Pawar took over it
he immediately got prepared a plan of action to increase
the volume of products deriving from the livestock.
His department announced a National Livestock
Development Policy in 2013. Increasing the productivity
of dairy cattle and the production of milk was accorded
the topmost priority. The National Cattle and Dairy
Development project was launched. Measures were
undertaken to provide infrastructure so as to facilitate
increasing production of the pure and high quality
milk. Large number of landless laborers and small
and medium farmers benefited immensely from these
measures. Within a short span of time, the number of
households having some kind of cattle reached to 70
millions in the country. Vast spread of network of dairy
cooperatives was seen during this period. The number
of village level dairies rose to 1 lakh 55 thousand 634.

They collected milk from 15.115 million members. The
number of dairies rose by 47 thousand 60 and of the
members supplying milk rose y 3.121 million over the
preceding nine years. The share of animal husbandry,
milk production and fishing rose to 30 per cent in the
national income during this period.
For better quality milk, we need to constantly
increase the quality of our cows and buffaloes. Superior
breeding is essential perquisite to it. In this regard, a
campaign was launched for widespread use of artificial
insemination. Under this programme, Rs. 156 cr were
spent to augment the infrastructure of 49 insemination
banks in the country. As a result of this the production
of insemination doses increased to 77 million from
41 million per year. The rate of pregnancy in the cows
increased substantially to 35 per cent in 2013 compared
to just 20 per cent in 2004. The private sector was roped
in. A total of 27 thousand 646 artificial insemination
centers in private sector were started. Similar programme
was extended in goat-farming. The state of the art
centers were set up in Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh,
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Efforts were also made to
produce better quality cattle feed.
All these measures proved complementary to each
other and the nation witnessed a huge flood of milk
during the ten years between 2004 and 2013. Incidentally
during the same period, many states suffered from
continuous drought. On the other hand some states
saw heavy downpours and floods for many weeks. Both
the natural calamities resulted in heavy losses of cattle
population. Notwithstanding these losses, countrys
yearly production of milk rose by 40 million tons in this

period. Compared to this, during the same period, the
milk production rose by 13 million tons in the US, by 23
million tons in China, by 5 million tons in New Zealand
and by mere 0.4 million ton in European countries.
Clearly, India remained far ahead of all these developed
countries in the growth of milk production.
In 2004-05 the total milk production in the country
was 92.50 million ton. It went up by a whopping 43.1
per cent to 132.43 million ton in 2012-13. This led to a
substantial increase in the per capita availability of milk.
It was 225 grams in 2003-04 and rose to 290 grams per
person in 2011-12. This has helped for a greater milk
intake in the overall diet of all the people in general and
the children in particular. This is a kind of revolution in
itself and has really been acclaimed all over the world.
Sparkling
Fish
47
urrounded by sea on three of its sides, India has

got a vast coastline of 7517 kms. Unfortunately,
not enough attention was paid previously to the huge
harvesting potential it offered. After assuming office as
an Agriculture Minister in 2004, Mr. Sharad Pawar made
enormous changes in the policy and the functioning of
the Fisheries Development Department. These changes
have paid handsome dividends. India, with a hare of 5.4
per cent of the world fish harvest, is now the second
largest fish producer in the world.
Indias fish production was 6 m tons in 2004-05. It
grew by 43 per cent to 9.04 m tons in 2012-13. So did
grow our fish exports. It increased from 6 m tons to
9.28 m tons in a span of nine years. During the same
period, the area under aquaculture rose from one lakh
55 thousand 372 ha to 2 lakh 43 thousand ha providing
the immense benefits to the fishermen and fish farmers.
For the better growth of the fish production, the quality
of fish seed is a critical factor. The fisheries department
focussed on that. Soon the quality seeds availability
increased from 20 thousand 790 million fri to 34
thousand 922 million fri. The growth rate was 67 per
cent.
Providing the basic infrastructure and security to
the fishermen were the basic preconditions before we
could aim at increasing the fish production. The fisheries
development department under Mr. Pawar precisely did
that. Insurance cover against the accidents was provided

to 43 lakh 25 thousand 692 fishermen. The insurance
cover was raised from Rs. One lakh to two lakhs. 74
thousand 468 houses were built for the fishermen.
Imparting the training to identify the suitable place for
setting up the farm, proper building of the pond is most
essential in developing the farm fishing. About one lakh
70 thousand fishermen were given such training. 59
small harbours were built for the convenience of the
fishermen. More than 15 thousand fishing boats were
mechanised. Apart from this five thousand new boats
were provided to the fishermen.
All these measures have paid quite handsomely.
Today, next to China, India has become the second
largest fish producer in the world.
Existence of
Poultry
48
oultry farming is an independent business as

well as a beneficial allied business for the farmer
or cultivator. In order to make the Indian farmer selfsufficient, poultry farming has been added to the list of
significant businesses. Poultry farming can be easily done
to increase the supply of eggs and chicken.
The tenth and eleventh Five Year Plan made a
provision of 7,815 Cr and 4,976 Cr Rupees respectively
for the poultry farming. Due to the increase in
allocation, additional poultry projects were established
across India. From 2009-2010, a Poultry Farming
Development Scheme was implemented. The scheme
was formulated for both professional poultry farming
and traditional poultry farming. The 11th FYP laid down
a budget of 6,738 Cr for encouraging the traditional
poultry farming. It was during Mr. Sharad Pawars tenure
that the scheme was extended to benefit the BPL (Below
Poverty Line) population with an investment of Rs.
6.14 Cr. Meanwhile, Odisha and Sikkim witnessed the
establishment of Poultry Estates. To encourage an
entrepreneurship in poultry farming, a Poultry farming
project fund was raised during 2011-12. It helped 2,666
projects across the country.
The development of fish farming, poultry farming
and animal husbandry is important in order to fulfil the
food requirement of non-vegetarians. With a view to

modernize the domain of poultry farming, producers
associations were established, also, visits to successful
projects and exhibitions, expos etc. were organized.
Protein requirement of the large number of the
population was fulfilled by the products emerged from
these initiatives. The availability of these products in
abundance as well as affordable prices made proteins an
integral part of peoples diet. Increase in the production
in these three industries and quality enhancement helped
to ensure food security.
In order to raise the an awareness regarding
nutritive value of eggs and overall benefits of eggs,
the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and
Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture celebrated World
Egg Day on 11th October 2011. On this occasion, the
egg vending machine was brought to Central Poultry
Development Organisation, Chandigarh. The quality of
eggs and chicken is important for consumers. Hence,
awareness campaigns for maintenance of animals
were conducted. Similar schemes were implemented in
piggeries and rabbitries in north western part of India.
Liberation of the
Child Labour
49
his tragic incidence happened in a satin work

factory in Mumbai A child working there made
some mistake and as a punishment the factory owner
brandished him with hot iron and poured hot oil on
him. The small boy died. This made headlines in the
newspapers. The workers of the Pratham, an NGO
working for child labour took up this issue. Till then
Pratham had surveyed the slums and registered over
four thousand five hundred child labourers slogging
there. The state government was not willing to accept
this reality of child labour. The incidence of the child
killed by the torture by the factory owner added to the
gravity of this issue. Shri. Sharad Pawar was a minister
in the central government but incidentally he was in
Mumbai during that time. The workers of Pratham
reached him and explained him this grave issue. Shri
Pawar immediately ranged Shri R.R. Patil who was the
then deputy chief minister and the home minister for
an immediate meeting. He explained him in details the
problems of child labour with all its dimensions. Shri.
Patil took it to heart and immediately issues orders to the
officers.
The wheels started moving and the police began
to raid factories. In the very first raid the policed got
hold of over four hundred and fifty children slogging
in Dharavi. Now there was no need to explain the
issue to the government. The government accepted the
responsibility of liberating the children working and
suffering hellish torture who were brought to Mumbai

as labourers on the contract basis. These children
were made to work without any wages and only on the
condition of feeding them. Home Minister Shri. Patil
himself was taking review of each case and visited some
areas. The question was what to do with the arrested
children working as labourers? One way was to reach
them to their families or those who could not be taken
to their homes needed to be sent to child reform centres
to complete their education. The government needed
to spend money for this. Most of the children taken
into custody were from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and other
states. A question was raised as to how much money the
state government should spend on these children. But
Shri Pawar took a firm stand on this issue that no matter
to which state these unfortunate children belonged to;
these are our children and are Indians. If no one came
ahead to take the responsibility of their rehabilitation,
we will take this responsibility. His stand became the
governments position. Shri. Pawar did not wait at that.
He arranged a meeting between Shri. Laloo Prasad
Yadav, the Chief Minister of Bihar and the workers of
Pratham. Through Shri. Yadav a meeting was arranged
with the MPs from Bihar to explain them this issue of
child labour. Shri. Pawar endeavoured to make them
positive on this issue.
Later the state government formed a task force for
the liberation of children working as labourers. This
changed the state governments view on this issue and
child labour became a priority issue. When the news
Child labourers held made headlines, the Home
Minister looked into it and met the news reporters. The
headlines were changed as Child labourers are freed
and Contractors are arrested. A definite system for

the liberation child labour emerged. Later this system
was adopted by the High Court and the Supreme Court.
During the period of just two year from of 2005 to 2007
over sixty thousand child labourers were freed.
Four months back Pratham did a survey of orphans,
unsheltered children at the railway stations. The workers
of Pratham took their issue to Shri Pawar. Shri. Pawar
immediately talked to the Railway Minister Shri. Suresh
Prabhu and discussed the issue with him. He initiated a
dialogue between the Pratham workers and the railway
administration. This will certainly help in resolving
the issue of these children. Now there are no children
slogging in the satin factories in Mumbai. Also you
will find that now the number of children seen at the
signals and the begging children near the temples has
substantially come down.
For over fifty years of his life Shri. Sharad Pawar
has been a member of some or the other legislative
body; and as a member he has been keenly aware of his
role as a legislator. He was not just another politician.
When the Nirbhaya rape incidence happened, the
central government took a decision to reduced the age
for juvenile criminals from 18 to 16. Some NGOs
held differing views on this. When they contacted Shri
Sharad Pawar he promptly kept all work aside and read
their draft of the Bill very critically and discussed it
thoroughly. The social workers working in various social
fields hold Shri Sharad Pawar in high esteem. Shri. Pawar
always goes beyond all politics to contribute to social
change.
The Urge for a

New Era
50
n 1984, the bullets fired by her bodyguards killed

Prime Minister Mrs. India Gandhi. The country
was shocked and with this unexpected catastrophe
things began to change rapidly. The election of Shri.
Rajiv Gandhi as the Prime Minister was one part of
it. The country gave its overwhelming mandate to
Shri. Rajiv Gandhi. The reins of the country went into
the hands of young generation. Shri. Rajiv Gandhi
made it clear that given the challenges of the twenty
first century the country would be stirred in a new
direction. His perception towards the problems facing
the country was very refreshing and unbiased. Both
the leftist and the rightist parties with their traditional
mindset were opposing his ideas of computerisation
to telecommunication. But Shri. Sharad Pawar who
could hear the footsteps of the impending future saw
substance in Shri. Rajiv Gandhis thoughts. He could see
the new aspirations of the new generation. Shri. Rajiv
Gandhi had already directly and indirectly extended an
invitation. Considering it Shri. Sharad Pawar decided
to work with him and joined the Congress again. This
decision was not just political. It was significant to note
that with his rural background what Shri. Sharad Pawar
saw in the agenda needed for the country was not seen
by the them high class, ultramodern leaders even at their
personal level.
Realising that computer revolution is the pathway

to the new era, Shri. Sharad Pawar started working in his
own constituency. The Baramati Vidya Pratishthan made
available buses with computer lab to provide computer
education even in the remotest, mountainous rural
areas. He ensured that no student should be deprived
of computer education. Every bus was ready with
some 20 computers and an electric generator to power
them. There were computer trainers in each bus. These
buses visited once a week in places like Baramati, Bhor,
Indapur, Purander and neighbouring Zilha Parishad
Schools. To see the success of this experiment Mr. Craig
Barrat, the President of the American Multinational
Intel had personally visited the area. Influenced by the
spread of computer literacy through these buses Mr.
Barret gifted 35 such buses to the Vidya Pratishthan.
Later, along with the Pune district with the nominal
fee of one rupee these buses were taken to Haryana,
Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Zharkhand for spreading
computer education.
Today everyone knows about the IT Park at
Hinjewadi near Pune. It was Shri. Sharad Pawars
vision to establish such an IT Park near Pune and take
Maharashtra to the global IT map. The question was not
of securing permissions and facilities from the central
government to establish an IT Park; the issue was of
making available the necessary land near a suitable
big city. The issue was to get more bandwidth from
the central government for Pune and neighbouring
region and also to get necessary tax benefits from the
local municipal corporation. Then there was another
peculiar problem with Hinjewadi. Some part of the land
necessary for the IT Park was purchased for building a

sugar factory. It needed great skill and expertise to make
the sugar factory barons understand and make this land
available for the IT Park. His critics always say that he is
ever ready to extend all possible help to the cooperative
sugar factories in the state. But this IT Park showed his
balanced approach of knowing what really matters for
the future and taking projects of greater good ahead.
Once convinced of a particular project Shri. Sharad
Pawar completes it with all determination and works hard
leaving no stone unturned. His opponents and critics
greatly admire him for this.
Major
Initiatives in
Agricultural
Research
51
ndia lags behind the world in the field research.

The institutions involved in doing fundamental
research are far and few between in the country. And this
is true of all the major fields- may it be industry, science
or technology. In these days developing an indegenous
technology is key or a prerequisite to allround and
sustainable development. Borrowed technology helps
you to move ahead in the short term. For soundfooted
and exponential growth to happen one needs to be
self-sufficient. The futuristic targets that Mr. Pawar has
set for himself and for the field of agriculture could
not have been achieved without being self-sufficient
in fundamental research in this field. Hence as an
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar gave a huge impetus
to it.
When Pawar took over, there were many agricultural
research institutions operating in India. But most of
them had turned gloomy as the scientists working there
were feeling neglected. They needed an encouragement.
Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR) was
the premier institute among theme, with five thousand
scientists working in it. Pawar saw to it that they get
fullest freedom in their functioning. Some 80 institutions
associated with the ICAR were freed from the direct
intervention of the agriculture ministry. The selection
of the scientists is done by the Agricultural Scientist

Recruitment Board. Pawar insisted that eminent retired
scientists be appointed on this panel. Usually such
institutions are not quite efficient in planning their huge
funding requirements. Pawar suggested that they should
prepare their budgets at the beginning of the year. He
later ensured their speedy approvals and instructed
his departmet not to interfere in them for rest of the
year. As a result the institutions were no longer needed
to come to the ministry for every single decision or
clearance.
Pawars another major initiative was holding an
informal dialogue with the scientists on a large scale. He
instituted a system in the ministry to take cognizance of
the research papers of the scientists which proved as a
huge encouragement to them. Pawar also made it a point
to visit himself many scientific experiments and also
did many practical suggestions from the point of view
of farmers. In his ten year tenure, Pawar made similar
efforts to give boost to the research organizations in the
food processing industry. The Indian Institute of Crop
Processing Technology located at Tanjavur( Tamilnadu)
was doing commendable job. It was upgraded as a
national level institute and was given Rs. 102 cr. as
additional funds. The Institute now offers courses
like B.Tech, M.Tech and PhDs in the food processing
engineering.
Some new institutes were also formed. National
Institute of Food Technology and Entrepreneurship and
Management at Kundali (Sonepat, Haryana) was among
them. Began with an initial investment of Rs. 480 crs. the
institute was given a status of deemed university in 2012.
The Indian Grape Processing Board, which was

established in 2009 in Pune, helped take the products
made from grapes in the country to the global level.
Similarly, an autonomous body called National Meat
and Poultry Processing Board was established by the
food processing deparment to improve the quality and
augment the growth of poultry products. Several such
institutes were either newly formed or reactivated at the
behest of Mr. Pawar. The country is going to benefit
from it for so many years to come.
Unanimous Choice of
the Administration
52
epresentatives of the people and administration

are the two organs of every states government.
Many a times there are conflicts between them. Although
in modern times it is desired that such conflicts should
not be there yet lack of mutual coordination is missing
everywhere. The struggle for domination of earlier times
is now converted into suspicion of integrity and honesty.
We see a schism in representatives and the administration
encroaching the area of authority. Still, going beyond
all these points many representatives are known to have
won the confidence of administration and respect and
ran the government efficiently and ably. The first name
taken in this regard in Maharashtra and at the national
level is none but Shri. Sharad Pawar.
It is generally held that a peoples representative
is someone who takes care of the public opinion and
wins elections. But Shri. Pawar firmly believes that the
representative who is also the ruler must be aware of his
responsibilities and must acquire all necessary knowledge
to discharge these responsibilities. That is why, the
officers from every ministry headed by Shri. Sharad
Pawar never found him wanting in any knowledge. Every
decision of Shri. Pawar has solid confidence that comes
from the power of knowledge and his officers hold him
in high esteem. Shri. Pawar never took decisions based
on the information received just from documents. As
he continuously interacts with a great many people and
travels far and wide he knows the truth behind every
piece of document that reaches him. His incisive intense
power of comprehension stands him in good stead. He

takes decisions with great clarity. This gives a clear and
definite direction to the administration and no place
is left for any confusion regarding the implantation of
these decisions.
Giving complete freedom to the administrative
officers is considered as another distinct feature of
Shri. Sharad Pawar. He allows the concerned officers to
express their opinions freely after finalising the decisions
on any particular subject. Just because a decision is to
be made he never expects his officers to give a positive,
suitable opinion. On the contrary, he takes a position that
his officers should give their opinions freely and then
he would take the right decision. If he finds that any
officer has misconceptions about any problem then he
explains in a different way. He insists on this policy for
all his meetings with the officers. While serving as the
Chief Minister he never had any grudge in his mind even
if the secretary of the finance department or the Chief
Secretary opposed any of his decisions. He believes
that the officers have fulfilled their role and the ministry
needs to play its own role of taking decisions. One can
see the understanding that decisions are to be made
keeping in view administrative difficulties and political
needs. Today the transfers of offices and the staff has
become a bone of contention in the government. The
officers who have worked with Shri. Pawar confirm that
he never took a hard and fast, or extreme position on the
issue of these transfers. Many contractors and suppliers
continually come to the rulers with their demands and
expect some benefits from their contacts. Officers
themselves reveal that they never received any instruction
from Shri. Pawar to grant any contract or supply of
something, or to show special concern for anyone.
If you have some work with the government then

wait for six months is a popular saying in Marathi. When
Shri. Pawar was the minister or the Chief Minister, no
file remained pending for decision more than twenty
four hours. Every file that came to him in the evening
was returned the next day with clear remark or decision.
The secretaries have to go to the ministers or the Chief
Minister at any hour of the day and night. No officer
who worked with Shri Pawar anywhere in India never
had this experience. If the subject was not clear from
the points given in the file and if he found that more
explanation was needed he would call the concerned
secretary to get necessary explanation.
In last 50 years Shri. Pawar has amazed many a
people in administration with the power of his sharp and
encyclopaedic memory. A file is always related to various
departments. It carries remarks of the administrative
head of the respective department and the ministers.
Shri. Pawar exactly remembers each and every remark.
If in the course of discussion anyone has forgotten any
reference or context, Shri. Pawar would remind him of it.
Many officers have experienced this. Another distinctive
feature of Shri. Pawar is that he never had any prejudice
while taking any decision. He became the Chief Minister
of Maharashtra four times. Even if different decisions
were taken from the decisions he had taken when he was
not in power; he never blamed any officer or kept any
grudge while dealing with him. He is completely aware
of the fact that governance is a continuous process and
many are responsible for the decision taken. That is
why taking independent decisions based on the merits
has been a hallmark feature of Shri. Pawar. No wonder,
the administration always extended all whole hearted
support to him. The administration always supported
his every decision and cooperated very well in their

implementation.
As he is very particular and strict about time
management, all officers and staff working with him
have to be punctilious and follow the discipline of
adhering to the time schedule. While deciding the next
days work schedule he perfectly works out the time to
be allotted for every meeting and the importance to be
given to it. That is why there are no dislocations in his
planned programs and everything happens on time as
decided. He perfectly understands the gravity of the
decisions which demands his involvement and knows the
level of his own involvement needed. Wherever needed,
he goes beyond guiding and taking review, and takes over
the responsibility for the implementation of decisions.
It never happened that he took the decision and left the
implementation to others.
Many a times, the politician or the policy maker
is dependent on the information from his officers.
Sometimes these officers have inadequate information
or comprehend it from the administrations point of
view. This leads to errors in the estimates of the policy
makers. This never happens with Shri. Pawar as he has
a strong network of his own for gathering information
in all fields. This information flow keeps him alert about
the implementation and outcomes of the decisions.
Many a times, the administration greatly benefits from
his information. This leads to a give and take between
him and the administration. It is not without reason that
people who work with him say that to work with Shri.
Pawar gives them a great learning opportunity.
We are Falling Short;

not the System or
the Legislature
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the
Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Arun Sadhu,
veteran journalist and writer had interviewed of Mr.
Sharad Pawar for Doordarshan,. Today, many people
raise questions about the contribution and utility of
overall legislative business. Many objections are also
raised very often about the way the proceedings of
the house is conducted. Mr. Pawar has dwelt about
it at length in this interview excerpts
Sadhu - In a parliamentary democracy,

legislature is supposed to play a crucial role of
giving direction to the policy-making and the
governing of the state. How much effective are the
todays legislatures are in playing their role?
Pawar- The legislative assembly symbolises the
will of the lay person. It provides the platform for the
expression of hopes and aspirations of the commonest
of the common man. The representatives of the people
initiate various discussions, put forth the peoples
demands. The governments policies are shaped here.
Suggestions to alter, amend, correct or change the
policies are made and discussed upon. This culminates
into making of the decisions in the larger interest of
the people. Again, as the saying goes, the proof of the
pudding is in the eating. Howsoever noble may the
policy be, its actual implementation is the key. If it is not
happening properly, then it comes back on the platform
of the legislature for the discussion. The governments
can take a cue from it and make the necessary amends in
the same. For the past twenty years I have participated
in so many of such discussions, listened to the replies
given by the ministers, heard lots of speeches. I feel,
it has been proved beyond doubt that this is the most
useful platform in democracy to solve the problems and
give the direction to the policy-making. I can say for sure
that in the eyes of the people this is one of the most
trustworthy democratic institutions in post-independent
India.
Sadhu- You talked about peoples aspirations.
But if i may ask, do these aspirations really reflect in
the proceedings of the legislatures? A widespread
perception is that these are not.

Pawar -Well, the members of the house belong
to the different political parties and ideologies. They
come from different classes. Hence they have different
viewpoints. The ones who come from the cities are
more keen about the civic issues. Similarly, the Adivasi,
Dalit representatives talk about the problems from their
constituencies. The ones coming from rural areas usually
talk very effectively about the farmers issues. Let me
give you an example which has happened in front of
me. In 1972 Maharashtra faced a worst drought ever. On
the backdrop of it, members from both ruling and the
opposition parties vehemently put forth the demands of
the agricultural labourers. Almost everybody insisted that
the government should ensure a stable employment and
minimum pay for these labourers, who were starving or
were forced to migrate with their families to the cities at
that time. The government had to concede to this and a
historic Employment Guarantee Scheme was born. The
first ever law in this regard was passed in Maharashtra
legislature. It was like giving a right to work and live
honorably. It was fortunate for me to be part of this
process.
The collective discourse gives birth to the policies.
It helps the common man. Many times even the local
issues are discussed at this highest forum. It could be
anything- ST bus accident or some labour policy or
drinking water problem in some remote village or some
kind of atrocities against women, dalits or adivasies.
Various such issues are raised here and government is
forced to respond to it. If has erred somewhere it is
made to confess to it on the floor of the house and is
then allowed to make amends in the policy. The whole

process is aimed at keeping a check on the government
and make it responsible. As I have seen it, it has worked
quite well over the years.
Sadhu - Please tell us about the people with
whom you worked and about so many incidents that
you have been witness to in last 21 years.
Pawar - I have seen the working of so many
speakers. From Balasaheb Bharade, Shivraj Patil, Sharad
Dighe, Shankarrao Jagtap, Balasaheb Desai, Pranlal Vora
and many others. But I must tell you something about
Sheshrao alias Nanasaheb Vankhede. Howsoever hot
may the atmosphere over a particular issue. He could
bring the temperatures down within a minute. He used
to have very good relations with the members from both
the sides. He had won the trust of one and all. In 1972
me and some other young members became the minster
for the first time. If we did some mistake he used to call
us and tell us in private very gently. If you did a good
speech or come well-prepared in the house, he would
send a special congratulatory note. He was really an
encouraging speaker. Those who have worked under
him do still remember him. I feel sad that he is not alive
today. His was quite memorable tenure.
Off course, many others have performed similarly
well. I can tell you about many members. I have seen
the leaders like Yashwantraoji Chavan or S.M. Joshi in
the house. But i was not its member then. I watched
them from outside. Among the ones whom I worked
with, Madhusudan Vairale or Madhukarrao Chaudhary
of Congress, Uddhavrao Patil of PWP, Rambhau
Mhalagi of Jansangh were good parliamentarians. Even
former chief minister Dadasaheb Kannamwar was also

a good speaker. Unfortunately he did not get his due.
On one occasion when Acharya Atre pushed for a
no-confidence vote against him, Kannamwar had given
a splendid reply to it. One could mention many such
names. All these leaders used to devote lot of time for
the Assembly proceedings. They were very particular
about parliamentary norms and courtesies.
Sadhu- You seem to be quite positive and
optimistic about role of the legislature. But if you
look around, people in general and media and
middle class in particular are not happy about it.
They feel that the legislatures are proving to be
incapable of solving any real problems. What is your
take on it?
Pawar- I am aware that people at large have so
many things to talk against the parliamentary democracy.
When peoples basic problems remain unresolved over
the years this is going to happen. But if you ask me, i
do feel very strongly that irrespective of this occasional
pessimism, people in this country, have a strong faith in
the democratic institutions. If you try to take these for
ride or try to muzzle them, people react sharply. And
we have seen this in the past. Hence, whatever may be
the shortcomings, people have accepted parliamentary
democracy as the best way to run the country. People all
over the world have complimented us for our resolve. In
this case, the shortcomings pertain not to the institution
or the platform, but it pertains to us- the peoples
representatives. We must understand this and work to
rectify this.
An Excellent Platform for

Social Convergence
In 2011 the Golden Jubilee of the
Maharashtra Legislature was celebrated.
Various programs were organized on this
occasion. In the commemorative volume
published on the eve of this celebration,
Shri. Sharad Pawar has expressed his
feelings in the following words:
he people of Maharashtra gave me the

opportunity to work in the state legislature for
nearly twenty seven years. I am grateful to them for this.
I remember, after completing SSC in 1958, we had to
move to other areas as there was no facility for college
education. In this, Pune always ranked at the top. I too

took admission at the Brihan Maharashtra College of
Commerce in Pune. I was attracted to spots, drama,
organizing students and later in the work of the Youth
Congress. Soon I got involved in it.
In 1958, I came to Pune. Till that time I had not
seen Mumbai - the capital of Maharashtra. The State of
Maharashtra was formed on 1st May 1960. The Chief
Minister of Maharashtra Shri. Yashwantrao Chavan had
come to visit the Shivneri fort in Pune district. During
those days, listening the speeches of Shri. Chavan Saheb
would be precious opportunity. We students would
always attend his public meetings whenever he visited
Pune region. Once, three-four of our friends decided to
go to Mumbai. My class mate Shri. Dhanajirao Jadhav
was studying in Mumbai before coming to Pune. This
qualified him to be our guide in Mumbai. He was with
us. Dhanajirao asked what I wanted to see in Mumbai.
I answered- the sea, the airport, tram and the Vidhan
Bhavan. Dhanajiraos father was a veteran leader of
the Shetakari Kamgar Paksh and it helped us to get the
passes of the visitors gallery in the Vidhan Bhavan.
We reached the gallery of the Vidhan Bhavan. We
got the opportunity to see and hear the Chief Minister
Shri. Yashwantraoji Chavan; from the opposition side we
saw Shri. S.M. Joshi, Acharya Atre and other prominent
personalities. We friends got the opportunity to listen
to the discussion on various important issues. I was
glued to the happenings in the house. In between, I just
sat keeping one leg on the other. That very moment an
employee of the legislature came to me and told me that
sitting with one leg over the other was not permitted
there. I must sit with straight legs. Pulling my legs I sat

straight. The discussion in the House was going on in
full steam. I was absorbed in listening to it. Lost in the
interesting discussion, I, again as was my habitual sitting
position pulled my leg unconsciously and put it on my
left thigh. The employee of the Vidhan Bhavan saw it
and he scolded me, I told you once but you seem not
to care. You must get out. I requested him to pardon
me and said sorry. But he was not at all willing to listen.
He sternly ordered me to leave the gallery. I got up.
But while going out I told him, Next time when I will
return; I will return not to sit in this gallery but to sit in
the House. He looked at me and laughed. He said, If
you come to sit in the House, I shall have no authority
to tell you how you should sit. But if you keep your
word and if I am still there in this service, I will certainly
salute you and show you the way to the House.
After seven years, in 1967, I got elected from
Baramati to the Vidhan Sabha. While I was entering into
the House for taking the oath, I saw the same employee
standing nearby. He was the one who had asked me to
go out of the gallery. He recognized me and saluted me,
Welcome to the House and showed me the way to the
House. From that day onwards, for almost twenty seven
years I have been coming and going to the House. The
House was shifted to the new place my going to the
House lasted till I moved to the Loksabha in Delhi.
In the House of Maharashtra I sat as the member
of the Vidhan Sabha. I made friendly relations with
many people. Senior leader Shri. Vasantrao Naik, Shri.
Shankarrao Chavan, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shri. Sushil
Kumar Shinde - all later became the chief ministers
of the state. All these three leaders have been my

colleagues as the union ministers of Government of
India. In both the Houses, I got the opportunity to
take the responsibility of the Leader of the Opposition
for some time. I remember of many instances where
a simple member of the legislature too could work
effectively and contribute significantly to resolve
important problems facing the state. If it rains while
the Jowar crop is maturing, its seeds turn black and it
does not find any buyer, and this devastates the farmer.
I presented this problem in the Vidhan Sabha and made
the government to by this black jowar. I presented the
cases of the marginalized people in the House and got
help for the farmers to enable them to live with dignity.
The House has witnessed my seminal involvement in
the change of name of the Marathwada University,
the implementation of the Mandal Commission with
the policy to give opportunities to the OBCs, giving
reservation to women to increase their participation
in the panchayat raj institutions, local self government
institutions and cooperative institutions, appointment
of Statutory Development Boards under the Section
371 A to do away with the regional imbalance in
Maharashtra and many such policies which ushered in
various transformations.
In the state legislature, I got the opportunity to
work with prominent personalities like Shri. Vasantrao
Naik, Shri. Shantilal Shah, Shri. V.S. Page, Shri.
Uddhavrao Patil. Shri. Krishnarao Khulup, Shri. R.S.
Gawai, Shri. Uttamrao Patil, Shri, T. S, Karkhanis,
Dr. Bapusaheb Kaldate, Shri. Yashwantrao Mohite,
Shri. Vasantdada Patil, Shri. Shankarrao Chavan, Shri.
Keshvrao Dhondge, Shri. R.K. Mhalgi, Shri. Jayantrao

Tilak, Shri. N.D. Patil, Shri. Datta Patil, Shri. Ganpatrao
Deshmukh, Shri. Datta Tamhne, Shri. G.P Pradhan,
Shrinati Mrunal Gore, Shri. D.B. Patil, Shri. G.D.
Madgulkar, Shru. N.D. Mahanor, Shri, Manohar Joshi,
Shri. Pramod Nawalkar. This is the treasure of my
public life.
I got to see the generational changes in the House.
I saw Shri. Shankarrao Mohite as the MLA and also
saw Shri. Vijaysinh Mohite. Many such examples
could be given. I myself, and Shri. Ajit Pawar from
two generations right from my house were there in the
legislature at the same time. And now my daughter Mrs.
Supriya Sule and I myself sit in the same house of the
Loksabha. Many such persons, events and memories are
associated with the House. Though there were profound
discussions on various issues, policies were made, laws
were made, conflicts occurred but all this always vitally
contributed to the strengthening of the parliamentary
democratic system. When I entered the House as the
member in 1967 for the first time, the salary given to
the members of the legislature was Rs. 250. During the
period of sessions Rs. 15 was the daily allowance paid.
During the sessions no rent was payable but in the nonsession period everyday Rs. 18 was payable as rent for
a room in Amdar Niwas. The attendance in the House
would be very good. The number of MLAs and MLCs
who would visit the legislative library before and after
the session would be remarkable.
Now we are celebrating the golden jubilee year of
this House. It is a rarest occasion and a golden, sweet
coincidence to have in our midst Mrs. Pratibhatai Patil
who is shouldering the responsibility of the President

of our country; and who entered this house at the age
of twenty five-twenty six, and held many responsibilities
such as deputy miniter, minister of state, and then a
cabinet minister; and the Leader of the Opposition.
Also, she is the mother of an honourable member of
this House.
Sharad Pawar - Fifty Years

1967

Member of Maharashtra Assembly

General Secretary, Maharashtra Congress
Secretary, Congress Legislative Party
1972-74
Minister of State for Home, Food and Civil Supplies,

Publicity, Sports and Youth Welfare (Maharashtra
State)
1974-78
Cabinet Minister : Education, Agriculture, Home,

Labour, Youth Welfare (Maharashtra State)
1978- 80
1988-91
1993-95
Chief Minister of Maharashtra (Total four times)
1981-86
Leader of the Opposition, State Assembly,

Maharashtra
1982-87
President, Congress (S)
1984
Got elected to eightth Lok Sabha (resigned in March

1985)
1991
Member of Lok Sabha (Second Time)
1991-93
Defence Minister, India
1993-95
Member of Legislative Council (Maharashtra)
1995-96
Leader of Opposition, Legislative Council

(Maharashtra)
1996
Member of Lok Sabha (Third Time)
1996-97
Member, Parliament Committee on ScienceTechnology, Forest and Environment
1998

Member, Lok Sabha (Fourth Time)

Leader of the Opposition, Lok Sabha
1998-99
Member, Parliament Committee on General

Administration, External Affairs and External
Affairs Subcommittee, Human Resources
Development Ministry Consultative Committee
1999
Member, Lok Sabha (Fifth Time)

Leader, Nationalist Congress Party, Lok
Sabha
1999-2000
Member, Parliament Committee (Agriculture

and General Administration)
2000-01
Member Parliament Committee
2001-04
Deputy Chairman, National Disaster

Management Committee
2004
Member Lok Sabha (Sixth Time)
2004 - 09
Cabinet Minister (Agriculture, Food and Civil

Supplies and Consumer Affairs)
2009
Member, Lok Sabha (Seventh Time)
31 May 2009 to
18th January 2011 Cabinet Minister, (Agriculture, Food and Civil
Supplies, Consumer Affairs)
st
19th January 2011

to 26th May 2014 Minister, Agriculture and Food Processing
April 2014
Elected to Rajya Sabha
September 2014 Member, Parliament Committee on Human

Resources
Member, Parliament Committee on
Parliamentary Affairs
January 2015
Member, Parliament Committee on General

Administration
Institutional Work
President -
Nehru Center, Mumbai,

Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Satara
Vidya Pratishthan, Baramati and Pune,
Agriculture Development Trust, Baramati
Y. B. Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai
Vasantdada Sugar Institute, Pune
Sports
President

1) Garware Club House, Mumbai

2) Maharashtra Wrestling Council
3) Mumbai Cricket Association
4) Maharashtra state Olympic Association
Former President 1) Board for Cricket Control of India

2) International Cricket Council
ETC
2003
Honoured as Best Parliamentarian at the hands

of President Pratibha Patil
2008
Launching of Fast Forward, a compilation

of selected Speeches, at the hands of Prime
Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh.
2015
Autobiography called - Lok Maze Sangati published in the presence of all the major
political leaders
Honors
18th May 2008
Honorary Doctorate from the Lawrence

Technological University of South Field,
Michigan, US.
24th Nov. 2008
D. Lit. by Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Pune
1st Dec. 2008
Doctor of Science by Odisha University of

Agriculture and Technology, Bhuvaneshwar,
Odisha
22nd Feb. 2013
Doctor of Science by Vasantrao Naik

Marathwada Krishi Vidyapeeth, Parbhani
16th June 201
D. Lit. by Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
27 June 2015
D. Lit by Mahatma Gandhi Mission Institute of

Health Science, Aurangabad, Maharashtra
25th Oct. 2008
Krishiratna by Mahatma Phule Agriculture

University, Rahuri, Maharashtra
th
The following books contain information on

Shri. Sharad Pawars career in various fields:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
LOK MAZE SANGATI (Political autobiography) : Shri. Sharad

Pawar, Rajhans Prakashan, Pune
ON MY TERMS : Shri. Sharad Pawar, Speaking Tiger Publishing
Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
FAST FORWARD : Shri. Arun Tikekar, Rohan Prakashan, Pune
SPARDHA KALASHI.. Vedh Bhartatil Arthik va Samajik
Sankramanacha : Shri. Arun Tikekar, Rohan Prakashan, Pune
LOKNETE SHARAD PAWAR : Adv. Ram Kandge, Rajashree
Prakashan, Pune
Vicharsutra : Shri. Padmabhushan Deshpande, Yashwantrao
Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai
Dusari Harit Kranti : Amey Prakashan, Pune
Aadharvad (Marathi) / Vatvriksh (Hindi) : Dr. Narendra
Borlepawar, Publihser : Sora Media Pvt. Ltd, Mumbai. (Published
in five languages Marathi, Hindi, English, Gujrati, Urdu)
Sushasan Ani Samwad : Shri. Laxmikant Khabia, Publisher:
Sharad Krida Va Sanskrutik Pratishthan, Pune.
Sansad Dhurin : Publihser: MP Vandana Chavan, Former MLA
Kamal Dhole-Patil, Pune
Dhurandar : Shri. Nilesh Magar, Pune
Udyamshil : Shri. Laxmikant Khabia, Publisher : Sharad Krida va
Sanskrutik Pratishthan, Pune
Krutishil Parivartanwadi : Editor: Adv. Jaydeo Gaikawad, Arun
Khore, Publisher : Vijay Jadhav, Prof. Madhukar Gaikawad
INDUSTRIOUS : Shri. Laxmikant Khabia, Publisher : Sharad
Krida va Sanskrutik Pratishthan, Pune.
Facebook Page Link : facebook\Pawar Speaks
Acknowledgments
1. Shri. Sharad Kale
2. Shri. Hemant Takle
3. Shri. Dilip Valase-Patil
4. Shri. Shashikant Shinde
5. Shri. Shivajirao Deshmukh
6. Shri. Ajit Nimbalkar
7. Pro. Ratnakar Shetty
8. Shri. Vishwas Thakur
Thanks for the Cooperation
1. Shri. B. B. Vaghmare
2. Shri. Rangnath Chormule
3. Shri. Jaya Shetty
4. Shri. Anil Pazare
5. Shri. Satish Raut
6. Shri. Sunil Ranade
7. Shri. Nilesh Raut
8. Shri. Ravikant Varpe
9. Shri. Vidhyadhar Khande
10. Shri. Suresh Patil
11. Shri. Parag Patil
12. Shri. Sanjay Borge
We are grateful to those who made us available various
references and information while preparing for this
book.
Datta Balsaraf
(Programme Organiser, Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai)

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Era of

Parliamentary five decades

Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai

Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai

For Private Circulation

. B. Chavan Pratishthan is working in social and

Chairperson, Y. B. Chavan Pratishthan, Mumbai

The outlook of our countrymen

round 60 years ago, a schoolboy named Sharad

Sharad Pawar is one of the most sincere parliamentarians

29. The Killari Earthquake / 86

ince the very beginning, building organizations

Society was his policy; and through this he built dairy

Conservation, Co-operation and New Economic Policy.

renown. Though the election of the new President takes

hough ours is an agro-based society our country

To fulfil this, the need of the hour was to go directly to

rrespective of which party is ruling in the state,

government employees and the teachers went on a one

days, were given some advance. Earlier it was decided to

Era of Transformation and Progress | 17

r. Babasaheb Ambedkar taught his followers

would be easy. But something unexpected happened.

in Marathwada. He endeavoured hard to change the

20 | Era of Transformation and Progress

he Belgaum border dispute is a wet blanket

country. Shri. Pawar had even suggested an alternative

have been given assistance. There was no question of

Era of Transformation and Progress | 23

umbai is the economic capital of our country.

It was planned that in the extended region of Mumbai

Maharashtra for a longer time and this resulted in the

26 | Era of Transformation and Progress

uring the decade of 1980 oil and natural

coastal areas of Konkan. As the natural gas was not

Era of Transformation and Progress | 29

o lead single-handedly the industrially

encouraging incentive schemes. He wanted to create

Materials for Electronics and Electronic Research and

32 | Era of Transformation and Progress

ince his entry into the legislature, Shri. Sharad

In a costly city like Mumbai where prices of land

34 | Era of Transformation and Progress

Relief for the

n 1970, a decision was taken to build a whole new

5 people and 38 were fatally wounded. This sharpened

36 | Era of Transformation and Progress

he Year 1990 is considered as the year that

remarkable. The state ranked second or third in the

38 | Era of Transformation and Progress

e often get to hear the talk that there are

When he broached up the subject, Morarjibhai at once

40 | Era of Transformation and Progress

he 1980s is known as the decade of unstable

Akali Dal leaders and the Centre, Rajiv Gandhi thought.

odern education and equal opportunity for

minister Shri. Salim Zakaria as its chairman. Its mission

Mission too were implemented through this institution.

Era of Transformation and Progress | 45

s our society started realising the importance

by visiting worlds first ever Open University established

Era of Transformation and Progress | 47

For the Love