KASHIRAM Warghade does not live in a “standard village’’. Actually, he doesn’t live in a village at all. Up on the hills surrounding Trimbakeshwar’s Pahine village, 30 km from Nashik, Warghade lives in a small hamlet. It has no access road so he parks his motorcycle at a friend’s house in the foothills and then walks home. And that is why he doesn’t live in a “standard village’’.

The first tribal thakur to become a sabhapati in the region, Warghade dreams of living in a standard village, by the roadside, reaping benefits of living on the edge. “It is really very simple,’’ says the pragmatic tribal. “You live near the highway, things reach you faster, whether it is government schemes or modern amenities. You live on a hillock and not much happens.’’

But on July 25, Warghade’s hamlet came out of oblivion and hit the state’s consciousness when the 36-year-old walked up on stage to collect the award for the best sabhapati of the year in Mumbai. Awarded by weekly magazine Mantralay Varta, the Samajratna recognises the contribution of an individual in his or her capacity as a people’s representative.

“For many years Warghade did a lot of social work in the community but never got any recognition for it,’’ says gram sevak Arun Ahire, the man who recommended Warghade’s name for the award. “He has continued to do so in his capacity as sabhapati and has reached out to many in this region. There could not have been a more deserving candidate for this award.’’

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