Veteran socialist Pradhan dies at 88

His body was donated to Sane Guruji Hospital as per his wish. Divisional Commissioner Dilip Band and District Collector Chandrakant Dalvi also paid his tributes,along with other leaders.

Pradhan had devoted his life to the socialist ideology. He not only preached it but practised it throughout his life. He was fondly known as Pradhan master in socialist circle.

Born on August 26,1922,he completed his BA (Honours) in 1942 and then joined ‘Quit India’ movement when he was jailed for 11 months. In 1945,he completed MA in English and Marathi.

He began teaching in Fergusson College in 1945 and continued till 1965. He left the job to join politics and began working for socialist party. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1966 from graduates’ constituency. The University of Pune had conferred D Lit on him in 1998.

He was successively elected as an MLC in 1972 and 1978 from the same constituency. He was the leader of the Opposition in Assembly from 1980 to 1982. He was jailed for 18 months during Emergency from June 1975 to January 1977.

He retired from Assembly in 1984 even as he was offered candidature from his party to join as an honorary editor of Sadhana magazine. He worked in Sadhana till 1998 and voluntarily vacated his post once he turned 75. He worked as chairman of Mahatma Gandhi Lokseva Sangh,Maharashtra Arogya Mandal and Maharashtra Granthalay Parishad.

In 2006,he decided to retire from public life and refused to participate in public gatherings. He donated his house and shifted to Sane Guruji Hospital.

Pradhan wrote extensively on social movements,issues and biographies of great leaders of India.

His Marathi books Lokmanya Tilak,Swatantryasangramache Mahabharat and Sata Uttarachi Kahani received many awards,including state awards. Pandit Nehru Jeevandarshan,Bhakari Ani Swatantrya,Sane Guruji,Ram Ganesh Gadkari,Tolstoychi Patre,Lokshahi Ani Samajvad,Mazi Vatchal,Tolstoy,Satyagrahi Gandhiji,Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Tyanchyach Shabdat Mala Samajlele… and Agarkar Lekh Sangraha are some of his other prominent books.

‘No memorial,just plant a tree’
“Please do not set up any memorial after my death. Plant a tree in my memory…” G P Pradhan had written four years back to Narendra Dabholkar,editor of Sadhana magazine,where he once worked as honorary editor.

“…my friends who love me should plant a tree and manage it for five years after my death,” he had written.

He had also expressed a wish that Sadhana should become the mouthpiece of all progressive movements.

Recalling his generosity,one of the many great qualities Pradhan was known for,his close associate Rajendra Bahalkar said,“Pradhan sir was so selfless he used to donate almost all his various pensions to social movements and the needy. In the last ten years,he donated around Rs 20 lakh to various organisations and persons. He used to get pension as an ex-MLC,freedom fighter and retired college professor besides royalty from his books. He used to donate most of the money.”

“Pradhan sir had a great moral standing in society and every politician admired him. He carried forward the legacy of Sane Guruji. He never compromised on principles,” said Dabholkar.

“During his stay in Sane Guruji Hospital,though he was a trustee,he used to pay his monthly bills well on time,” said a cashier at the hospital.

Socialist leader Baba Adhav said he had lost a guide and friend. “Pradhan was a living example of a person who devoted his life to democratic socialism. He used all weapons of socialist movement to fight injustice.”

Social crusader Anna Hazare said,“A meeting with Pradhan sir used to charge activists like us. His death is a great loss to society. Activists like us feel orphaned.”

Chief Minister Ashok Chavan,Union Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh,Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar and Republican Party of India president Ramdas Athavale,in their messages,paid tribute to Pradhan.

Leaders cutting across political parties,social activists and prominent citizens including Bhai Vaidya,Rambhau Tupe,N D Patil,Kishor Pawar,Taher Poonawala,Dadasaheb Naiknavare,Narendra Dabholkar,Pannalal Surana,Mohan Dharia,Gajanan Khatu,Subhash Vare,Anvar Rajan,Madhukar Nirfarake,Kumar Saptarshi,Shivajirao Giridhar Patil,Ramesh Bagwe,Ramesh Wanjale,Neelam Gorhe,Vandana Chavan,Ulhas Pawar,Prakash Ambedkar and Jaydev Gaikwad paid their last respects.