Nanasaheb Purohit

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Digambar Vinayak Purohit (28 May 1907 – 1994), alias Nana Purohit or Nanasaheb Purohit, was an Indian socialist politician and freedom fighter from Mahad, Kolaba region.[1][2][3][4][5] Purohit led militant struggles during the struggle for Indian Independence, and was a long-time parliamentarian.

Personal life[edit]

Purohit hailed from the Mahar community.[6] He became involved in social work in his twenties.[1] Apart from political activism, Purohit enjoyed walking and gardening.[1]

Quit India movement[edit]

Purohit was active in the Congress Socialist Party and the Quit India movement.[1] He led a revolt in Mahad, as he organized a massive peasant attack on the Tehsil Office.[3][7] Five people were killed in firing during the capture, including one government officer.[8] Afterwards Purohit managed escape from the net of the police. He relocated to Karachi. During this period he worked under instructions from the socialist leadership in Poona, with Achyut Patwardhan as the central figure. Patwardhan tasked him with organizing the movement in Karachi.[3]

Janjira struggle[edit]

In 1948 Purohit organized, along with Mohan Dharia, a people's army to liberate the nearby Janjira state.[8] The rebels established a military camp at Khamgaon (on the border of Mhasale taluk) and formed a provisional government for an independent Janjira state there.[8][9] The government included Purohit (Prime Minister), Sadashiv Bagaitdar (Home Minister), Mohan Dharia (Foreign Minister) and Janardan Bhokre (Defense Minister).[8][9]

Electoral politics[edit]

He emerged victorious in the 1951 Bombay Legislative Assembly election, winning the Poladpur-Mahad constituency with 13,597 votes (68.63%).[2][10] He stood as a Socialist Party candidate. At the time, he argued for nationalizations of key industries and the building of a third camp in world politics.[1]

He retained the Mahad seat in the 1957 assembly election, obtaining 19,091 votes (70.40%) as a Praja Socialist Party candidate.[11] As of 1961 Purohit was the deputy leader of the PSP in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.[12] However, he was defeated in the Shriwardhan constituency in the 1962 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election by the Indian National Congress candidate Abdul Rahim A. Gafoor Antulay. Purohit finished second with 7,475 votes (25.76%).[13]

Purohit returned to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1972, being elected as a Socialist Party candidate from Mahad with 27,737 votes (55.32%).[14] In the 1978 assembly election, Purohit won the Mahad seat as a Janata Party candidate. He obtained 37,413 votes (60.03%).[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Sud, S. P. Singh, and Ajit Singh Sud. Indian Elections and Legislators. Ludhiana: All India Publications, 1953. p. 194
  2. ^ a b Chavan, Yashwantrao Balwantrao, and Viṭhṭhala Gopāḷa Khobarekara. Yaśavantarāva Cavhāṇa, vidhimaṇḍaḷātīla nivaḍaka bhāshaṇe = Yeshwantrao Chavan, selected speeches (Marathi) in the state legislatures, 1946-62, Vol. 2. Mumbaī: Yaśavantarāva Cavhāṇa Pratishṭhāna Mumbaī, 1990. p 449
  3. ^ a b c Chaudhari, K. K. Quit India Revolution: The Ethos of Its Central Direction. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan, 1996. pp. 303, 309
  4. ^ Library of Congress. Accessions List, India. New Delhi: Library of Congress Office, 1977. p. 38
  5. ^ The Journal of Parliamentary Information, Vol. 41. Lok Sabha Secretariat, 1995. p. 66
  6. ^ Nehru, Jawaharlal, R. Kumar, and H. Y. Sharada Prasad. Selected Works of Jawaharlal Nehru, Vol. 8. 1989. p. 218
  7. ^ Janata, Vol. 62. 2007
  8. ^ a b c d webindia123. Freedom fighter, leader, politician - Mohan Dharia remembered
  9. ^ a b Bhosale, Arun, Ashok S. Chousalkar, and Lakshminarayana Tarodi. Freedom Movement in Princely States of Maharashtra. Kolhapur: Shivaji University, 2001. p. 173
  10. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1951 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BOMBAY
  11. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1957 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF BOMBAY
  12. ^ Selections from the Departmental Decisions of the Speaker. Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. 1963. pp. 210, 212
  13. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1962 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MAHARASHTRA
  14. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1972 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MAHARASHTRA
  15. ^ Election Commission of India. STATISTICAL REPORT ON GENERAL ELECTION, 1978 TO THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF MAHARASHTRA
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