Floral tributes paid to Babuji

Media Coverage | 26-11-2021

Yavatmal, Nov 25

Rich tributes were paid to veteran freedom fighter and founder editor of Lokmat Media group Jawaharlal Darda alias Babuji on his 24th Smriti Diwas at ‘Prerna Sthal’ in Yavatmal on Thursday.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former Union minister Sushilkumar Shinde, guardian minister of Yavatmal and State EGS minister Sandipan Bhumre, chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda, editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Rajendra Darda, world-renowned osteopathy specialist Dr Goverdhan Lal Parashar paid tributes to Babuji by offering flowers on his memorial.

Sur Jyotsna National Music Awards winning singers Prathamesh Laghate and Hargun Kaur paid musical tributes to Babuji on the occasion. Students of Yavatmal Public School sang prayers in a group. The local singers of Yavatmal also paid tribute through beautiful musical renditions.

Dignitaries from different walks of life such as political, social, educational who were dear to Babuji were present on the occasion to pay their respects. Office-bearers of organisations and students were also present in large numbers on the occasion. Dr Ajay Kolarkar conducted the programme.

Babuji’s daughters Jayashree Bhalla and Snehal Jalan, granddaughter Purva Kothari, her husband Sunit Kothari, Kishor Darda and Seema Darda were present on the occasion.

Tributes were also paid to Matoshri Veenadevi Darda at her memorial ‘Tulsi Vrindavan’. All the dignitaries also paid tributes to the founder of Lokmat Sakhi Manch, Jyotsna Darda at her memorial ‘Shakti Sthal’.

Dignitaries also paid tribute to Matoshri Veenadevi Darda at ‘Tulsi Vrindavan’ and Jyotsna Darda at ‘Shakti Sthal’

Rule the world by learning English!

Chairman of editorial board of Lokmat Media and former member of Rajya Sabha Vijay Darda in his address, said Marathi is not only a language, but a culture. The state language will prosper only if it remains alive and therefore, Marathi should be made compulsory in Maharashtra, he noted. Picking up this thread, Bhagat Singh Koshyari said, “I am interested in music, Sanskrit and culture. Everyone should be proud of mother, mother tongue and motherland and should always strive for their development.”

Stating that in the new education policy, the Central government has laid special emphasis on mother tongue in primary education, the governor said, “rule the world by learning English, but do not become its slave.”

Babuji strove for social, economic equality: Shinde

“Babuji was a multi-dimensional personality with a far-reaching vision. He strove for development of the region and the state. He was a constant source of inspiration to the society”, said former home minister Sushilkumar Shinde. He recalled his first meeting with Babuji. “When I met him for the first time with the problem of tribals, he immediately solved all the problems. His sympathy towards the underprivileged and Dalit workers was commendable. Since then I reposed a deep trust in him. Babuji always subscribed to and promoted the idea of social and economic equality. Babuji was a man of conviction. His conceptualised inclusive development. He strove for social and ideological uniformity of all. Through the newspaper, he raised the voice of the general public. With this noble philosophy guiding them, Vijay Darda and Rajendra Darda are ably leading the Lokmat Media group.”

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