Maharashtra’s Six Freedom Fighters Felicitated at the Hands of President Ramnath Kovind hosts ‘At Home’ for freedom fighters on 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement

New Delhi, 9:  On the 75th anniversary of ‘Quit India Movement’ President Ramnath Kovind on Wednesday hosted a reception for freedom fighters. Maharashtra’s six freedom fighters were felicitated on the occasion.

At the ‘At Home’ reception, the President honored and felicitated freedom fighters across the country at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. During the reception, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the freedom fighters. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other dignitaries were also in attendance.

State freedom fighters during the Quit India Movement include Mumbai’s Jethalal Amrutlal Shah, Jalgaon’s Shivaji Vitthal Marathe, Nagpur’s Pundalik Daulatrao Gedam, Solapur’s Raghunath Ramchandra Mane (100+ year old), Yavatmal’s Prahlad Krushnarao Rembhe and Chandrapur’s Pandurang Patil. However, for health reasons, Pandurang Patil could not make to attend the event.

Shri Jethalal Shah actively participated in the Quit India Movement in the Ahmednagar District. He was arrested twice and was one of the accused in Ahmednagar Sarosh talkies Bomb case.  Shri Shivaji Marathe and 30 other satyagrahis were actively involved during the Goa Freedom Movement. He along with former Finance Minister, Late Shri Madhu Dandavate travelled hard from Belgaum, Sawantwadi, Aronda on 17^th August 1955, was later lathi-charged injuring all his body.  Nagpur’s Shri Pundalik Gedam actively participated in the Quit India Movement.  He served food and necessary items to the freedom fighters and used to deliver messages to senior freedom fighters like Jai Prakash Narayan and Aruna Asif Ali that went underground during the freedom struggle.  Great salutes to freedom fighter Raghunath Mane, who is above 100 years, now, was imprisoned for 9 long months in Solapur, Vijapur and Visapur Jails.  He was fined a sum of Rs 100/- which was collected after auctioning his household items.  He has been felicitated earlier as well, at the Hands of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Maharashtra Chief Minister, Vasantrao Naik.  Under the leadership of Krushnarao Rebhe and six freedom fighters, they commenced their journey and reached Goa, where they were tortured brutally by the Portuguese Government.  Shri Shriram Patil left his schooling in his 14^th year and participated in the Quit India Movement joining Mahatma Gandhi.

Prior to attending the function, all these freedom fighters were welcomed and warmly felicitated by Maharashtra Sadan Secretary and RC, Smt. Abha Shukla, I&PC Lokesh Chandra, Additional RC Samir Sahai, ARCs Smt. Suman Chandra, Ishu Sandhu, Shri Negi, Shri Gaikar, and other Senior Officers. PRO from Maharashtra Information Centre, Amarjyot Kaur Arora and Information Officer, Anju Nimsarkar also felicitated them on behalf of the Office.