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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

FDA braces for Tukaram Mundhe’s strong dose

Mumbai: An unyielding and upright IAS officer Tukaram Haribhau Mundhe was awarded with his 25th transfer order in 21 years’ service – as the new Commissioner of Food & Drug Administration. The latest shunting comes barely a couple of months after his last assignment, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, which was stayed before he could take charge. Mundhe, 50, holds the current ‘national record’ for being an IAS officer who has suffered maximum transfers;...

FDA braces for Tukaram Mundhe’s strong dose

Mumbai: An unyielding and upright IAS officer Tukaram Haribhau Mundhe was awarded with his 25th transfer order in 21 years’ service – as the new Commissioner of Food & Drug Administration. The latest shunting comes barely a couple of months after his last assignment, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Relief and Rehabilitation, which was stayed before he could take charge. Mundhe, 50, holds the current ‘national record’ for being an IAS officer who has suffered maximum transfers; prior to him were two retired Haryana IAS officers holding a similar honour. In an era when public confidence in institutions is wavering, examples of uncompromising and righteous officers like Mundhe shine bright and endear themselves to the masses. Humble Family Born into a humble farmer family of Beed, Mundhe’s childhood was bereft of luxuries and had to struggle even for bare necessities for which he disciplined himself, toiled and never faltered – strong qualities that help him stand ramrod straight even today. A bright kid, Mundhe helped his parents in the scorching fields during the day and spent hours at night poring over books under the dim light of kerosene lamps, completed his schooling with distinction, plus earned his graduate and post-graduate degrees from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. With a burning desire to work for the welfare of the masses and society in general, Mundhe appeared for the UPSC exams and finally cleared his IAS in 2005 to enter public service. As he plunged himself headlong to wield the power of his position for public benefit, he quickly became a villain in the eyes of many vested elements, including politicians of different hues. No-nonsense Boss Mundhe proved to be an inflexible no-nonsense boss, abhorred indiscipline, a stickler for rules, curbed malpractices, public-centric result-oriented – making him the darling of the masses and in constant media glare. From his early years, he paid the price for his integrity, nature and working style. As per regulations, officers at certain levels are expected to serve for minimum three years in any post, but the much-feared Mundhe worked for barely a month in some of his postings, and hardly a few where he served for a year or more. Over the years, the people who watched Mundhe and the antics of his opponents, saluted him with many labels – ‘Singham’, ‘Youth Icon’, ‘Fearless Officer’, ‘Peoples Hero’, etc. Till May 26, in his 21-year long career, Mundhe has 25 transfer orders under his belt, ostensibly for refusing to bend rules or bending before the powers-that-be, irrespective of any political group or party in power. What most would consider a punishment transfer, Mundhe grabbed it headlong, not only challenging the system but infusing fresh challenges in the assignment, converting it into a ‘hot seat’, setting new standards which the next incumbent was forced to follow or fall out. For instance, after his appointment as Solapur Collector (November 2014), Mundhe cracked the whip on illegal mining operations and became a serious target of the powerful sand mafia there, but he was undeterred. In his 8-month long but eventful tenure as Nagpur Municipal Commissioner, Mundhe launched a transparency drive, overturned entrenched administrative practices that had evaded scrutiny, dared to question unsanctioned expenditures from the civic body’s coffers and many came under the radar. However, he was shunted to Mumbai in a fresh assignment before there were casualties. Lasting Impact Probably, the most striking aspect of Mundhe’s bureaucratic journey is that in every posting, he managed to leave a lasting impact and set new benchmarks. As in Solapur, he contributed to making at least 7 municipal bodies defecation-free in a tenure of barely 18 months (Nov. 2014-May 2016). A retired civil servant described Mundhe as “a champion of citizen-centric governance, ensured that the administration connected to the last man, treated his work not with authority but as a responsibility and worked not merely efficiently but empathy for the masses – who adored him”. Shattering traditions even at home In April 2026, while on election duty in West Bengal, Tukaram Mundhe learnt that his mother Asarabai breathed her last at 90 in Pune. He rushed back for the last rites held in his native village, Tadsona in Beed district. Breaking conventions, Mundhe and his brother skipped all the traditional rituals, and instead of immersing her residue in a holy river, they planted a Banyan sapling on her ashes as a dual tribute to her and the environment.

A Six-Decade Political Journey Untainted by a Single Stain

Veteran Congress leader and former union home minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, a towering figure in national politics for over six decades, passed away on Friday morning at 6.05 am at his residence, ‘Devghar,’ in Latur at the age of 91.


Known as a close confidant of the Gandhi family, Shivraj Patil Chakurkar stood apart in national politics for one rare quality: absolute integrity. In a political career spanning 60 years, he carried no allegations, no scandals, and no hint of corruption. His spotless public life became the defining feature of his statesmanship. With his passing, a six-decade chapter of clean and principled politics comes to an end. After stepping down as the governor of Punjab, he had withdrawn from active politics, choosing a quiet and dignified life away from the public glare.


Born on 12 October 1935 in Chakur in Latur district, Shivraj Patil began his political journey as municipal council chief of Latur (1966–1970) and was elected as MLA in 1972–1980, as a Lok Sabha MP, as Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and as Union Minister for Defence, Commerce, and Science & Technology, and later as Union Home Minister (2004–2008). He also served as Governor of Punjab (2010–2015).


He had arrived in Latur from Delhi. He suddenly took ill. His condition deteriorated rapidly despite continuous treatment by his family physician and a team of experts at his residence, ‘Devghar.’ His health worsened after, and he eventually breathed his last at his home on Friday at 6.05 am.


Patil is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil; daughter-in-law, Archana, a BJP leader who contested the assembly election but lost to Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh; and two granddaughters.


No Misconduct

In political controversy, Shivraj Patil Chakurkar remained extraordinary. Not once in his 60-year political career was he tainted by allegations of corruption, misconduct, or factional politics. Known for his dignified conduct, he never indulged in personal attacks, neither in public speeches nor in private conversations.


Despite facing political opposition and even orchestrated defeats, Shivraj Patil never responded with bitterness. In the 2004 Lok Sabha election, he was defeated by BJP’s Rupatai Patil Nilangekar.


Though a Lingayat by community, Patil never allowed caste identity to define his politics. His leadership was accepted across communities, especially among Muslims in Latur, who held him in high regard until his final days.


His command over Marathi, English, and Hindi, along with his exceptional grasp of constitutional matters, made him one of the most respected parliamentarians of his time. Patil was known for his vast reading, meticulous study, and articulate presentation. He embodied secular values—not just in speech but in action. His demise leaves a void of a statesman who represented calm, civility, and constitutional dignity.


Shivraj Patil Chakurkar’s passing marks the end of an era in Latur’s political history, an era where leadership meant dignity, restraint, honesty, and service.


A spotless journey from municipal council chief to governor, untouched by caste politics or corruption, now remains a lasting tribute to a rare statesman. He had denied medical treatment for the last 15 days.


According to family sources, the last rites will be performed on Saturday, December 13, at 11 am. The funeral will take place at Warwati, behind the Latur MIDC area, on the outskirts of the city.


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