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By:

Dr. Abhilash Dawre

19 March 2025 at 5:18:41 pm

Hall ticket in hand, fate had other plans

Class 12 student dies after falling from local train on way to exam Dombivli: On the very first day of the 12th standard board examinations, an 18-year-old student, Soham Sachin Katre, lost his life after falling from a moving local train between Kalwa and Mumbra stations while travelling to his examination centre. Soham, a resident of Dombivli, was on his way to appear for his first paper at Manisha Vidyalaya in Kalwa when the tragic incident occurred, turning a day of hope and dreams into...

Hall ticket in hand, fate had other plans

Class 12 student dies after falling from local train on way to exam Dombivli: On the very first day of the 12th standard board examinations, an 18-year-old student, Soham Sachin Katre, lost his life after falling from a moving local train between Kalwa and Mumbra stations while travelling to his examination centre. Soham, a resident of Dombivli, was on his way to appear for his first paper at Manisha Vidyalaya in Kalwa when the tragic incident occurred, turning a day of hope and dreams into one of irreversible grief for his family.   According to the family, Soham left home in the morning with his hall ticket in hand, books in his bag and hopes for a bright future in his mind. His parents blessed him and wished him well for the exam, expecting him to return home after completing his paper. Like thousands of other students and commuters, he boarded a crowded local train to reach his centre.   Due to heavy rush in the morning hours, the local train was extremely crowded. While standing in the packed compartment and trying to maintain balance amid the pushing crowd, Soham reportedly lost his balance and fell from the moving train between Kalwa and Mumbra stations. He sustained severe injuries in the fall and died on the spot.   The news of his death reached the family that was waiting for him to return after the exam, shattering their world in a single phone call. The young boy who left home with dreams of his future never made it to the examination hall. His death has plunged the entire area into mourning, with friends, relatives and neighbours left in shock.   Following the incident, Soham’s brother and family members have demanded that the railway administration make special and safer arrangements for students travelling for examinations, pointing out that every day thousands of students and commuters risk their lives while travelling in overcrowded local trains.   The tragedy has once again brought the issue of dangerous overcrowding on Central Railway’s local trains into focus. This is not just an accident, but the devastating loss of a family’s hopes and future. Soham never reached the examination hall, and his answer sheet remained blank but the pages of his family’s life have been filled with lifelong grief.

Annasaheb Patil: A Lifelong Advocate for Workers’ Rights

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Annasaheb Patil

Annasaheb Pandurang Patil, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, made significant contributions to the uplifting of scattered workers in Mumbai. For this reason, he is regarded as the architect of the progress of the Maratha and Mathadi workers in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil proposed a simple yet broad definition of a `Maratha,’ stating that every person residing in Maharashtra and standing for its defence is a Maratha. With this ideology, he established the Mathadi Workers Union and the All India Maratha Federation.

When Annasaheb Patil arrived in Mumbai from his native village, Mandrulkole in Patan Taluka, he began his career as a worker. At that time, workers in Mumbai were facing dire conditions, and a majority of them were Marathas. Annasaheb Patil believed that workers needed to experience both economic and social progress. He deeply studied their issues and began organising them, forming the Mathadi Workers Union, formally known as the Maharashtra State Mathadi Transport and General Workers Union. This became one of the largest labour unions in the state.

At the time, most labour unions were led by communists, but Annasaheb Patil rejected their ideologies, instead building a union based on Indigenous principles. He organised protests and movements, putting forward workers’ demands for better wages, healthcare, and basic rights for workers before the government. His relentless work eventually bore fruit, and he became the guiding force for workers.

Annasaheb Patil’s efforts resonated with the government. The then-Chief Minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, addressed the demands put forth by Patil, and on June 5, 1969, the Mathadi Workers Act was enacted in Maharashtra. This legislation brought joy and relief to the workers, improving their quality of life. Due to this act, facilities such as hospitals, consumer societies, housing through CIDCO, and educational and medical services were made available to Mathadi workers. Patil’s contribution to their welfare was pivotal.

Today, the issue of Maratha reservation is a significant topic in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil, the father of the Maratha reservation movement, made sure that his demands were reasonable and did not disturb social unity. His image is revered across Maharashtra for this reason.

Annasaheb Patil worked tirelessly for the welfare of Mathadi workers, most of whom were Marathas. He united the 12 Balutedars and 18 Pagadi communities, forming various organisations under the All India Maratha Federation. His leadership earned him widespread respect, and on July 8, 1980, he became a member of the Legislative Council.

During this time, the demand for Maratha reservations based on economic criteria was gaining traction. Annasaheb Patil toured Maharashtra while advocating for this cause. He resolved to lead a protest march to the Legislative Assembly. As an MLA in the Congress government, Patil, along with Advocate Shashikant Pawar, led a massive procession from Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on March 22, 1982. The sight of the marchers carrying Shivaji Maharaj’s saffron flag caught the attention of the citizens of Mumbai.

Annasaheb Patil submitted a list of nine demands to the then Chief Minister, Babasaheb Bhosale. Realising that the demand for reservation would not be considered, he declared that if justice were not served to the Maratha community, he would not live to see the next sunrise. True to his word, he ended his life on March 23, 1982, leaving an indelible mark on the state.

Annasaheb Patil devoted his life to the progress of Mathadi workers, raising their issues before the government and improving their living conditions. His efforts for the Maratha reservation and social justice brought attention to the problems faced by the community. His life was a testament to the struggle for the welfare of society. Rightfully, he is remembered as the father of the Maratha reservation movement and the architect of Maratha upliftment.

On his birth anniversary, we humbly pay tribute to the sacred memory of Annasaheb Patil.

(The writer is a BJP member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. Views personal.)

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