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By:

Uday Jogalekar

13 May 2026 at 3:25:14 pm

From Pracharak to Minister: My Memories of Dilipda

Long before he became a minister, Dilipda had already earned our respect through his simplicity, discipline, and warmth. In 2007, my job brought me to Kolkata. Once there, I began attending the local RSS shakha and gradually became involved in Sangh work. I first met Dilipda during a visit to a swayamsevak’s home. Coincidentally, that same year, he had been appointed to our division. As everyone introduced themselves, Dilipda casually asked me in Marathi, “How are you finding Bengal?” Hearing...

From Pracharak to Minister: My Memories of Dilipda

Long before he became a minister, Dilipda had already earned our respect through his simplicity, discipline, and warmth. In 2007, my job brought me to Kolkata. Once there, I began attending the local RSS shakha and gradually became involved in Sangh work. I first met Dilipda during a visit to a swayamsevak’s home. Coincidentally, that same year, he had been appointed to our division. As everyone introduced themselves, Dilipda casually asked me in Marathi, “How are you finding Bengal?” Hearing a Bengali pracharak — a full-time RSS worker devoted to organisational work — speak fluent Marathi came as a pleasant surprise to me. From that moment onwards, my interactions with Dilipda increased, and I gradually began to understand the many dimensions of his seemingly simple personality. Coming from Maharashtra, where Sangh work generally faced non-violent opposition, adapting to Bengal — where the opposition was often violent — was not easy. In that atmosphere, I learnt from Dilipda how to remain enthusiastic while also keeping fellow workers motivated and active. I often accompanied Dilipda during his visits to our area. He had a remarkable ability to blend effortlessly into any household, warmly enquire about every family member, and make everyone feel as though he were one of their own. Before being appointed to Kolkata, Dilipda had served as an RSS pracharak in the remote Andaman Islands from around 1999–2000 until 2007. Based in Port Blair, he worked under difficult conditions despite limited travel and communication facilities, diverse tribes speaking different languages, and a local mindset that often kept outsiders at a distance. He would often share positive experiences from his years in the Andamans but never once spoke about the hardships he endured. Despite working in such difficult conditions, he never mentioned his personal discomforts. This ability to remain free of complaints despite adversity is a hallmark of a pracharak, and Dilipda embodied it completely. He possessed the rare gift of finding positivity even in challenging situations. Excellent Cook In Bengal during 2007, Sangh work had not yet expanded to the scale it has reached today. At times, pracharaks had to cook their own meals, and this had made Dilipda an excellent cook. Whenever he returned to the city from his travels, our group would eagerly gather to enjoy his khichdi. Our area, Bidhannagar, was located in Salt Lake, a relatively prosperous locality. Adjacent to it were a few underprivileged settlements, and we would occasionally visit the nearby market. To reach the market from Salt Lake, one had to cross a wooden bridge, where the toll was 25 paise for pedestrians and one rupee for bicycles. Observing the difficulties faced by people in those settlements, Dilipda once suggested starting some sewa (service) activity there. That eventually led to the establishment of a homoeopathic clinic in the locality. While setting up the clinic, Dilipda effortlessly guided us through every stage of planning — what arrangements were needed, how the process should be structured, and what challenges might arise. It felt as though the entire plan was already mapped out in his mind. As the clinic became operational, we began noticing the educational difficulties faced by the local children. English, science, and mathematics were particularly challenging subjects for them, which eventually led to the start of a study centre. The idea of involving engineers from Salt Lake’s IT companies also came from Dilipda. Later, by bringing together IT professionals, an “IT Milan” initiative was started, and many of them eventually became swayamsevaks actively involved in Sangh work. Remarkable Ability At the time, the CPM government was in power in Bengal, and there were many obstacles to conducting shakha activities. Dilipda constantly guided us on overcoming these challenges. He had a remarkable ability to identify work that could bring meaningful change, plan it carefully, and execute it with determination and effectiveness. Whether it was service activities, daily shakha work, or handling sensitive cases related to “Love Jihad", Dilipda consistently displayed dedication, clarity of thought, a fighting spirit, and an unwavering readiness to work tirelessly toward the objective. What amazes me even today is that a pracharak like Dilipda — someone far ahead of us in age, experience, and accomplishments — would interact so casually and warmly with ordinary swayamsevaks like us, placing a hand on our shoulders and speaking as though he were a close friend. In 2009, I was transferred back to Mumbai, bringing my Kolkata chapter to an end. Later, in 2014, I learned that Dilipda had been given responsibility in the BJP. And now, in 2026, the BJP forming a government on its own strength speaks volumes about its contribution and leadership. Today, Dilipda has become a minister, and many titles and honours will naturally be associated with him. But to us, he will always remain simply "Dilipda". (The writer is an entrepreneur based in Kalwa, Thane.)

Chhava enlightens non-Marathis on Sambhaji Maharaj

Updated: Mar 3, 2025

Mixed reactions followed highlight the extent of to children's exposure to stories of Maratha empire

Chhava

Mumbai: The film Chhava is a major hit on the box office. However, another stark reality that has come to light through a series of reactions coming in from potential Indian audiences from across the country have been mind-boggling.


The reactions were totally mixed. On one hand, a Noida based young professional Bhavana Singhi said, “I haven’t watched it yet. Is it probably something about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj?”


Singhi’s reaction was an eye opener. Not many knew about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Some just knew that he was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s son.


While on the other hand, Urdu speaking Mumbai resident, Saba Shaikh said, “I remember learning about Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in school, but back then, it was just a small part of our history lessons. I had no idea about the depth of his story and the incredible bravery he showed. I was truly moved by how the film highlighted values like bravery, sacrifice, and standing up for what’s right, his principles that go beyond any one community or religion. Chhaava not only gave me a deeper understanding of Sambhaji Maharaj’s legacy but also left me with a sense of pride and inspiration.”


Indian born New Zealand resident Carissa Paul said, “Our active exposure in school through History books was limited to just knowing about Shivaji’s conquests but even that was I think very general when compared to say how much more we covered about Mughal empire or even the south’s big empires. And of course the main freedom struggle. I only knew of Sambhaji as Shivaji’s son and nothing much else to be honest.”


Through the film, Marathi audiences got a realistic experience of what they had already heard from their elders. However, for a lot of non-Marathi speaking viewers, it came as a surprisingly neglected part of history.


Viewers do believe that there is a wave of Bollywood films on Maratha history. Speaking to The Perfect Voice, popular actor Uday Tikekar said, “Producers make films to make money or send them to film festivals. Formulae like love triangles, or the genre that defines films like Pushpa, are done and gone. So now what? Producers do a lot of brainstorming on what sells, what’s stale and what can now work and what’s new. They look at it as a commercial project. Maratha history Is an untouched topic. Although Sambhaji Mahraj’s contribution is not just confined to Maharashtra, he was less known across India. It was a risky project. However, fortunately it was a success. We Maharashtrians are happy that Sambhaji was introduced to the non-Marathi population, however, once topics on Maratha history are done and gone, they will shift to something else.”


Some experts pointed out that films like Jodha Akbar is a classic example of undue romanticism of the character of Akbar which was too far from reality. Such films make it difficult for the viewers to take serious cognizance of such movies. Carissa Paul said, “I usually like to make sure that I also find out more about the actual history and not depend on a Bollywood movie to accurately represent all the historic facts. However, having it in mainstream commercial cinema definitely improves the chances of people knowing about people in our history and developing an interest in knowing more.”


Paul highlighted, “Marketing is very important. Popularity of any movie depends on if it has a main stream actor and right kind of promotional strategies.”


Mumbai born viewer Sumit Gupta said, “I knew about Sambhaji Maharaj because it was mentioned in our school history book and our teacher used to explain further details and tell us stories about him. The movie actually gave even more details and gave us a feel of the intensity of the torture bestowed upon Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj by the Mughal emperor.”


Gujarathi speaking Chandana Buch said, “Before watching Chhava, I didn't have a personal connection to Maharashtra or its history, having grown up outside the state without Marathi friends. Therefore, I had no reference point to gauge the accuracy of the film's portrayal. However, watching the movie with my Maharashtrian friend added another layer of depth, as he shared his knowledge of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's multilingualism and the brutal circumstances of his death. I was deeply moved by his unwavering resolve in the face of torture. What struck me most was the film's portrayal of Chhatrapati Shivaji and Chhatrapati Sambhaji's stance on religion. Contrary to popular misconceptions, they didn't oppose any particular religion, but rather resisted the ruthless and oppressive rule of the Mughals. This nuanced understanding of their legacy was a valuable takeaway for me.”

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