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By:

Bhalchandra Chorghade

11 August 2025 at 1:54:18 pm

Jaspal Rana taught India to aim higher

Indian sport lost one of its finest champions on June 12, 2026, with the untimely passing of shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana at the age of 49. His death has left a void that will be difficult to fill, not only in Indian shooting but in the hearts of countless athletes, admirers and young dreamers who looked up to him as a symbol of excellence, discipline and perseverance. Born in the hills of Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a prodigious talent at an age when most children are still...

Jaspal Rana taught India to aim higher

Indian sport lost one of its finest champions on June 12, 2026, with the untimely passing of shooting legend and coach Jaspal Rana at the age of 49. His death has left a void that will be difficult to fill, not only in Indian shooting but in the hearts of countless athletes, admirers and young dreamers who looked up to him as a symbol of excellence, discipline and perseverance. Born in the hills of Uttarakhand, Rana emerged as a prodigious talent at an age when most children are still discovering their interests. By his teens, he had already announced himself on the national stage and over the years he would go on to become one of India’s most decorated shooters. His remarkable achievements at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Championships and international competitions transformed him into a household name and brought unprecedented attention to shooting in India. Yet medals alone do not define Jaspal Rana’s legacy. What truly set him apart was his unwavering commitment to the sport long after his competitive career ended. As a coach, mentor and guide, he devoted himself to nurturing the next generation of Indian shooters. His influence can be seen in the success of numerous athletes, most notably Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker, whose achievements carried the unmistakable imprint of Rana’s guidance and belief. He possessed the rare ability to identify talent, instill confidence and demand excellence without losing sight of the human being behind the athlete. To his students, he was more than a coach. He was a teacher, protector and source of strength during moments of doubt. To colleagues, he was a respected professional whose passion for Indian sport was evident in every conversation and every training session. To fans, he represented an era when dedication and hard work could elevate a niche sport into the national spotlight. His sudden departure is a painful reminder of life’s fragility. But while Jaspal Rana is no longer with us, the values he championed — discipline, courage, humility and relentless pursuit of excellence — will continue to inspire generations. India mourns a champion. The shooting fraternity mourns a mentor. His family mourns a beloved husband and father. And the nation bids farewell to a man who spent his life helping others find their aim. Jaspal Rana’s final shot may have been fired, but his legacy will echo through Indian sport for decades to come.

Jarange turns the ‘heat’ on Mahayuti


Mumbai: Turning up the heat on the Mahayuti government amid blistering temperatures touching 40C, Maratha quota crusader and Shivba Sanghatana President Manoj Jarange-Patil launched a fast-unto-death at his native Antarvali -Sarati village, as thousands of supporters joined.

 

Unfazed by the scorching sun, Jarange-Patil sat bare-headed in the open, occasionally covering himself with a scarf. Even as he exposed himself to the harsh conditions, he urged supporters to remain under shade and take precautions against the extreme heat.

 

The seventh hunger strike in three years began a day after a government delegation led by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and BJP leader Prasad Lad made a last-ditch effort to cajole Jarange-Patil to withdraw the agitation, but the marathon meeting failed to break the deadlock.

 

During the discussions, an aggressive Jarange-Patil bombarded Vikhe-Patil’s team with a barrage of questions over the issuance of Kunbi certificates, the government's stand on the Hyderabad Gazette, a crucial document cited by quota supporters to establish Maratha-Kunbi links since the past three years.

 

Making his position clear, Jarange-Patil declared that he would grant “no further extension” to the government and reiterated that he was willing to sacrifice himself for the cause of Maratha reservations.

 

Adding political muscle to the agitation, Kolhapur Congress MP Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj - the 12th descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - visited Antarvali-Sarati today and met Jarange-Patil in the sweltering heat.

 

Expressing solidarity to Jarange-Patil, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj said that Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj-Shahu IV, had pioneered reservation policies in India, but historical records from Kolhapur have been ignored since long.

 

“The Maratha community has been misled for years and has gained little from repeated assurances. Marathas and Kunbis are essentially one community. All Marathas are Kunbis and all Kunbis are Marathas,” Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj  asserted.

 

While expressing concern over the lack of clarity surrounding the ongoing negotiations between the government and Jarange-Patil, he demanded that the Kolhapur Gazette be given the same importance as other archival documents being considered by the government.

 

Quota Benefits

Supporting his observations, hundreds of members of the Sakal Maratha Samaj gathered near the statue of Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj to express solidarity with the agitation. They raised slogans and demanded that the Kolhapur Gazette be included alongside the Satara Gazette while determining reservation benefits for the community.

 

Maratha supporters across Marathwada and other parts of the state echoed similar sentiments. :Just as Jarange-Patil is enduring the blazing sun, we are standing with him. Marathas are farmers; heat and hardship are part of our lives,” said one activist, while another warned that if the government continued to ignore their demands, it could trigger a larger backlash from the community.

 

As Jarange-Patil settled into his makeshift open to sky protest camp, reports of protests and demonstrations came from districts like Latur, Beed, Jalna and other parts of the state, with agitators ranting slogans against the government and renewing their demand for immediate implementation of Maratha reservation.

 

Marathas staged a brief but dramatic ‘rasta roko’ on the busy Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway near Varud Navha, paralysing traffic in both directions and causing queues stretching nearly two kilometres before police intervened to restore vehicular movement.


  • Issue Kunbi certificates to all Marathas in the Marathwada region by May 29th.
  • Issue a Government Resolution (GR) pertaining to the former princely states of Satara, Kolhapur, Aundh, Pune, and Miraj; on the lines of the 1994 resolution.
  • Reinstate all schemes and initiatives under the SARTHI institute.
  • Disburse all pending reimbursements from SARTHI.
  • Grant official validity to all Kunbi certificates that are already issued.
  • Disband the Maratha Sub-committee as it serves no useful purpose, and its Chairman lacks any substantive role.
  • Set up an independent Ministry for Kunbi and Maratha affairs.
  • Grant an extension to the Shinde Committee and ask it to thoroughly scrutinize all relevant records.
  • Withdraw all criminal cases filed across Maharashtra in connection with the agitation.
  • Ensure jobs in Mahavitaran and MIDC for the families of those who sacrificed their lives during the Maratha stirs.

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