Ajit Pawar dreamt big for Baramati

Mumbai/Pune : Shunned as a dry and drought-prone sub-district of Pune on the Deccan Plateau barely five decades ago, Baramati today symbolizes one of Maharashtra’s most striking examples of systematic rural transformation with the lion’s share of credit going to the state’s numero uno Sharad Pawar clan. The prime activity of farming thrives here, cooperatives flourish, industries are booming, education soars and the infrastructure is envied even by many developed urban centres. Little...

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Mumbai/Pune : Shunned as a dry and drought-prone sub-district of Pune on the Deccan Plateau barely five decades ago, Baramati today symbolizes one of Maharashtra’s most striking examples of systematic rural transformation with the lion’s share of credit going to the state’s numero uno Sharad Pawar clan. The prime activity of farming thrives here, cooperatives flourish, industries are booming, education soars and the infrastructure is envied even by many developed urban centres. Little wonder that the Pune region ranks lowest in terms of farmers suicides – in 2024, there were only 24 deaths, as per official data, said Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti President Kishore Tiwari, who has chronicled distress in farmlands of the state for three decades. “The Pawars ensured that the region got adequate funds, irrigation, power and other planned facilities that helped the farmers immensely… We wish all other districts in the state to emulate this example, especially Vidarbha which is regarded as the farmland suicides hotbed,” Tiwari told The Perfect Voice . Though the foundations of the sea-change was laid by Sharad Pawar, later it was his nephew Ajit Pawar who architected his uncle’s long-term vision to reality through untiring efforts, single-minded dedication and tough groundwork for over four decades to achieve what is the famed ‘Baramati Model’. As several lakhs of mourners turned up from all over Western Maharashtra and other places to bid a final adieu to Ajit Pawar on Thursday (Jan. 29), many were seen weeping, crying and wailing, and some expressed concerns for the future of Baramati and Pune district – in the absence of their active ‘messiah’. While Sharad Pawar laid the ground-map for Baramati, Ajit Pawar implemented it by ensuring that government policies, big and small projects and different schemes not only reached the region but tangibly changed the lives of the locals. As he grew in politics and entered governance in various positions, Ajit Pawar quickly grasped how the official machinery worked, and along with his stern approach, fiscal and administrative discipline plus knowledge of his home turf, he kickstarted the evolution of Baramati and surroundings. Way back in 2009, when he was not even a Deputy CM, Ajit Pawar told a group of visiting journalists from Mumbai his dreams of catapulting Baramati onto the world map in various aspects of a model of rural-led development and progress that touched each citizen. For this, he persistently advocated the upgradation of the small Baramati Airport, built by the MIDC in 1996, having a short runway (1770 metres long x 30 metres wide), where his ill-fated aircraft crashed on Wednesday morning. The airport is mostly used for small aircraft operations and training purposes. Former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan under whose tenure Ajit Pawar first became the Deputy CM, said that “he was a rare politician, a young visionary, dynamic and decisive, passionately pro-farmer and supportive of the cooperative sector”. “When I was CM and he was the Deputy CM, he helped me take many tough decisions in the public interest. He was a sure-shot to lead the state (as CM), sooner than later. We have lost a great national-level leader whom coming generations would emulate,” Chavan told The Perfect Voice , acknowledging Ajit Pawar’s contributions to the state. Baramati Effect A local party activist, Milind Jadhav recalled how, when the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) founded by Sharad Pawar suffered a vertical split in July 2023, “every home and family in Baramati was splintered”. “All the people were at a loss to decide whom to support in the ‘kaka-putnya’ political war, particularly during the 2024 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Thankfully, the politics was strictly kept at bay from Baramati’s development and also the Pawar household, he said. Despite the political wranglings, Ajit Pawar visited Baramati at least once a week, reviewed important proposals, funds and expenses, status reports and other minute details, at times, showing more insight than the officialdom, was a stickler for the ‘ghadi’ (watch), often jumped up for unannounced site visits that rattled the officials. The Baramati Industrial Development Corporation – part of the MIDC – came into existence in 1962 under Sharad Pawar, but under Ajit Pawar it spread wings to come up as an ideal industrial zone. National and international companies like Kalyani Steels, Bharat Forge, Godfrey Phillips, SMT Ltd. Imsofer, Schreiber, Piaggio, Ferrero, Senvion, India's first wine factory at Narayangaon (1982), and later proliferated to Nashik. Simultaneously, the western Maharashtra’s agriculture backbone of sugarcane, grapes, jowar, wheat and cotton support many of the top performer cooperatives in the region and the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park (established in 2008 through Sharad Pawar’s efforts), support domestic apparels industry creating jobs and prosperity. Strong background support comes from institutions like Agriculture Development Trust, several agriculture colleges affiliated to major agriculture universities, all combining for activities like modern farming techniques, entrepreneurship, water conservation, women’s education and empowerment, health-care besides skill development and upgradation.

Unlocking Criminal Cases Through Hair Evidence, Forensic Trichology

Dr. Keshav Kumar and Dikumoni Bora
Apr 25, 2025
3 min read

Hair holds secrets. Forensic trichology reveals them—uncovering trauma, toxins, or identity through microscopic and DNA analysis, and aiding justice in cases from murder to human trafficking.

Forensic trichology is the scientific study and analysis of human or animal hair in criminal investigations. It involves examining macro-microscopic characteristics, structures, and forms to provide valuable evidence in cases such as homicide, burglary, kidnapping and human trafficking cases, poisoning or drug-related cases, and wildlife crime and animal cruelty cases. Hair analysis can determine species origin, racial background, ethnicity, and whether the hair was forcibly removed. It may also reveal evidence of trauma, drug use, or toxin exposure. It is durable and resistant to decay, making it a reliable form of evidence in forensic contexts.

The scientific examination of hairs began in the early twentieth century, although its potential as forensic evidence was recognised even earlier. In 1910, Victor Balthazard and Marcelle Lambert published "Le Poil de l'Homme et des Animaux", which was one of the first comprehensive studies of human hair in relation to animal hair. Balthazard and Lambert's book described marked structural differences between human and animal hair, which laid the foundation for microscopic hair analysis. Over decades, forensic trichology has produced change from microscopic examinations to DNA analysis, which is now considered a powerful tool used to detect and solve crimes.

One of the notable cases involving forensic trichology was the 1999 PriyadarshaniMattoo case, where forensics conducted microscopy and DNA analysis of hairs collected from the scene of the crime. This scientific evidence added credence to the case against the accused, Santosh Kumar Singh, and helped in the conviction in 2006. Forensic trichology served as corroborative evidence to account for how Singh could have committed the crime. A second notable case was the Delhi gang rape (2012), where forensic trichology partnered with other biological evidence to confirm the presence of the accused in the crime scene. Hair analysis played a crucial role in reconstructing events, aiding in justice for the victim. Alongside other biological evidence, it helped establish the sequence of events, ensuring a fair outcome.

The Indian judicial system has consistently recognised the importance of scientific evidence, including forensic trichology, in the judicial process. Courts acknowledged that analysis of hair would prove extremely useful as corroborative evidence along with other findings in several cases, including the Priyadarshini Mattoo case. By acknowledging the faith worth of such evidence, the judiciary reinforced the complementary role of science and law in achieving justice.

Recent advancements in forensic trichology have transformed it into a cutting-edge discipline. Today, researchers use methods like mitochondrial DNA analysis, which is getting genetic material from hair shafts in the absence of roots. This has come in particularly handy for cold cases where evidence is decades old. The use of mass spectrometry in hair examination is another recent development. It helps in the detection of trace elements, drugs, and toxins in the hair with unparalleled accuracy. Further studies investigated hair proteomics, which analysed the protein content in the hair to gain insights into an individual’s genetic predispositions. Another area that gives hope is the use of AI and machine learning algorithms to analyse hair morphology. The algorithms can reveal important features through which identification will become easy.

Forensic trichology is still an essential part of contemporary criminal investigations. From its humble beginnings to the adoption of sophisticated technologies, it has proven its value time and again. The recognition of hair evidence by the Supreme Court of India and its application in high-profile cases underscores its reliability and importance. Forensic trichology is advancing with research and technology, enhancing precision in justice. Society's ability to uncover the truth evolves with science, ensuring a thorough examination of every strand of evidence.

(Dr. Kumar is a forensic consultant to the Assam government. Bora is a student of National Forensic University, Guwahati.)