National
Veteran scribe, Marathi litterateur Arun Sadhu dead; PM condoles (Second Lead)
Mumbai, Sep 25 (IANS) Veteran journalist and a left-of-centre liberal Marathi writer Arun Sadhu passed away here on Monday after prolonged illness.
He was 76 and is survived by his wife Aruna, a renowned social worker, and daughters Shefali and Suvarna, a relative told IANS.
Suffering from heart disease since long, he was rushed to the Sion Hospital on Sunday afternoon in a critical condition and admitted to the ICU there.
Sadhu, who was put on ventilator, was ailing with a muscular heart condition, cardiomyopathy, and breathed his last around 4.45 a.m. on Monday.
As per his last wish, there were no funeral services and his body was taken in a procession and donated to the Nair Hospital this evening.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief on the demise of noted writer and journalist Arun Sadhu. He extends deepest condolences to his family and admirers,” the PMO tweeted.
Born on June 17, 1941, in Paratwada, Amravati district of eastern Maharashtra, Sadhu acquired his B.Sc. degree from Nagpur University in 1961.
In a media career spanning 45 years, he started as a freelancer in 1962 and later worked with The Times of India, The Indian Express, The Statesman and Kesari before taking over as editor of The Free Press Journal (1987-1989), besides writing for or heading several other Marathi publications.
For six years, he was also Professor and Head of Department of Journalism at University of Pune till 2001, and earlier visited the US, France and Afghanistan to participate in media-literary events.
Sadhu strode the world of both journalism and literature with flair and wrote in Marathi, English and Hindi on news stories, edits, articles, short stories and novels, folk writings, translations of renowned literary works and various issues of international importance.
He shot to prominence with his first Marathi novel, “Mumbai Dinank” (Mumbai Dateline – 1973) and later his political blockbuster book, “Simhasan” (The Throne – 1977) which was adapted into an acclaimed Marathi film by Jabbar Patel with scripting by Vijay Tendulkar.
The film — viewing the struggle for the post of Maharashtra Chief Minister from the eyes of a journalist and discussing the mafia-politician nexus in the 1970s — is often listed among the best Marathi films in its genre and had achieved peaks of popularity after its release in 1979.
Later came Sadhu’s musical play “Padgham” (Drumbeats – 1985), which was adapted and directed into a grand stage presentation by Jabbar Patel’s Theatre Akademi.
In 2000, he co-scripted the film “Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar” along with Sooni Taraporevala and Daya Pawar.
Through his writings encompassing a wide range of topics — crime, politics, the lives and struggles of ordinary mortals in complex societies, revolutions, caste systems, human relations vis-a-vis technology and the like — Sadhu explored in a humane manner the rich-poor, rural-urban and caste divides.
Over the years, he was conferred several honours, including the Bharatiya Bhasha Parishad Rachana Award (2009), Kaumi Ekta Foundation Award, New Delhi, Kolkata, and N.C. Kelkar Award, Acharya Atre Award, and Padmashri Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Award for Lifetime Achievements in Literature, all Maharashtra.
In a prestigious honour, Sadhu was elected President of the 80th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Nagpur, 2007.
Among his other major works include novels: Maharashtra; Kakasaheb Gadgil; Fidel, Che Ani Kranti; Ani Dragon Jaga Jhalya; Dragon Jaga Jhalyawar; Mukhawta; Shodhyatra; Sfot; Bahishkrit; Trishanku and Tisri Kranti.
His short stories comprise: Manoos Udto Tyaachi Gosht; Mukti; Mantrajagar; and Ziprya, among other collections.
Union Minister Suresh Prabhu, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Education Minister Vinod Tawde, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, state Congress President Ashok Chavan, Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar, NCP leaders Praful Patel, Nawab Malik, Jitendra Awhad, and members of the top literary and media fraternity recalled his services to journalism and literature, and mourned his demise.
A large number of people from various walks of life paid homage to Sadhu at his Bandra residence in the afternoon before his body was donated to a government hospital, said a relative.
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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