Kumar Saptarshi, socialist leader and Yukrand founder, dies at 84

An MBBS doctor, Saptarshi was in the forefront of a number of agitations of medical students across the state against the fee hike and led them successfully. He was a practicing doctor in Pune from 1969 which he continued till 1974 when he moved to ‘Rashin Commune,’ in erstwhile Ahmadnagar district which was the centre of activities carried out by Saptarshi.

Saptarshi was active in the name change movement of Marathwada University to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar University. Yukrand gave platform to numerous young leaders who later went on to become political leaders, journalists, authors and were part of the social churn of Maharashtra.

After working underground for the first three months, he was jailed during the emergency from October 1975 to January 1977. After his release, Saptarshi joined the Janata Party in 1977 and contested the Maharashtra assembly polls from Ahmadnagar seat, successfully. Throughout his career, Saptarshi was arrested 35 times due to a number of agitations, including one of the first uses of MISA against him in 1972 over the medical student agitation against fee hike.

Condolences pour in

“We have lost the selfless leadership of the social change movement in Maharashtra,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis while paying tribute to Saptarshi.

In his condolence message, the CM stated that Saptarshi was a thinker who provided direction to society, a Gandhian activist, and a source of inspiration for the progressive movement. “The passing of Dr Kumar Saptarshi is a great loss to the movements of rural development, education, social justice, and social transformation. The intellectual legacy he built and the path of struggle he forged will continue to inspire many generations to come,” he said.

“The passing of Dr Kumar Saptarshi is a major loss to Maharashtra’s social, intellectual, and progressive movements. With his demise, a true follower of Gandhian thought, who raised his voice for democratic values and the rights of Dalits, the backward classes, and the marginalized, has passed away,” said Maharashtra Congress president Harshavardhan Sapkal.

Other political leaders, activists and former bureaucrats also paid tribute to Saptarshi, remembering him as a steadfast advocate of Gandhian values and social justice.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar said Saptarshi dedicated his life to the rights of deprived and marginalised sections of society and the propagation of Gandhian ideals. She said through Yukrand he created social awareness among the youth. She added that Saptarshi was influenced by socialist leaders such as Achyutrao Patwardhan, S.M. Joshi and N.G. Gore, and remained committed to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Jayaprakash Narayan.

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar said, “The passing of Dr Kumar Saptarshi, a veteran Gandhian thinker in Maharashtra’s social and intellectual movements and the founder of Yuvak Kranti Dal, is deeply painful. His demise is an immense loss to the state’s progressive movements.” He added that Saptarshi had dedicated his life to social transformation, democratic values and nurturing young activists.

Sangli MP Vishal Patil said, “The nation’s social, intellectual and progressive movements have lost an extraordinary leader.” He added that Saptarshi consistently raised his voice against injustice, inequality, superstition and caste discrimination.

Satish Kale, president of the Sambhaji Brigade in Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, “Dr Kumar Saptarshi was a prominent progressive thinker in Maharashtra. He was always at the forefront of the struggle for social justice while upholding democratic values.” He said Saptarshi’s work for rural development along with his contribution as a legislator and social activist, would continue to be remembered.

Former Pune Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade described Saptarshi as “a rare and fearless individual” who worked tirelessly for ordinary people.

Human rights activist and advocate Asim Sarode said Saptarshi’s mortal remains will be kept at Gandhi Bhavan in Pune on Monday from 10 am to noon for public viewing (antyadarshan), followed by the funeral.