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Baba Adhav passes away at 95

‘The progressive movement of Maharashtra has lost a major guide today’

3 min readPuneDec 9, 2025 08:20 AM IST

Baba Adhav passes away at the age of 95 (File Photo)

95-year-old socialist leader and activist Baba Adhav who passed away on Monday had made his life’s mission to fight for the weaker and unorganised sections of the society- be it the autorickshaw drivers or the hamaals (porters). As a teenager, Adhav was a member of the Rashtra Seva Dal and was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. He had a diploma in medical sciences from Tarachand Ramnath Ayurveda College in Rasta Peth. In the 1950s, he was involved in the Goa Liberation and Samyukta Maharashtra Movement. Adhav later played a role in the growth of trade unions in and around Pune.

Even till 2023 at the age of 93, Adhav would arrive at his office in Kashewadi at 10 am sharp everyday and hold meetings with porter organisations, vendors, unionists, and various other people. Adhav had also served as the municipal councillor from Bhavani Peth constituency in 1963 for two terms.

Politicians across party lines paid their tributes on the passing away of Adhav.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his condolence message wrote, “The news of the demise of senior social worker Baba Adhav is very sad. He continuously fought for the rights of the deprived and unorganised sections. He worked as their pillar. He formed an organisation to provide justice to the porters, rickshaw pullers, and construction workers. He implemented many initiatives like Hamaal Panchayat, Ek Gaon-Ek Panwatha. His fight against social evils will always be remembered.”

Similarly, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar wrote, “The news of the demise of senior social worker Baba Adhav, a symbol of selflessness, longing and utmost honesty in social work, is very sad. The great struggler who fought day and night for the rights of the workers, the toilers, the weak and the deprived sections of society, passed away today. I pay a heartfelt tribute to senior social worker Baba Adhav. He worked to create a ray of hope in the lives of lakhs of working people through various organisations.”

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal wrote on X, “Carrying the torch of the truth-seeking tradition in his hand, Dr Baba Adhav, who fought against injustice in society and fought for the rights of the underprivileged throughout his life, passed away today. The progressive movement of Maharashtra has lost a major guide today. Heartfelt tribute to this fighting personality!”

Soham Shah

Soham Shah is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with a background in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous and research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Background Role: Correspondent coverig education and city affairs in Pune. Specialization: His primary beat is education, but he also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights, and state politics. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reports, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-centric reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human-rights stories: 1. Investigations & Governance "Express Impact: Mother's name now a must to download birth certificate from PMC site" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following his earlier reports on gender inclusivity in administrative documents. "44-Acre Mahar Land Controversy: In June, Pune official sought land eviction at Pawar son firm behest" (Nov 9, 2025): An investigative piece on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education & Campus Life Faculty crisis at SPPU hits research, admin work: 62% of govt-sanctioned posts vacant, over 75% in many depts (Sept 12, 2025): An investigative piece on professor vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. "Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why National Curriculum Framework recommends a third language from Class 6" (July 2): This detailed piece unpacks reasons behind why the state's move to introduce a third language from class 1 was controversial. "Decline in number of schools, teachers in Maharashtra but student enrolment up: Report" (Jan 2025): Analyzing discrepancies in the state's education data despite rising student numbers. 3. Human Rights & Social Issues "Aanchal Mamidawar was brave after her family killed her boyfriend" (Dec 17, 2025): A deeply personal and hard-hitting opinion piece/column on the "crime of love" and honor killings in modern India. "'People disrespect the disabled': Meet the man who has become face of racist attacks on Indians" (Nov 29, 2025): A profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyber-bullying. Signature Style Soham is known for his civil-liberties lens. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized—whether it's students fighting for campus democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents struggling with crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his "Breathless Pune" contributions). He is adept at linking hyper-local Pune issues to larger national conversations about law and liberty. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 ... Read More

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