Journalism of Courage
The few wisps of hair on his head are white and cottony and he walks slowly with a shuffling gait. You can tell that Mohan Ranade has seen a great many years go by,and they have taken their toll on him. But old age and discomfort notwithstanding,he smiles easily and talks with great passion about his work and his past. Ranade runs Swami Vivekanand Jeevan Jyot Sanstha,a charitable organisation that supports less-privileged students who want to study further.
In his living room,which doubles as his office,there are books everywhere; on the tables,in the shelves on the wall,in a showcase by the window and at least one book on his lap. Amongst these books,several are of the Indian freedom struggle and about freedom fighters. Ask Ranade though,and hell tell you a story of the freedom struggle that is more remarkable than most of the books. Born in Sangli in 1930,Ranades life changed when he witnessed the Quit India movement at the age of 13. I was too young to take part in it then,but I think the spirit was in me already, he says. In 1947,he finally finished his schooling,and the country had won its independence. In Goa,however,people were still fighting for liberation from Portuguese control and Ranade was filled with the urge to join the struggle. So he began to teach at schools in Goan villages,simultaneously rousing the locals to reclaim their land.
Though Ranade was later removed from solitary confinement he remained in prison till 1969,when Portugal released him after immense international political pressure. I was imprisoned for 14 years. When I returned to Goa,I didnt join politics because that was not what I wanted. I had wanted only the liberation of Goa, he says. So he set up a charity that would help students with education,and also went on to become the Chairman of the Goa chapter of the Indian Red Cross Society.
In 1992 though,Ranade had to move to Pune,to look after his ailing wife. She was originally from Pune. So I thought well move here. That is when I started my organisation here, he says. Just as fighting for freedom was important for him in earlier days,education too is close to his heart,he says. Without education,without knowledge and an understanding of what is happening,you cannot play any role in society.
