On the 63rd death anniversary of Dr Dwarkanath Kotnis today, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh announced a Rs 1.5 crore package for renovation and beautification of the crumbling house of the doctor in Solapur.The State government’s announcement comes a day after The Indian Express reported that Dr Kotnis’ house in Solapur was in a shambles and the proposed memorial and museum were yet to see the light of day. Dr Kotnis had gone to China in 1938 to treat Chinese soldiers during the 1938 Sino-Japanese war. He died there in 1942, but his service to the Chinese made him an immortal and a revered hero there. But in his native Solapur, few remember him.In February last, the Solapur Municipal Corporation (SMC) had sent a Rs 1.86 crore proposal to renovate Dr Kotnis’ house to the state government. But for nine months nothing moved. Recently, CPM MLA Narsayya Adam took up the matter with Deshmukh who promised assistance. ‘‘While the state has given Rs 1.5 crore, the idea is to get Rs 5 crore,’’ Adam said.Deshmukh’s announcement has made Mayor Vitthal Jadhav a happy man. ‘‘Once the funds arrive, work to fix Dr Kotnis’ house and the memorial will begin.’’ Assistant municipal commissioner Anil Vipat says the wooden house will keep its old-world look. The house has 10 rooms on the ground floor.Every year, a Chinese delegation visits Solapur on his death anniversary. A four-member team from China will be in Solapur on Saturday to attend the signing of the sister-city pact between Solapur and Shijiazhuang, which has a museum dedicated to Dr Kotnis.The deputy director of Shijiazhuang municipality’s foreign affairs office Wang Zhogqiu, division chief Jia Shayoing, deputy director of Shijiazhuang hospital Zhao Xuian and general manager of Gaungan Medicine Company Qi Yanhai will visit his house on Saturday.
