"Padyatri Patrakar" still fondly remembered by the people

“Politics,” came the reply when he was asked about his favourite beat, and was evident when his wife said,“He followed the recent general elections on television till wee hours of the morning and had also predicted the result.”

He is remembered even today for one of his popular weekly column Vadodara Shaherna Savalo, which featured in Loksatta. Kirit Pandya, then VMC’s Assistant Public Relations officer, who fondly remembers him as Padyatri Patrakar claimed, “The editor was compelled to restart Champakbhai’s column on popular demand, soon after it was withdrawn.”

“He was as an encyclopedia on VMC matters,” Pandya recalled, adding that officials often referred to Shah’s library of newspaper cuttings on VMC budget, Standing Committee agenda and audit reports. “He could rattle out Standing Committee agenda in correct sequence and even discussions on the topics,” he added.

Shah’s popularity could also be gauged from VMC employee, Chandu Gohil’s reaction, who at the very mention of his name said, “Champakkaka visited the Accounts department and reported the budget accurately.”

Shah took to journalism at an age of 46, when he lost his job in the Baroda Spinning Mill. “Champakbhai became a house-hold name soon,” said Avinash Maniar, who joined Loksatta along with Shah on the same day in 1966.

But what was amazing was his dexterity and command over journalism, despite the fact that he was just a matriculate, said Maniar. It was his passion for journalism which encouraged him to walk, in a time devoid of any infrastructure, he added.

Shah lost his father in his early childhood. His mother, Mathuraben got herself educated and then took up teaching. At the age of 19, Shah took up the job of a clerk in Bombay Spinning Mill. He also freelanced for Rajhans city’s anti-establishment newspaper, published during the pre-independence days.

He later worked as a stringer for the Mumbai-based English Free Press Journal, Jan Shakti, Veni, a Gujarati magazine and other Gujarati papers on topics ranging from theatre to politics.

Bachubhai Vyas, editor of a city eveninger Yuga Prabhav and Shah’s contemporary recalled the times they used to go for reporting together.“In those days, though Champakbhai walked around the city, he never missed an event. He covered Gaekwad’s Dharasabha in Kothi building and was a witness to every important political event from handing over of the Gaekwads, independence, Maha Gujarat movement Congress split, Navnirman Movement and emergency,” Vyas said.

Vyas also recalled Shah’s column Vishwana Pravaho, which he wrote for Yuga Prabhav after going to USA earlier this decade.

Shah refused to accept any remuneration from Vyas, who said, “He wrote it for the love for his city’s people.” Shah also posted aerograms to his friends in Vadodara asking them to write about latest happenings in the city.

“Once I had to write `No news’, when Champakbhai reminded me to write,” Vyas said.

The paralytic attack, Shah suffered three years ago in USA, was a major setback in his life. He later spurned the comforts in USA where his four sons and daughter are settled and came back to the city he always loved. Today he is looked after by his wife and a couple.