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Journalism of Courage
Raosaheb Ramji Patil, the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, believes in flaunting his rustic roots.
The 46-year-old NCP legislator from Tasgaon in western Maharashtra has been staying in his posh Malabar Hill official residence in south Mumbai for five years, but has his family stay on at the ancestral house in Tasgaon. His two daughters and a son go to a government school there.
A graduate in arts and law, Patil is among the few politicians in the state who come from humble stock. Unlike many of his peers who are sugar barons, Patil comes from a peasant family. He is one of the few Rayat Marathas who have made it big in a political system dominated by Deshmukh Marathas the traditional rulers.
Called 8216;8216;Aaba8217;8217; meaning elder in the family by everyone 8212; from his peon to party colleagues 8212; Patil has a clean image. In many remote villages, they call him 8216;8216;Modern Gadge Baba8217;8217; owing to the popularity of the Sant Gadge Baba Clean Village Competition that Patil launched in 2000 as the Rural Development Minister. Patil had even put up two brooms on a wall in his Mantralaya chamber to show he meant business.
He has never faced any corruption charges: Social activists such as Anna Hazare and Medha Patkar prefer to interact with him.
No wonder, Pawar picked him to head the troubled Home Department after Chhagan Bhujbal stepped down following the Telgi controversy. Since then, there have been no controversies in police transfers or in handling of law and order.
Today, when he was selected Deputy CM, Patil could not hide his emotions. 8216;8216;I am grateful to everyone. Pawarsaheb, my legislators and the media which has always treated me like a baby!8217;8217;
