Vaijapur - Notable Personalities From Vaijapur

Notable Personalities From Vaijapur

* Vinayakrao Patil alias Anna: vinakrao patil Vinayakrao Patil was born on 1 September 1926 in farmer’s family. His father was farmer but provided atmosphere for education of Vinayakrao and nourishes him very well. Vinayakrao took their primary and secondary education at Bolthan and Nandgaon. He completed his higher education from S. B. College Aurangabad. After completing BSC in 1957 he successfully passed Law examination from university of Pune and became Advocate. Basically he was truth Hunter hence instead of practicing in the field of Law. He accepted the job of teacher in “New Education Society” from 1953 to 1956 he worked as a teacher in Saraswati Bhuwan Shikshan Sanstha Aurangabad. He was interested in social works,so he worked with the department of Prohibition on Wine and education and coorporation. He sacrificed personal luxurious life and devoted himself for public sector. In those days Ordinary people enable to give education to their children. He opened the door of knowledge for poor and illiterate. He shouldered the responsibility of educating the rural and problem facing student. Marathwada Shikshan Prasarak Mandal was founded in 1958 under the able and foresighted leadership of Late Shri.Vinayakrao Pandurang Patil, Ex.Ministor for Co-operation and Ex. President,Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Late Shri.Vinayakrao Patil,himself was a teacher and was deeply influenced by the social &educational philosophy of Mahatma Phule, Rajarshi Shau Maharaj,B.R.Ambedkar,Karmavir Bhaurao Patil & Y.B.Chavan,architects of modern Maharashtra. He always thinks that enhancing the standard of living by generating human resources and eradicating illiteracy are the key words for rural development. Shivaji College Parbhani, Balbhim College Beed and Deogiri college Aurangabad where initial settlements. In 1968 Vinayakrao Patil Mahavidyalaya started at Vaijapur for rural students. He was equally supported by Late Dadasaheb Sawant, Babasahed Sawanekar, Ramchandra Patil, Baburao Goregaonkar, Baburao Kale, Shripatrao Kadam, Sayajirao Pandit, Dwarkadas Mantri, Dawlatrao Yelikar, Bhanudas Chavan, Bhanudas Vardhave, Sangram Makanikar and Shri Shamrao Kadam, Ramrao Lonikar, Madhukarrao Mule, Ramrao Awargaonkar, Rawsaheb Jambhkar, Hirubhais Jagtap, Mohanrao Kale, Shaikh Ahamad Shaikh Chand, Pandharinath Patil Aher Paralkar etc in his educational work. Vinayakrao Patil was participating in the programs of congress and further he entered in the active politics. Vinayakrao Patil was called as ‘Anna’. Anna was elected as President of Marathwada Regional Congress Committee in 1960. He also performed the role of Maharashtra State Congress Committee in 1962. Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan influenced by the speech and social work of Anna. Yashwantrao called him, “Vinayakrao is not a Person but a Power”. He worked as the Member of Parliament in Upper House in 1960 to 1962.Prime Minister wanted Yashwantrao in Central Cabinet as Defense Minister. Anna spontaneously resigned for Yashwantrao Chavan. This sacrifice of Anna won minds of people. He became Minister for Co-operation in Maharashtra state in 1968. He supported cooperative societies and Sugar factories. He taught people what true co-operation is? He showed the path of Economic Development through Co-operative movement.Anna’s Personality was a mixture of cooperation,healthy politics,and quality education and devoted social work. “How Person lived?”is more important than how many years he lives. Time never stops for anyone. Anna leaved this material World on 28 December 1968 at the age of 42.

*Sant Shri Gangagiri Maharaj: Gangagiri Maharaj was born in 1814 at Kapus Wadgaon. As he lost his father earlier in his childhood there was huge responsibility of household work on him. At the age of 9 to 12 he completed his education and started reading literature. He have read Ram Vijay, Pandav, Navnath etc. literature. At the age of 15 he started playing Freestyle wrestling.He used to play the competitions of wrestling in several villages around about 15 to 20 years. When he was of 20 maharaj Nathpanthibua came to Kapus wadgaon and suggested him to read more literature and continue his fond of wrestling.Once when Gangagiri maharaj returning from Puntamba, he halted at Matulthan, where he met Laxmi Giri Gosavi and according to his suggestion Maharaj further started deep study of Dnyaneshwari. While reading Dnyaneshwari he came to know that the people around our place are illiterate and highly superstitious. False tales, Drama, Liquor etc. have differentiated the community around us to bring men together, make them literate, remove their superstitions and give them good teachings was the aim of Maharaj. He was a true devotee of Shri Sant Dnyaneshwar, Alandi and Shri Hari Vitthal, Pandharpur. He also thought people the way of devotions and make them read and understand the holy Dnyaneshwari. He too regularly did the same. In 1824 in the month of Shrawan on Monday, fourth day after the full moon day Maharaj left the world,

• Hari Giri Baba,descendants of Gangagiri Maharaj,the 20th century saint from Vaijapur in Aurangabad was well known for occasionally dressing up like a king. He would wear silk and brocade, expensive shoes, and a stately turban and expect to be treated like royalty one moment, then go around naked like the poorest beggar, the next,

*Sant Shri Janardan Swami Maharaj Babaji : The saints of india have successfully accomplished the great task of demolishing from the minds of people, the false promise that the real progress in life, is directly related to end independent of the extent of material gains accomplished. “Nishkama Karmayogi Saint Param Pujya Shri. Janardanswami (Moungiri) Maharaj” is one such rare gem – a Maharishi, belonging to the traditionally illustrious great saint of our century ! “Swamiji” all his life, continuously with great devotion, carried out the great task of awakening and liberating the common people from their narrow, routine, materialistic outlook in life! However, instead of using violence to get rid of such people, one should adopt the aim of transforming them with love, and cultivate in them habits of good actions accompanied by pure holy and loving thoughts and to induce them to look at life and the world itself in a positive manner. Shri Janardan Swami considered this as his mission of his life and rigorously adopted, followed and nurtured this vow of service during his lifetime. Of all the rules of nature, the rule of love is supreme and most holy. As it is completely bereft of selfishness, the rule of love enlarges the concept of traditional goodness and mutual co-operation. As a result environmental balance remains undisturbed. This ideal was taught by Swamiji through workshops conducted by him on voluntary community work (Shramadan) . Revered Shri. Janardan Swamiji was born on 24 September 1914, in the holy land of Marathwada, i.e. Tapergaon in Kannad Taluka, District Aurangabad, the village of his maternal uncle he belongs to village Dahegaon of Vaijapur Taluka, Dist: Aurangabad (Marathwada) in Maharashtra State, in an ordinary humble family of farmers, Even in his every childhood days, he by his actions and words impressed and convinced every one of his divine qualities such as faith, good actions, pure thoughts, kind-heartedness, love, forgiveness and acts were beneficial to society. First of all swamiji practiced the “Sadhna” of religious faith and love of the “Varkari” Sampradaya and in short period he mastered “Yoga Siddhi” based on “Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras”. The very first sight of the noble ascetic figure of Swamiji with his ling matted hair, flowing beard and body typically smeared with ashes all over from head to feet, wearing neaklace of “Rudraksha” beads and scantily dressed, evoded deep awe and respect from all who saw him. Swamiji possessed unique powers which would inspire all those masses of people who came in contact with him, and transform their lives by bestowing on them heavenly beauty, bliss, joy and prosperity. That is why every one of his teachings was powerful inspiration of constructive, universal and powerful instructions based on pure truth! A measure of the attraction of and trust reposed by the common people in Swamiji could be gauged from the fact that at his mere bidding, more and more peoples started participating in the social services undertaken by him. By his divine power and because of bestow parental attention, to mitigate the sufferings and calamities of the common people, Swamiji was held in great regard and respect. Swamiji inspred the huge and growing crowds of his devotees to switch over their efforts from seeking individual salvation / welfare to acts which will ensure welfare of the entire universe! Through voluntary services (Shramdan) thousands of hands helped to transform barren lands which were lying uncultivated and discarded as wastelands, for hundreds of years, into luxurious greenery that planting of a tree is a holy mission, every house and every village witnesses plantation of trees in their thousand of acres. In this way, Swamiji put in very strenuous efforts to minimize hazards of pollution, which is threatening to engulf the entire Universe! Thus the world became acquainted with the illustrious and divine powers of Swamiji to put into actual practice and operation, plans of noble work for the benefit of universal humanity. Swamiji taught the masseg that in this world nothing is without value-neither time, nor any article – nor any person! Father and Mother give birth tp their child, but do not always give it a noble vision for living life (Jeevan Drishti). That is why it is absolutely necessary to bestow on the child good morals and proper education. A newborn child is like a lump of clay. However he us future representative of India’s culture and destiny. That is why swamiji through the example of his own actions, emphasized the need to concentrate on these qualities right from his childhood. In order to achieve this purpose, he established “Gurukul” type schools with hostels, based on our holy and ancient traditions and through his incomparable teats of mediations, will power and great efforts, started, sustained and expanded them. Every one proudly looks upon these institutions as efforts in the direction of constructive national activity! Even to day one can see large numbers of students, who intend of aiming at merely earning riches in their future lives, can be seen engrossed in deep study in these Gurukul type of schools. Being a self realized Saint, Swamiji fully realized and knew that if organized strength of the community is wrongly harnessed to wicked / crooked thinking – then it will only cause havoc and destruction in the Universe! Swamiji, who always consistently abhorred wealth, status, titles and publicity for himself, led a life of severe hard work and presence up to his age of 75 years – fully devoted to general welfare of the masses and strived for world peace. Because of his life of sacrifice, even though Swamiji discarded his mortal body to the five elements of nature on 10/12/1989 – yet by his miraculous deeds he remains immortal – deathless and everlasting. As a reminder of his miraculous life and as an inspiration for the community to follow, every one including the Government of India today are honoring him! This is only just and proper and commendable. teachings and Vision of Swamiji, Swamiji continuously propounded his teachings to society, through his constant preaching (Pravachanas). These teachings broadly stressed as under. 1) Always keep yourself engaged and busy in work. 2) Practice always morality in life and be pure. 3) Avoid jealousy. 4) Lead a life of sweet and good nature. 5) Avoid abusing others. 6) Avoid use of other’s wealth. 7) Avoid food of others. 8) Consider all women as if they are like your mother. 9) To show real spiritual path to common people 10) To establish addict free society 11) To increase "work-culture" in the society 12) To give free of cost education to economically weaker students 13) To reanimate ancient Gurukul system 14) To develop barren land 15) To preservation of the cattle In such simple but clear language he would stress the importance of these teachings / messages. Through his personal example and by his own actions he imparted knowledge regarding the need to meditate on God. He taught the devotee to put in hard work and taught dignity of labour and stressed that merely talking without action is meaningless. He would always advise devotees from the various professions viz. agriculture / farmers, trade, industry and teaching (profession) as under. Swamiji Left his mortal body and attained “Mahanirvana” in Nashik Ashram at 4:35 am on 10/12/1989. Just three days before his Mahanirvana he had instructed some ten or twelve of his close disciples, that his mortal remains should be buried in the Ashram at Kopergaon bet on 11/12/1989. Lakhs of his devotees attended the burial. On the 16th day of (Shodashi) religious ceremony of this Sanyasi at Kopergaon, some seven to eight lacs of devotees were present. On his first death anniversary, the groundbreaking ceremony (Bhoomy Puja) of the “Samadhi Mandir” was performed. This ceremony was performed at the august hands of Jyotishpeethaddheesha Param Pujya Jagatguru Shankarachyarya vasudevanandaji Saraswati Swami and was attended amongst others, by Saint Param Pujya Harinarayanandi Maharaj, Mahamantri Bharat Sadhu Samaj, New Delhi, Param Pujya Madhopuri Maharaj, Shri Panchadashanam June Akhada, Sabhapati Param Pujya Someshwarpuri Maharaj, Param Pujya Atmapuri Maharaj and other Saints.

• Girijabai wife of Saint Eknath
• Mahim Bhat, writer of Leela Charitra,earliest known written work of Marathi literature
• Sant Rajaram Bhabhulgaon Ganga
• Bodkhe Guruji 'Panduranga' freedom fighter
• Pandharinath Patil Paralkar freedom fighter
• Shri Gulabrao Ramrao Patil Salunke Police Patil Vaijapur
• Shri Kailash Patil Chikatgankar Politician
• Swami Sachhidanand Giri Pareshwar ashram
• Rangnath.M.Wanisaheb MLA
• Shri Saber Khan Amjad Khan Social Worker
• Shri Rajendra Vasantrao Patil Salunke Social Worker
• Kailash Aher Scientist
• Ramesh Bornare Social Worker
• Shete Patil V. Municipal council
• Jagnnath Khanderao Jadhav Educationist
• Vijayatai Patil, Vice President,Zilla Parishad Aurangabad
• Ramkrishna Baba Patil Ex.MP
• Shivaji Patil, Scientist, Ministry of Telecommunication, Australia
• Manohar Balkrishna Paralkar, Sr.General Manager, Corporate HR, Tata Motors.