A Veteran socialists and Gandhian leader Mrunal Gore was lost yesterday.
Fact that Sharad Pawar gave a half hour interview to a news channel recalling her memories, this despite they beign political adversaries, tells tall about the political culture she worked with.
A few highlights of her carrer.
- Gave up studies in Medicine to enter social work and fight for poorest of poor.
- Fought in Freedom struggle , Samyukta Maharashtra movement , Goa liberation movement , and many issues of urban poor , displaced farmers , tribal's, women, housing
- She was pioneer in getting Maharashtra assembly pass bill against female foeticide , a first in country. Her excellent speech in the assembly is said to have moved the male dominated assembly to pass the bill.
- She has lead one of the largest morcha of women post independence , won elections with highest majority and this in times when very few women ventured in public life , leave alone politics
- A Hardcore activists rejected offers of ministership in central and state governments, evening after winning elections with highests margins, just to be a activists for the poorests of poor, which she thought couldnt be done being a minister
- Sharad Pawar admits her opposition was so fierce that during those times they were even afraid to move around the city in public.
- In 1977, when mrinal gore got elected to the lok sabha, popular slogan in mumbai was "paani wali bai dilli mein, dilli wali bai pani mein!". In fact Indira Gandhi had to ask Maharashtra CM Antulay to step down when Mrunaltai exposed him in a cement corruption
- Though fierce, she never disrupted working of assembly, never used foul language, never let political opposition affect personal relations and maintained high standards of politics in Maharashtra
- Few months back in a meeting with Sharad Pawar she requested him a help. The case being of a land in mumbai she had received decades ago to build houses for poor. After building those houses , the remaining land is now notified for commercial purpose by the government.'Since I didnt take land for commercial use , I want to return it back to govt.Have written many times but no reply. Please help me in this, as I am feeling restless' she said to Pawar. Even these days there are people like her who want to return commercial land to govt on moral grounds and was feeling restless till its returned.
A true socialists highly influenced by veteran socialists leade S.M.Joshi , Mrunaltai's conduct has always been full of humility , and inspiration to various activists across the country
Such a honest , fierce yet humble politician cum social activist will surely be missed by Maharashtra and the Nation.
