Most of the important leaders were born in cities and towns; but Chavan was born in a village 'Devarashtra' in Karad Taluka, of Satara district. He gives vivid description (in his autobiography) of his village in which he was born in 1913. His forefathers were simple farmers. He gives plain pictures of life of common people just like shepherds and Ramoshies and many other for whom he had sympathy throughout his life. He also writes about higher caste people in his village and their way of behaviour with others. Depressed class people were living outside the village.
He was a son of soil and he had actual experience of village life. He wrote his autobiography in plain and simple Marathi so that even men with ordinary education can understand the contents and, therefore, he purposely avoided Sanskrit words as far as possible. This also shows his sympathetic attitude to common people. Hence he had actual AG tmarytia tiwul zri*
experience of rural life & desire for the upliftment of masses living in villages. He had a soft corner for the common masses. It was he who started Panchayat Rajya in Maharashtra. The growth of Sugarcane Mills also should be attributed to him. Co-operation movements developed and new rural leadership born out of his new efforts.
First, he became a Congress leader of Satara district. Satara District Congress was dominated by the leaders generally living in towns. Pleaders like late Bhausaheb Soman had upper hand in Congress politics and Chavan found that there was no place in Congress for the leaders and workers from village area. Frankly speaking, the Satara District Congress was dominated by Brahmin and upper class leaders from District and Taluka towns. Chavan suggested the name of his friend Atmaram Bapu Patil for the election of Bombay Council. The old leaders did not give their consent with open heart, hence Chavan went to see Sardar Patel who was living in Bombay. Sardar Patel gave his approval for above suggestion and Chavan and his friends were successful in the election (Krishna Kaath P. No.175). Also he got elected Shri Babasaheb Shinde, Senior Congressman for the post of President of District Local Board, Satara. Shinde was from Akhade, a village from Jawali Taluka. Chavan did this through congress itself without giving colour of Brahmin versus nonbrahmins. His method was national and not at all communal. He himself never created bitterness. Generally, his words were sweet and when he wanted to differ, he used tender words. He used to avoid reactions to upper classes.
