Abhinandan Granth (English Article)

Shri Y. B. Chavan As Administrator

K. L. PANJABI
I.C.S (Retd.), Ex-Chief Secretary, Bombay State

YESHWANTRAO Chavan's rise to fame has been meteoric. Eight years ago he was a youthful politician who had drawn much attention to himself by his earnestness of purpose, his habit of close study, his integrity of outlook and above all by his breezy cordial manner. But he was picking up the threads of administration and had still to be tested. He suffered from one handicap; he was too shy to push himself. But very soon he proved his worth. Today he is among the top leaders of the country and his advice is valued in the inner councils of the Con­gress. He is known all over India as a disciplined soldier and inspired leader in whom the country can put its trust.

Early Life

His rise has been due to a curious compound of force of character and favourable circum­stances. Yeshwantrao comes from the hills of Satara which have been the home of lovers of freedom. They had nurtured Shivaji and had been silent witnesses of his march to victory over the foreigners. They had bred stout hearts and tough bodies—men of determination, courage and defi­ance. When great leaders like Mahatma Phule and Lokmanya Tilak raised the flag of national movement Satara awakened from its stupor and responded with fervour. The district became notorious for its turbulent fighters and gave the police and the Government an anxious time.

The Satyashodhak movement gave the enthu­siasm of the people a purpose and direction. As a boy, Yeshwantrao came under its influence. And so also the writings of Lokmanya Tilak which he devoured while still in school. He was so much affected by them that in the school magazine he urged all the boys to follow the teachings of Tilak.

His early life had been one of struggle. Born in a humble family of small peasants, his mother had to undergo hard sacrifices to educate him. His father died when he was a child of four. The boy Yeshwant saw grim poverty, ignorance and disease in the villages round him. Being sensitive at heart he asked himself: “Must this be ? Is there not a way out ? Cannot the village people at least have the amenities which the city people enjoy ? Must they always remain the stepsons of the nation ?”. Thus was the seed of socialism dropped in Yeshwantrao’s mind at an early age.