A colossus passes away

KOLHAPUR, Dec 23: Few today will remember the role of a frail, khadi clad Dr Ratnappa Bharmappa Kumbhar in assimilating as many as 14 pri...

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KOLHAPUR, Dec 23: Few today will remember the role of a frail, khadi clad Dr Ratnappa Bharmappa Kumbhar in assimilating as many as 14 princely states in South Maharashtra in the post-1947 Union of India.

Active in State politics and his own Panchganga Cooperative Sugar Factory in the power-loom town of Ichalkaranji, near here, till his last breath, Ratnappanna’s role as a Praja Parishad activist seems to have taken a backseat. His name has become synonymous with his factory and the politics of eastern Kolhapur.

A visionary, Ratnappanna played a vital role in the Praja Parishad movement with its chief Bhai Madhavrao Bagal and lead the struggle for assimilation of Kolhapur and other smaller princely states with the Indian Union. The struggle had taken off as a movement to establish responsible administration in these princely states after independence.

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Heading the Dakshin Sansthan Praja Parishad, Kumbhar had planned a satyagraha for assimilation of Akkalkot state and was pressing for assimilation of Kolhapur state which he always believed, would set an example for other feudal rulers in the vicinity. His organisational skills helped him sail through unscathed while leading the most piquant struggles against the princely states. Along with his followers, Kumbhar was a victim of police brutalities. Attempts on life were made by pro-princely state men during the struggle. In Akkalkot, Kumbhar and his associates were locked in the house, then their headquarters, and set afire. He earned laurels for his efforts in persuading the heads of the princely states to join the Union and the title of deshbhakta from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Born into a potter’s family, young Ratnappanna learnt his first lesson in organising a struggle around the mid-1930s, when he and his colleagues from Shirol raised a battle-cry against British for a hike in agriculture cess The struggle marked by farmers’ rallies ended when administrators agreed to reduce the cess by one anna. A triumphant Ratnappanna later took the spirit of satyagraha to many other villages of Kolhapur.

Ratnappanna struggled to convince the farmers of the importance of co-operatives. His efforts bore success when the Panchaganga Co-operative Sugar Factory was registered on October 1, 1955. He was associated with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) for over four decades. He was the vice-president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1983 to 1985. He was awarded the Padma Shree for his contribution towards the co-operative movement.