Jawaharlal Amolakchand Darda (2 July 1923 – 25 November 1997), known popularly as Babuji, was an Indian freedom fighter and a senior Indian National Congress politician.[1] He is the founding editor of Lokmat group of newspapers (now Lokmat Media group). He was a pioneering journalist and a prominent politician of his time.[2]
Career
Darda began as a social worker and then, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, participated in the Satyagraha Movement in 1942 and joined the Quit India Movement, for which he was sentenced to jail for one year and 9 months. While in Jabalpur Jail he organized a youth conference on 10 August 1942. In 1944 he created Azad Hind Sena at Yavatmal. He remained President of the Yavatmal City Congress between 1946-56.[3] In 1973 he represented the Government of India at Copenhagen (Denmark) at an International Conference on Housing.[4][5] The Government of India will be issuing a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Darda,[6]
Darda's contribution to the freedom struggle is unparalleled. With his efforts, Yavatmal district had spontaneously responded to the call of the freedom struggle and gained the attention of legendary personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Yavatmal district was actively participating in the freedom struggle and credit for rekindling the nationalist spirit among the people there goes to veteran freedom fighters like Jawaharlal. He is amongst the most prominent freedom fighters from the Yavatmal district.[7]
Jawaharla Darda deeply felt about Vidarbha's progress. In his tenure as the state industry minister, he set up many industrial estates in Vidarbha area. Darda's arguments in the state legislature were unparalleled.[8]
Family
Jawaharlal Darda has Four children, Vijay and Rajendra (Sons); Snehal & Jayashree (daughters)
Vijay Darda, a politician of Indian National Congress party, was a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha since 1998 having been elected for three consecutive terms into the upper House of the Indian Parliament. He is the chairman of the Lokmat Media Group.[9]Rajendra Darda, also a politician, elected thrice from Aurangabad East Assembly constituency since 1998. He was the Education & Industry and State Home Minister in Maharashtra Government. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat Media Group[9]
Awards and achievements
On 12 September 2013, Jawaharlal Darda was posthumously conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at UK's House of Commons.[10]
^"The Print". Birth Centenary. 28 April 2023. pp. Govt to issue Rs 100 commemorative coin to birth centenary of Jawaharlal Darda. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^ abMaitra, ed. (4 September 2012) [4 September 2012]. "Who is Vijay Darda". Hindustan times. Nagpur. Retrieved 4 September 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: url-status (link)
