21 August,2009 08:44 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
59-year-old hero of a massive fire fighting operation in Pune's timber market in 1972 now lives on leftovers donated by neighbourhood restaurants
Life used to be kinder to former fireman Subhash Dhondiba Patane (59) who now lives under a banyan tree near Gurudwara Camp and survives on leftovers donated by neighbourhood restaurants.
Back in 1972, he was a hero in the eyes of his superiors as well as colleagues for his role in fighting a massive fire in Pune's timber market. Patane is back under his tree after being discharged from Dr Naidu Hospital, where he was treated for cholera. Vinod Jain, an environmental activist, spotted Patane, who still wears his fireman's uniform his only worldly possession. "I participated in the fire operation in 1972. I was new on the job.
Dousing the fire was a big challenge, but I did my bit and it was widely appreciated," said Patane.
D N Nagalkar, the assistant divisional officer of the Pune fire brigade, told this reporter that Patane left the job 32 years ago on health grounds. "I did not marry. My parents are long dead and I had to surrender my room to the PMC after I left the fire brigade. I have nowhere to go. This banyan tree is my home today," said Patane.
MiD DAY met CL Madval, who joined the fire brigade on the same day as Patane at the same level, is now a chief fire officer, remembers Patane. "Patane was a good worker. His father was also a fireman. We joined on the same day. I was posted in the Budhwar Peth fire station, but he was transferred to other stations in the city. He became irregular on the job and was finally sacked," he said.
Jain is hunting for an NGO that can get Patane admitted to an old age home, as the fire brigade officials say there is nothing they can do to help.
"One has to work for at least 15 years to be eligible for pension, Patane has just worked five years. Even at a personal level there is nothing we can do to help him," said Nagalkar.
