The leader women called ‘Dada’: Ajit Pawar’s enduring legacy

As Maharashtra bid farewell to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar memories of his political legacy extended beyond power and administration to a quieter but deeply personal contribution mdash his consistent emphasis on womenrsquos dignity recognition and empowerment rooted in his native village of KatewadiLong before the recent cabinet decision mandating the inclusion of mothersrsquo names in all government documents Katewadi village in Baramati taluka had already set an example In 2005 the village gram panchayat introduced mothersrsquo names alongside fathersrsquo names on all land ownership recordsThe decision led by women members of the panchayat aimed to formally acknowledge the role of mothers in family and community lifeRoads in Katewadi wear a deserted look as residents left their homes to pay tribute to their beloved leader Ajit Pawar PicsBy Special ArrangementKatewadi the Pawar familyrsquos native village later earned national recognition for its progressive governance In 2008 it was declared a lsquomodel villagersquo by the Maharashtra government and subsequently developed into the statersquos first ecovillage Ajit Pawarrsquos wife Sunetra Pawar played a key role in planning and implementing several of these initiativesDespite his demanding schedule Pawar made it a point to visit Katewadi regularly Village women recalled that he and Sunetra Pawar participated every year in the Bail Pola celebrations where residents treated them as members of their own familyA leader loved by allAjit Pawarrsquos association with womencentric welfare remained prominent throughout his political career His Ladki Bahin Yojana launched last year emerged as one of the most popular schemes in Maharashtra providing a monthly honorarium of R1500 to eligible women beneficiariesThe scheme found wide acceptance particularly in rural areas and became a defining element of his outreach during the Assembly elections The campaignrsquos distinctive pink theme and emphasis on swift implementation strengthened his connection with women voters Under the Women and Child Development Ministry headed by Aditi Tatkare operational hurdles were cleared on priority Pawar repeatedly assured beneficiaries that funds would not fall short reinforcing confidence in the schemeAn unfulfilled wishThe emotional bond between Pawar and women supporters was most visible during his final darshanAs his mortal remains were brought to Katewadi ahead of the last rites women from across Baramati and neighbouring villages gathered in large numbers to pay tribute to the leader they affectionately called lsquoDadarsquoOne elderly woman holding a rakhi in trembling hands broke down in tearsldquoI came to tie this rakhi for himrdquo she cried ldquoThis time my wish remained unfulfilledrdquoSimilar scenes unfolded as several women struggled to accept the loss of a leader they viewed as a protective elder brother and a dependable pillar of support In Katewadi and Baramati many households observed mourning by not lighting their stoves reflecting the depth of collective griefFinal journey from KatewadiAjit Pawarrsquos funeral procession began from Katewadi on Thursday morning amid overwhelming sorrow Thousands gathered from early dawn to pay their respects to the Pawar familySenior leaders including Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule were present as emotional slogans of ldquoAjit Dada Amar Raherdquo echoed through the village The flowerdecked vehicle carrying his mortal remains travelled nearly seven kilometres through Baramatirsquos main areas before reaching the Vidya Pratishtan campus Along the route mourners followed silently many running behind the procession with tearful eyesA heavy police deployment traffic diversions and drone surveillance were put in place to manage the massive turnoutLegacy beyond politicsAjit Pawarrsquos sudden demise has left Maharashtra mourning not just a powerful administrator but a leader whose connection with grassroots workers and women beneficiaries went far beyond political symbolism From pioneering reforms in his native village to statewide welfare initiatives his imprint on inclusive governance remains enduringSilent stoves sleepless nightsIn a rare collective gesture of respect households across Baramati did not light their gas stoves on Wednesday and Thursday Many residents remained outdoors through the night refusing to return home as they bid an emotional farewell to their beloved leader