Dattatraya Deshpande

Dattatraya Atmaram Deshpande (27 November 1925 – 22 September 1970) was an Indian independence activist. He was a founder member of the Azad Gomantak Dal.

Early life Dattatraya Atmaram Deshpande was born on 27 November 1925, in Rampur, Chikkodi taluka, Kingdom of Mysore. He was the son of Atmaram Dattatraya Deshpande and received an SSC-level education.

Political activism and role in independence movements Deshpande was deeply involved in the Indian independence movement. He actively participated in the Quit India Movement from 1942 to 1945 and later joined the Forward Bloc, a political group led by Subhash Chandra Bose. His work with the Forward Bloc extended to Bengal, Bihar, and Odisha.

Imprisonment and resistance In December 1947, Deshpande was arrested for his revolutionary activities, which included acts of defiance against Portuguese rule in Mapusa and Porvorim. In 1949, he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by the Portuguese Tribunal Militar Territorial (TMT) with a provision for deportation to Africa. During his detention in jails in Margao, Panaji, Aguada, and Reis Magos, Deshpande endured inhumane treatment and torture.

In the initial session of the Second Goa Assembly, Dayanand Bandodkar, who served as the Chief Minister of Goa at the time, made the decision to remove Dattatraya Deshpande, along with Raghunath Tople, Ganaba Dessai and A Kadkade, from their positions in the organizational wing of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party. This action took place on the first day of the assembly's session and marked their expulsion from the party.

Death He died on 22 September 1970.