Jawaharlal Darda

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. 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.

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. In Jabalpur Jail Darda Memorial Hall was built, where Darda was imprisoned during India's freedom struggle. This memorial hall was constructed to commemorate his contributions to the freedom struggle and public life. he organized youth conference on 10 August 1942. In 1944 he created Azad Hind Sena at Yavatmal. He remained President of the Yavatmal City Congress 1946-56. In 1973 he represented the Government of India at Copenhagen (Denmark) at an International Conference on Housing. The Government of India will be issuing a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Darda,

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.

Jawaharlal Darda deeply felt about Vidarbha's progress. In his tenure as the state industry minister, he set up many industrial estates Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC in Vidarbha area. Darda's arguments in the state legislature were unparalleled.

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. Darda set up Butibori Industrial area (MIDC), near Nagpur tenure as Industries Minister. also during his tenure that the cities of Nashik and Sambhajinagar began to industrialize. thumb Jawaharlal Darda with first Prime Minister of India Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

Awards and achievements On 12 September 2013, Jawaharlal Darda was posthumously conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at UK's House of Commons. Yavatmal Airport is known as Jawaharlal Darda Airport. APMC Yavatmal is known as Jawaharlal Darda Market Yard. He set up the first college Amolakchand Mahavidyalaya at Yavatmal in 1956. Jawaharlal Darda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Yavatmal. Jawaharlal Darda English Medium School & Jr. College, Yavatmal. Jawaharlal Darda Sangeet Kala Academy, Lokmat Bhavan, Nagpur. Veenadevi Darda School, Yavatmal is a new-age school floated by Shri Jawaharlal Darda Education Society. Yavatmal Public School, Yavatmal Started in April 2006 the first CBSE school in Yavatmal.

Death and Memorials Jawaharlal Darda died on 25 November 1997 in Mumbai at the age of 74 In recognition of his contributions to journalism, politics, and social development, several posthumous honors and memorials were established. The Government of India issued a ₹5 commemorative postage stamp in his honor on 2 December 2005, released by then-Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Another stamp was issued in 2022 to mark milestones in his legacy.