Panjabrao Deshmukh

Panjabrao Shamrao Deshmukh (Kadam) (27 December 1898 – 10 April 1965), also known as Bhausaheb Deshmukh, was a social activist and a leader to farmers in India. He was the Minister of Agriculture in the cabinet of Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954.

Early life He was born into a Maratha-Kunbi family at Papal in the Amravati district of Maharashtra on 27 December 1898, his family practised agriculture. His father's name is Shamrao and mother's name is Radhabai. His original surname was Kadam. After completing his primary education in his hometown, he was sent to Songaon and then to Karanja Lad. At Karanja Lad, he reached ninth grade, before he was admitted into Hind High School, Amravati, and Fergusson College in Pune.

Social activities

He studied under Satyashodhak Samaj of Jyotirao Phule. He did satyagraha to allow untouchables to enter Ambabai Temple, Amravati, which was condemned by the upper castes. B. R. Ambedkar supported him in this movement. The management of the temple later allowed untouchables to enter the temple. Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh started another equality movement from his home. After the death of his father, his mother asked him to conduct traditional activity "Shradhha" with Brahmins. He brought untouchable students home from his school hostel and his mother treated them as Brahmins.

His marriage ceremony was simple and held in Mumbai. After the marriage ceremony, when he reached Amravati, his friends convinced Deshmukh to give a party. He held a small dinner party for them. The meal was served by youths wearing white. After dinner Bhausaheb stated that the servers were untouchables (violating the prohibition). Many such events were conducted by Dr. Deshmukh to remove untouchability from our society.

Educational activist Statue of Deshmukh at the Punjabrao Deshmukh Agricultural University in Nagpur. In 1932 he established Shivaji Education Society at Amravati.

Politics He was elected thrice for the Lok Sabha. He represented the constituency of Central Provinces and Berar. Dr. Deshmukh was selected by Nehru as Minister of the first State Agriculture.

He appeared for poor peasants in many cases at the district court of Amravati. His most predominant case was British Government vs. Azad Hind Sena, in which he assisted Jawaharlal Nehru.

Legacy

Dr. Deshmukh died on 10 April 1965 at Delhi. He was survived by his wife, the lawyer and educationalist Vimal Punjab Deshmukh. They had one son.

The 'Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Center for Monitoring Regional Economy' at Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University was created in 2011 and named after him.

The 'Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Nursing Institute' in Amravati is named after him.

A commemorative stamp was issued in his honour in 1999.