Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
A commemorative postage stamp on the Birth Anniversary of Kakasaheb Gadgil, an Indian freedom fighter and politician from Maharashtra :
I
ssued by India
Issued on Jan 10, 1985
Issued for : The Indian Posts & Telegraphs Department is privileged to issue a commemorative postage stamp in honour of Narhar Vishnu Gadgil, a veteran freedom fighter and a prominent national leader.
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Orange, Green & Chestnut
Denomination : 50 Paise
Overall size : 4.06 x 2.70 cms.
Printing size : 3.71 x 2.30 cms.
Perforation : 13
Stamps Printed : 1.5 Million in sheets of 40
Printing Process : Photogravure
Printers : India Security Press, Nasik
Name : Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
Born on Jan 10, 1896 at Malhargarh, Mandsaur, Madhya Pradesh, India
Died on Jan 12, 1966
About :
- Shri Narhar Vishnu Gadgil popularly known as Kakasaheb Gadgil, was an erudite lawyer, veteran freedom fighter, eminent politician and an outstanding literary figure. Born on 10th January, 1896, he graduated from Fergusson College, Pune in 1918 and obtained a Degree in Law in 1920. He was deeply influenced by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel during his lifetime. Swami Ramkrishna Paramhansa and Swami Vivekananda also left a deep impress upon his mind and character.
- He actively participated in the nationalist movement from 1920 when he joined the Indian National Congress. He took part in all the Congress movements from 1921 onwards and suffered imprisonment eight times. Shri N.V. Gadgil came to rank as one of the prominent national leaders. He was an office-bearer in the Congress organisation for more than three decades from 1921. He was Secretary, Poona District Congress Committee (1921-25); President, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (1937-45); Member, Congress Working Committee (1952-55); and whip and Secretary of the Congress Legislature Party (1945-47). He was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1934. He was Minister in the first Cabinet of independent India from 1947 to 1952 and held several portfolios like Commerce, Works, Mines and Power. During his tenure in the Central Cabinet, he initiated many development projects such as Bhakra, Hirakud and Koyna. He served the Governor of Punjab from 1958 to 1962.
- He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Poona University in 1964. He was also associated with several public associations and institutions such as Sarvajanik Sabha, Pune; the Young Men’s Association, Pune; the Maharashtra Youth League, Bombay; Pune Central Cooperative Bank and the Pune Municipality. He was one of the pioneer of social reform movements in Maharashtra in the 1930’s.
- Shri Gadgil was a prolific writer. He wrote several books and articles on Politics, Economics, Law, History, Oratory etc. His important works include ‘Pathik‘ (an autobiography), ‘Rajya Shastra Vichar‘, ‘Subha Shastra‘, ‘Vaktrutva Shastra‘ and ‘Gyanbacha Arthashastra‘. For his great contribution to Marathi Literature, he was elected President of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in 1962. After an illustrious career of public service, he died on 12th January, 1966.
