Shri S M Joshi
was an extraordinary socialist from Maharashtra. His full name is Shridhar
Madhav Joshi that is S M Joshi. He
dedicated his whole life for the socialist movement in Maharashtra. He helped
Jayprakash Narayan in formation of Socialist movement. He was also a founder of
great socialist organization "Rashtriya Seva Dal".
He had a huge
role in formation of a All India federation of Workers. These workers
organizations played a very important role during Samyukta Maharashtra
Movement. He was also behind the renaming of Marathwada University to Dr
Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada university. His work in socialist movement has
made Maharashtra a progressive state which is ahead of many states in India
today.
Shri Govindrao
Koregaon trust of Kolhapur used to send some money on monthly basis to some
social and political activists. When SM Joshi became MLA he wrote a letter to
Trust informing that he don’t need their help as he is reviewing his salary
from government. Due to his selfless nature Indian socialist movement always
considered him as their icon.
During the
freedom movement in 1941 when it was decided to form an army of youths to create
an awareness about the secularism and the socialism, S M Joshi was nominated unanimously as
it's "Dalpramukh". Hence it
was decided that the "Dalpramukh" could not accept any political
position, Joshiji worked tirelessly only
for creating moral values among youths. He participated in the 1942 Quit India
movement and gave a frontal attack. Many young volunteers followed Joshi and
joined the movement.
He was known in
the revolutionary circle as
"Factory of Karyakartas"
The Quit India
movement was started in August 1942. Shri SM Joshi was working underground
during this movement. The British Government in India had declared everyone as
illegal and anti nation. This included all the forces who were giving a stiff
fight to British like Congress, Student Organizations, council of ministers of various Princely
states etc. But they were unable to ban Rashtrasevadal due to its unique
constitution which was totally created for educational purposes. Rashtrasevadal
undertook various programs to aware people about the atrocious behaviour of
mighty British rule . Volunteers of Rashtrasevadal went from village to village
to organize such events. As underground activities were also going on , the
volunteers of Rastrasevadal undertook various works like delivering hidden
messages and bulletins. They were expert in escaping without getting captured
by police.
Sometimes he had
to change his looks to get escape from the eyes of police. Once he became
Imanali ,A Muslim with flowing beard, Sherwani and fluent Urdu . He worked
underground with this costume. SM Joshi along with Sane Guruji, Nanasaheb Gore,
Madhu Limaye were working in an hidden location in Mumbai. Sane Guruji used to
translate Secret English and Hindi bulletins into Marathi. They were printed by
the name of "Krantikari"(Revolutionary) .It contains information
about the progress of movement and some guiding principles for revolutionaries
to follow . Sevadal volunteers used to deliver such pamphlet to the remotest
village of Maharashtra. There was some kind thrill among youth about this
underground movement and undoubtedly SM Joshi became hero of Young generation
SM stands for
Shridham Mahadav. His family belongs to Ratnagiri District which is situated in
Konkan region of Maharashtra. Konkan has given many revolution and reformers to
India. Lokmanya Tilak, Bharatratma Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, Rangler
Paranjpe, B R Ambedkar, Chintaman Dhwarkanath Deshmukh were all belong to
Konkan.
He was born on
12th November 1904. At that time his father was living in Junnar near Pune. SM
Joshi's completed his primary education in village of Shriganesh Golap. Later
he went on to Nagpur to complete his further education. But due to his
inability to pay the fees for 3 months he was removed from school. He then went
to pune and started his education
He took
admission to Ferguson college in 1925. During those days the swadeshi movement
was on peak. People were boycotting foreign goods like cloths, salt and factory
made item. Annaji decided during those days that from now he will only wear
Khadi.
During his
college years he was actively working in youth leagues. Due various events
organized by youth leagues he got attracted towards the leftist ideology of
Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash chandra Bose. When Simon Commission came to India,
Congress decided to boycott it wherever it goes. Boycott Marches were also
organized in Pune. SM Joshi gave speech at Shivaji temple. This was his first
public speech.
During 1930s
Gandhiji had take the cause of removing untouchability from the minds of
society. He had also taken a Harijan tour making people about the sin of
untouchability. He said that only obtaining political freedom is not our aim,
we should also fight for the social equality. Gandhiji also started temple
entry movement. In Pune SM Joshi went with comrades to famous "Parvati
temple" demanding opening of temple for untouchables. But he was stopped
by some orthodox purohit. Joshi had to stepped down as they were outnumbered.
In march 1930
Gandhiji went on Dandi march which was a movement for breaking the salt law
which was totally not in favour of salt workers. Various salt marches were
organized in different part of India. SM also organized salt satyagraha in
Alibaug along with Shri Waman Paranjpe. Both SM and Paranjpe were lated
arrested and sentenced to six months o imprisonment. Both were imprisoned in
Thane Jail. This was SM's first Jail experience.
SM obtained his
LLB degree. While protesting the
unlawful detention Comrade Manvendra Nath SM gave a speech which was
provocative in nature. While citing an example of French revolution he told the
masses that how French people fought for releasing the revolutionaries.
Government arrest him under the charge of inciting hatred towards the state and
provoking people for armed rebellion against state. He was sentenced to two in
jail. He went out of the jail in 1936. After releasing from Jail he went direct
to the Faizpur where Annual session of Indian National Congress was taking
place. Faizpur session was first Session of Indian National Congress which was
taking place in rural part of India.
SM was so much affectionate towards Jay
Prakash Narayan. A Socialist group of Indian National Congress was formed in 1934 at Nasik Jail by Shri
Jayprakash Narayan, Achyut Patvardhan,
Acharya Narendra Dev, Dr Rammanohar Lohia Nanasaheb Gore etc. SM Joshi was also a part
of this socialist movement. After Independence and especially after Gandhi's
Death socialist group became separate from Congress.
SM also
supported the "Sampurna Kranti" movement . He was
a member of the trust which was created to handle the funds collected
for the movement. He was also a secretary of "Samyukta Maharashtra
Samiti".
He always
supported the cause of Dalits. He welcomed the Mandal commission which was
formed to frame the reservation policy for backward classes. He also requested
Prime Minister VP Singh to implement the
recommendations of Mandal Commission as soon as possible. He supported the
renaming of Marathwada University to Dr Babasaheb Ambedakar Marathwada University.
This great son
of soil left the world on 1st April 1989. We can say that he was a hero of
socialism in Maharashtra.
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