Baramati's Political Heart Falls Silent as Town Bids Farewell to Ajit Pawar
In the bustling town of Baramati, Pune, Bhigwan Chowk has long stood as the vibrant epicenter of political activity. This is where party offices converge, election victories are celebrated with fervor, and losses are quietly analyzed behind closed doors. Yet, on a somber Thursday, the chowk wore an uncharacteristic hush, mirroring the grief that enveloped the town as it prepared to bid a final goodbye to its beloved son, Ajit Pawar. The deputy chief minister and Baramati's MLA tragically passed away in a plane crash on Wednesday morning, leaving a void in Maharashtra's political landscape.
A Town Pays Respects Without Fanfare
True to Ajit Pawar's known aversion to ostentatious displays, the farewell was marked by a poignant simplicity. Flashy flex boards and loud posters were conspicuously absent. Instead, the few that appeared carried his photograph with a single, powerful word: nishabd, meaning "no words." This minimalism eloquently captured the collective shock, disbelief, and profound sorrow that gripped Baramati. The town's streets, usually alive with political chatter, were subdued as residents processed the sudden loss.
Final Journey with State Honours
On Thursday, all roads in Baramati led to the Vidya Pratishthan sports ground, where the last rites were performed with full state honours. The ground was flooded with thousands of mourners—men and women, old and young—many unable to hold back their tears. Political heavyweights from across the spectrum gathered to pay their respects. The gathering included:
- Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
- Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde
- State Minister Chandrakant Patil
- MLA Praniti Shinde
- AIMIM leader Imtiaz Jaleel
- Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rahul Narwekar
- Former Union Minister Sushilkumar Shinde
- MLA Vishwajeet Kadam
- Shahu Maharaj Chhatrapati
- MNS chief Raj Thackeray
Several Pawar family members, including patriarch Sharad Pawar and MP Supriya Sule, were also present, united in grief.
Katewadi's Dada: A Personal Loss
If Baramati is the Pawar family's political bastion, Katewadi village was Ajit Pawar's personal homeground. On Thursday, many houses in Katewadi were locked as villagers, from the young to the elderly, walked to the Pawar farmhouse to pay their last respects. The crowd became so overwhelming that officials had to temporarily halt the antim darshan. A group of women passionately appealed to the police, saying, "Even Dada never stopped us from entering his house. Think of him and let us go inside. We are here to see him for the last time." Their plea was heeded, reflecting the deep personal connection he shared with the community.
Villagers like Tamanna Mulani emphasized that Ajit Pawar was not merely a minister to them but an elder brother. "To outsiders, he was a minister. Here, he was like an elder brother. You won't find any politician who was what Dada was to Katewadi," she said, lamenting that their wish to see him as chief minister would now remain unfulfilled. Jayashree Kamble highlighted his tangible contributions, noting, "Dada's textile park is the reason many women are employed. Even before the Ladki Bahin scheme, we were his ladki bahin. He gave jobs, helped people set up businesses, ensured water for agriculture, and built good roads and infrastructure."
Legacy Beyond Voting Power
Rafik Bohari, 77, who witnessed Ajit Pawar's rise from a young leader to deputy chief minister, shared insights into the Pawar family's inclusive approach. "We are around 500 in number, which means as a community we have no voting power. Yet, whether it was help with admissions or business, Dada never turned us away. In fact, that is the Pawar legacy. He learnt the ropes from Sharad Pawar, and he too only cared about growth and development. Nothing else ever mattered to them," Bohari added, underscoring a philosophy that transcended political calculations.
Quiet Reflections at Party Offices
At Bhigwan Chowk, the NCP office had only three or four people seated beside a garlanded photograph of Ajit Pawar. The nearby NCP (SP) office remained shut as a mark of respect. Sudhakar Mane, who worked with Pawar for 35 years, reflected, "Ever since we climbed onto a truck for a farmers' protest to the Pune collector's office 35 years ago, I have known him. He rose from the grassroots. It is a gigantic task to fill his shoes." He echoed a sentiment of unity, hoping that parties would come together in this time of loss.
Local residents like Mahesh Prabhakar, a handcart operator, shared personal anecdotes. "He helped people who worked hard. He hated laziness. He wouldn't give you alms, but if you were genuine, he would give you the push you needed in life," Prabhakar said, expressing uncertainty about his own dreams now. Amardeep Lohokare voiced concerns about the future, noting, "Baramati doesn't have criminals because of Dada. Everybody was afraid of his wrath. With him gone, I wonder what will happen."
Homage from Far and Wide
The grief extended beyond Baramati, with people arriving from places like Buldhana and Nashik to pay homage. The crowd filled the sports ground and spilled onto surrounding roads. Youngsters from Barshi in Solapur district brought hand-painted posters of Dada, while many stood with teary eyes, watching emotional reels on his life on their phones. Ashwini Kadu from Daund broke down, saying, "Dada was Dada, an elder brother. No one can replace him." Devendra Bhandari came from Mumbai with a friend who had been helped by Pawar during an illness, amazed by his generosity to even non-party workers.
The Final Journey and Last Rites
Ajit Pawar's mortal remains were taken to the sports ground in a van adorned with a large poster. Along the route, people stood on the roadside, showering flowers as the vehicle passed by. The van arrived at 10:45 AM, where a police band played Jeena Yahan Marna Yahan from a Raj Kapoor film—a tune many felt was apt for a son of the soil who lived and died in Baramati. His sons, Parth and Jay, performed the last rites, with family members including Supriya Sule leading the procession to the pyre. He was cremated with state honours, as Pune Rural Superintendent of Police Sandeep Singh Gill estimated around one lakh people visited the site, with over 6,000 police personnel deployed for bandobast.
Keeping Baramati Clean: A Tribute to Dada's Values
Even in mourning, Baramati upheld Ajit Pawar's deep commitment to cleanliness. While much of the town remained shut, sanitation workers were among the few still on duty, tirelessly keeping pace with the huge crowd. One worker shared, "What if Dada is not there? His work will always remain in our hearts. That is why none of us has taken leave. We are working to keep the roads clean, just like how Dada would have wanted." This dedication served as a fitting tribute to a leader whose legacy was built on grassroots work and unwavering care for his constituency.
As Baramati navigates this profound loss, the silence at Bhigwan Chowk speaks volumes about the impact of a leader who was more than just a politician—he was a brother, a mentor, and a driving force for development whose absence will be deeply felt for years to come.
