Socialist leader Baba Adhav. (X/@ChDadaPatil)
Renowned socialist leader Baba Adhav (95) passed away at a hospital in Pune on Monday (December 8, 2025) night. “He was kept in ICU at Poona Hospital for the last 12 days. He had responded to treatment earlier. But his kidneys failed. Today at 8.25 pm he suffered a cardiac arrest. His mortal remains will be deposited at Hamal Bhavan, the focus of his tireless struggle, on Tuesday from 10 am to 5 pm. After that he will be cremated in any religious crematorium. 5.30 pm,” he told reporters. his close associate Nitin Pawar.
Baba Adhav was a prominent progressive leader of the socialist movement in Maharashtra and fought against the caste system and for the rights of labourers, loaders, garbage collectors and street vendors. He participated in the freedom movement, the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, the emergency protests, the one village movement for one water source (against the caste system) and the protests for the removal of Manu’s statue. He also led a cycle rally from Pune to Delhi to seek social security for unorganized workers.
Last year, this nonagenarian took part in a protest against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He termed the use of EVMs in elections as a “fraud”.
He is survived by his wife Sheelatai Adhav, sons Aseem and Ambar, daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
Condolences poured in from all walks of life. “He was the backbone of the movement for the rights of loaders, rickshaw pullers, construction workers. He built a movement that gave them justice. His fight against social evils will be remembered. Maharashtra has always had a strong tradition of social reformers. A key figure from that tradition is lost today,” said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. His followers called him the heir of Mahatma Phule’s ideology. Shiv Sena UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray said, “He was a beacon for all those fighting to protect democracy.”
Published – 9 Dec 2025 0:41 AM IST
