Death of Marathi author and activist Anil Awachat | Bombay News
Mumbai: Marathi author and social activist Anil Awachat, better known as Baba, died on Thursday. He was 78 years old. Awachat was the founder-director of Muktangan Rehabilitation Center in Pune and associated with several social causes.
Awachat recently took a fall and fractured his femur. He was hospitalized and operated. “Awachat never fully recovered after the operation and the family opted for the least invasive treatment and took him home. He breathed his last with all his family and people by his side…” said Anand Nadkarni, Chairman of Muktangan Trust.
Awachat is survived by his daughters Mukta Puntambekar and Yashoda. He was from Otur and the eldest of eight brothers. His father wanted him to become a doctor.
Known for his books including Purnia, Awachat wrote regularly for Marathi magazines and other publications. He also had a stint as a journalist and was known for his reporting.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Governor of Maharashtra Bhagat Singh Koshyari offered their condolences on Awachat’s death.
Thackeray said Awachat was a classic example of creating social work through literature and journalism. “It’s painful not to have him with us anymore.”
Koshyari tweeted: “The news of the death of social worker and founder of ‘Muktangan’ Dr Anil Awachat is saddening. Dr. Awachat was an acclaimed writer and journalist who dedicated his life to the cause of social transformation through “Muktangan”. He added that Awachat had saved precious lives and their families by showing them the path to rehabilitation. “Through his writings and lectures, he highlighted the problems of the poor and most neglected sections of society. Continuing his unfinished work will be a tribute to the late Dr. Awachat.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said a multi-faceted personality, Awachat has lived his life to the fullest. “He has contributed to society as a medical expert, journalist, author, painter, sculptor and social activist and his departure is a great loss for the social, literary and cultural sphere of society.”
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