Keshavrao Sonawane
{{Short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Keshavrao Sitaram Sonawane
| image = Keshavraoji_Sonawane.png
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1925|02|04}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2006|11|8|1925|02|04}}
| death_place = Latur, Maharashtra, India
| birth_place = Mogarga, Ausa, Latur, Hyderabad State, British India
| spouse = Kadubai Sonavane
| children = 7
| alma_mater = Osmania university
| education = B.A. L.L.B.
| party = Indian National Congress
| occupation = Politician
Lawyer
| nationality = Indian
| order = Co-operative Minister
Government of Maharashtra
| term_start = 1962
| term_end = 1967
| predecessor = Balasaheb Bharde
| successor =
| constituency_AM1 = Latur
| assembly1 = Maharashtra Legislative
| term_start1 = 1957
| term_end1 = 1962
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| term_start2 = 1962
| term_end2 = 1967
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 = V.R. Kaldate
| constituency_AM3 = Ausa
| assembly3 = Maharashtra Legislative
| term_start3 = 1972
| term_end3 = 1977
| predecessor3 =
| successor3 =
| term_start4 = 1978
| term_end4 = 1980
| predecessor4 = V. S. Musande
| successor4 = Shivshankar Vishwanath Utage
| citizenship = India
| residence = Latur, Maharashtra, India
| parents = Sitaram Sonawane
}}
Keshavrao Sonawane (1925–2006) was an Indian politician, who served four terms in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, and was a Co-operative minister in Yashwantrao Chavan's cabinet and later Vasantrao Naik's cabinet during 1962–1967. He was elected as Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for 4 times, twice from Latur constituency and twice from Ausa constituency.{{cite web|url=http://www.elections.in/maharashtra/assembly-constituencies/ausa.html|title=Ausa (Maharashtra) Election Results 2014, Current and Previous MLA|work=elections.in|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
Early life
Keshavrao Sonavane was born in Mogarga of Ausa taluka in the farmer's family. Keshavrao Sonavane's father Sitaram Sonawane was a farmer who was follower of the Arya Samaj. According to the Arya Samaj all children should be well educated. Inspired by the teachings of Arya Samaj Keshavrao's Father Sitaram Sonavane decided to relocate his family to Latur for education of his children. Keshavrao got his primary education from Government High School Latur. After completing his primary education he moved to Hyderabad for pursuing [https://dateupdatego.com/heg-share-price-target/ Bachelor] of Laws (LLB).
Keshavrao Sonawane, got his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Osmania University, Hyderabad. After getting his Bachelor of Laws, he started his practice in the Latur district court. He was a criminal defence lawyer in Latur.
Political career
Yashwantrao Chavan selected Keshavrao as a Congress party candidate for the position of Bombay Legislative Assembly Member from Latur Constituency.{{cite web|url=http://adarshgavkari.com/more-info.aspx?newsID=2110|title=यशवंतरावांनी उस्मानाबादला केशवरावांना मंत्री केले. }} In 1957, Keshavrao ran for Bombay Legislative Assembly election from Latur Constituency and won the Bombay Legislative Assembly election by defeating Vithalrao Kelgaokar. Subsequently, he won the assembly election in 1962 from Latur Constituency by defeating Ramchandra Govind and became the Co-operative Minister for Maharashtra state.{{cite web|url=http://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/MAH-MAR-amit-deshmukh-latest-news-in-marathi-4630285-PHO.html|title=केशवराव सोनवणे यांच्या रूपानं जिल्ह्याला पहिल्यांदा सहकारमंत्रिपद मिळालं Divyamarathi}}
During his absence in Latur city while he was serving as a co-operative minister, opposition got stronger in the latur. because of this he had lost the assembly election from Latur Constituency in 1967 against socialist leader Bapu Kaldate.{{cite web|url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-17/news/30410133_1_chandrasekhar-aurangabad-assembly-polls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111118113321/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-17/news/30410133_1_chandrasekhar-aurangabad-assembly-polls|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 November 2011|title=Former MP Bapu Kaldate passes away|work=timesofindia-economictimes|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
Despite this huge setback, in 1972 he decided to stand for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election from Ausa Constituency where he had very strong support in the form of his network of family members and relatives. At the same time as a chief member of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee he nominated Shivaraj Patil as his successor for the Latur Constituency seat after deciding to run for election from Ausa Constituency. This time he won the election against Madhav Patil and became the Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from Ausa Constituency. Kashinath Jadhav of former Janata Dal had lost by the margin of three thousand votes to Keshavraoji Sonavane in 1977 assembly elections.{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-maha-polls-will-this-bjp-muslim-candidate-make-history-2024523|title=Maha Polls: Will this BJP Muslim candidate make history?|work=dna|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
Elections contested
Notable works
= Dalda Factory =
Dalda Factory was Asia's first oil mill set up on cooperative terms.{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Ex-minister-Keshavrao-Sonawane-dead/articleshow/15652040.cms|title=Ex-minister Keshavrao Sonawane dead|work=Mumbai Mirror|accessdate=18 April 2015}} Keshavrao was very actively involved in the establishment of Dalda Factory in Latur District. Dalda was major produce of the Latur region, for Dalda British Government had laid railway lines to Latur.{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/74756/9/09%20_chapter%20-%20iii.pdf|title=For Dalda British Government has laid railway lines to Latur|work=Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|accessdate=11 January 2017}}
=Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, 1963=
As a Co-operative minister of Maharashtra Keshavrao Sonawane created the draft of this Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) act for the welfare of farmers in Maharashtra.{{cite web|url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/libweb/acts/1964.20.PDF|title=The Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Development & Regulation) Act, 1963|work=Bombay High Court|accessdate=26 April 2016}} Before passing this law, every market committee was having its own rules, this law made all market committees in Maharashtra to have single central administrative law under state control. Agricultural produce market committee (APMC) is a marketing board established by a state government in India.{{cite web|url=https://www.msamb.com/apmc/default.htm|title=Maharashtra Agricultural Marketing Board (MSAMB)|work=MSAMB|accessdate=26 April 2016}} APMC ensures that farmers are not exploited by any intermediaries like Dalals/Traders/commission agents who compel farmers to sell their produce at the farm gate for an extremely low price. This APMC act mandates that all food produce should first be brought to a market yard and then sold through auction.
= Dayanand Education Society =
Dayanand Education society was established in May 1961.{{cite web|url=http://www.dsclatur.org/?page_id=12|title=History – Dayanand Science College, Latur|work=dsclatur.org|accessdate=18 April 2015}} Earlier Latur was small town in the Osmanabad District. Facilities for higher education were not available in the Latur so students were left with no option but going to cities like Hyderabad, Pune, and Mumbai and so on.
Student from middle class and lower-middle-class families were not able to afford the costs of education and other costs arising from the needs to live in the cities like Mumbai, Pune etc. Higher education was rather like a dream for students from poor families. So to make the higher education facilities accessible to children of farmers, agricultural laborers, workers; the dignitaries and business people like Manikrao Sonavane (elder brother of Keshavrao Sonawane), Chandrashekhar Bajpai, Ramgopalji Rathi and Keshavraoji Sonawane established Dayanand Education Society in May 1961.{{cite web|url=http://dayanandlaw.org/?page_id=11|title=Introduction – Dayanand College of Law, Latur.|work=dayanandlaw.org|accessdate=18 April 2015}}
Manikraoji Sonavane, elder brother of Keshavrao and chairman of market committee, convinced the farmers of Latur to contribute to this cause. Shri Keshavraoji Sonavane, Co-Operative Minister of the Maharashtra state, contributed to this cause by completing all required formal government procedures.
= Terna Sugar Factory =
This is the first co-operative sugar factory in Osmanabad and Latur District.{{cite web|url=http://indiatogether.org/sugarcut-human-rights|title=India Together: Cutting sugar: The bitter reality: Shirish Khare – 30 October 2013|work=indiatogether.org|accessdate=18 April 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in:8080/jspui/bitstream/10603/74756/9/09%20_chapter%20-%20iii.pdf|title=co-operative minister Shri Keshavraoji Sonawane has started two big factories on co-operative basis|work=Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in|accessdate=10 June 2016}} Formerly Latur was in Osmanabad District. Keshavraoji Sonavane brought this Sugar factory for Osmanabad and Latur District's farmers. It was beginning of the co-operative movement in the sugar industry started by keshavraoji Sonavane. Terna sugar factory was registered in 1965 with production capacity of 1250 Tons of Cane per Day.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtchwG-3EocC&q=Terna+sugar+400&pg=PA51|title=Management Of Working Capital|work=Management Of Working Capital By S.D. Talekar|isbn=9788171419623|accessdate=9 September 2016|last1=Talekar|first1=S. D.|year=2005}} Currently terna has 3500 Tons of Cane per Day capacity.factory covers area of 3 talukas i.e. Osmanabad, Kallamb and Latur. This factory covers nearly 171 villages by area of operation.
=Latur District Central Cooperative Bank Ltd. Latur =
Keshavraoji Sonavane was instrumental in the setup of Latur District Central Cooperative Bank.{{cite web|url=http://www.loksatta.com/daily/20061109/raj03.htm|title=Loksatta(Marathi Newspaper)|work=loksatta.com|accessdate=18 April 2015}} Latur DCC bank was developed during Keshavraoji's tenure in the government as Co-operative minister. Co-operative bank forms an integral part of banking system in India. As this bank operates mainly for the benefit of rural area, particularly the agricultural sector and Cooperative Banks in general and District Central Cooperative Banks in particular have to play major role in the upliftment of Economy.{{cite web|url=http://www.ldccbank.com/|title=Latur District Central Co-Op Bank Ltd. Latur|work=ldccbank.com|accessdate=18 April 2015}} By creating Latur DCC bank Keshavrao made a very positive impact on agricultural sector and especially on the farmers of Latur and Osmanabad District.
= District Bar Association, Latur =
Keshavrao Sonavane was a life member of District Bar Association, Latur.{{cite web|url=http://laturbarassociation.com/Index.html|title=History Of Latur District Bar Association, Latur.|work=laturbarassociation.com|accessdate=10 December 2016}} Vilasrao Deshmukh and Shivraj Patil were also life members of District Bar Association, Latur. Keshavrao Sonawane was President of Latur Bar Association for year 1960.{{cite web|url=http://www.laturbarassociation.com/body-member.html|title=President and Secretary List till now|work=laturbarassociation.com|accessdate=28 December 2016}}
In literature
He was mentioned in books Uchalya (The Branded) by Laxman Gaikwad (1987), Yeravaḍā vidyāpīṭhātīla divasa by Kumāra Saptarshī and Māndiyāḷī by Ananta Bhālerāva (1994). Uchalya novel is an autobiographical account of the life of a stereotyped underdog but of a representative of a section of society thriving on petty crimes.
References
{{commons|Keshavrao Sonavane}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= Politics |portal3=India}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonawane, Keshavrao}}
Category:Politicians from Marathwada
Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra
Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1960–1962
Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1962–1967
Category:Maharashtra MLAs 1972–1978
Category:State cabinet ministers of Maharashtra
Category:Osmania University alumni