Memorials in Nagpur & Wardha to honour legacy of Datta Meghe Union minister Nitin Gadkari and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday that memorials will be constructed in Nagpur and Wardha to honor the legacy of former minister Datta Meghe, a revered leader known for his compassion and dedication to social upliftment. The announcement was made during a condolence meeting held at VCA Jamtha, where political leaders from various parties gathered to pay tribute to Meghe, affectionately called “Dattabhau.” The event brought together ministers, legislators, former public representatives, members of the Meghe family, including his sons MLA Sameer and Sagar, mayor Neeta Thakre, labour minister Akash Fundkar, and several other prominent figures. Gadkari, who described Meghe as “a rare personality in politics,” recounted the leader’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming a pillar of support for thousands. He shared a personal story about a vegetable vendor’s son diagnosed with cancer, who could not afford treatment. After recovering, the boy sought education, and Meghe ensured his admission to an engineering program. Gadkari highlighted that the boy, now an MTech graduate and professor, exemplified Meghe’s generosity. “There are countless such stories that reflect his selflessness,” Gadkari said, emphasizing how Meghe’s actions transformed lives. Chief minister Fadnavis echoed Gadkari’s sentiments, calling Meghe “a true leader of the masses, especially the underprivileged.” He described Meg, who rose from a poor background through determination, as a symbol of perseverance and selfless service. Fadnavis noted that Meghe’s education was funded through hard-earned money, enabling him to build a strong political and social presence.#nitin_gadkari #devendra_fadnavis #datta_meghe #sameer_meghe #vca_jamtha
Datta Meghe, one of Vidarbha’s tallest politicians and education network builder, passes away at 89 Nagpur: Datta Meghe, one of Vidarbha’s most enduring political figures and the founder of one of Maharashtra’s largest private education networks, passed away on Sunday at the age of 89. His younger son Sameer Meghe, a BJP MLA from Hingna, said, “My father never refused to help anyone who came to him. That is how I want people to remember him.” Meghe’s passing marks the end of a public life that stretched across five decades, two houses of Parliament, the Maharashtra Legislative Council, and three national parties. Born on November 11, 1936, in Pawnar in Wardha district, Meghe graduated with a BA from Nagpur University in 1963 and worked briefly as a development officer with LIC before entering public life. Meghe entered the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1978 and served three consecutive terms there until 1991, a run of over 13 years that gave him a firm grounding in state politics. During that stretch, he served as minister of state for housing and civil supplies and technical education, and later as cabinet minister for energy and forests. He also served as leader of opposition in the Legislative Council. Meghe entered the Parliament in 1991, when he won the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket with over 3.28 lakh votes. Meghe had later recalled he contested the election at the personal encouragement of Rajiv Gandhi, whose assassination had briefly delayed the polls. He was re-elected from Ramtek in 1996 and from Wardha in 1998, giving him three consecutive Lok Sabha terms. After a stint in the Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2008, he returned to the Lok Sabha in 2009 from Wardha. His party affiliations tracked the shifting currents of Maharashtra politics across four decades.#devendra_fadnavis #datta_meghe #sameer_meghe #sagar_meghe #rajiv_gandhi
