Recently President Pranab Mukherjee concluded the centenary celebrations of Vasantrao Naik, former chief minister of Maharashtra, in Mumbai .Mukherjee released a postal cover in honour of the leader. He described Naik as a "great son" of Maharashtra and indeed India.
"Today we talk about the employment guarantee programme in rural areas but it was he who had first introduced such a scheme in Maharashtra during two famines. That scheme is now being implemented in the whole country," the president said.
He was who had made Maharashtra self-sufficient in food production by establishing four agricultural universities.
Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan announced that the Parbhani Agriculture University will be renamed after Naik.
Political Career --
- Vasantrao Naik was an Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 1963 until 1975.
- Till date he remains as the longest serving chief minister of Maharashtra.
- Also, he had a credit to return to power after completion of full five years which could not be possible for any other chief minister in Maharashtra,
- He was born in Gavli, Pusad in 1913.
- His experience in grassroots politics made him a responsible legislator.
- He was a staunch supporter of Yashwantrao Chavan.
As the CM of Maharashtra !!
- After the death of Mr. Marotrao Kannamwar, he was elected Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a post which he held for more than eleven years during 1963-1975.
- He was the father of the Green Revolution in Maharashtra.
- The industrialization of Maharashtra is largely the legacy of his progressive industrial policies.
- Later his nephew Sudhakarrao Naik also became Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
Crush of Communists !!
- Many journalists and experts of political studies view him to put down communists in Mumbai through rise of right wing party "Shivsena" in 70s.
The Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College in Yavatmal city
of Maharashtra state, was named in his honour.
