THE CHATRAPATI SHAHU” MAHARAJ JAYANTI”The king who had criticised by one and all in those days even by his own Pandits

(He did not start educating his people but made education compulsory in his Kingdom.)

The other day I walked in the Kamgar Bhavan, BKC, Bandra East Mumbai. No invitation, no intimation or no talk even SANKET, HINT, BAT OR BULAWA to me. With an empty mind of mine I count down the officers cars in the space available there and thought of to go back since numbers of cars were in parking less in numbers and on the front side there was a no sign of Car of Labour Department or of Commissioner of Labour. In the BKC Building, Bandra (East) Mumbai this Labour commissionerate was transferred from the rainted building at Tardeo. It was before two decades and on DASARA DIN, I am told.
In Tardeo, Mumbai, these Boiler & Factory departments heads were under the IAS Labour Commissioner. Here in this place all together these commissionerate have got a new look, all the way. The Chief Inspectorate office in Tardeo was on the fifth floor and the Labour Commissioner used to sit on the 7th floor, Boilers chief’s sitting arrangement was made on the 3rd Floor. Here it is vice versa. In this BKC building the Director of Boiler sits on the 7th Floor and 3 & 4th floors are for the Labour department.
Is this change enough! … and I should say “NO”. Labour Commissioner was a promoted IAS officer and I remember Late Mr. David, who became Commissioner of Labour was joined as a clerk in this department. Late Mr. H.N. Mirashi who was once insulted in Pune as a Inspector (i.e. Sanitary Inspector) changed this Chief Inspector of Factories post as a Director of Safety & Health. The Inspector word all together changed since these officers are the Degree Holders and are not a certificate or diploma in their respective fields. Chief Inspector of Boiler is also changed and now is Director of Boiler.
Boiler department was all together at the down floor with other private offices in Tardeo rainted building has got a high height and reached the 7th floor, in BKC. Tardeo Labour Commissionerate, had a meeting with the labours used to stand on footpaths because of non availability of space. The various shops like PAN THELA, LIMBU PANI WALA and DOSAWALA had a 70percent business from occupants of the building and the working labours waiting for their turn. Except the one or two officials cent percent officers and staff used to come on foot. Late Mr. Tarapolwala, Chief Inspector of Boiler, never came walking and used to come on his bicycle if there happened to be total BAND. This tradition is now continued by the boiler department and every one has got a four Wheeler of his own, even changed in vehicle models. It is noted that this BKC government building has got its shaby looks as compared to Corporate Offices in the vicinity but has its beauty in multiple colours: Cars of Boiler Department from one end to the other end.
The other day I got myself in the lift of this BKC, Labour offices building and choose not to go on the 7th floor of Boiler department since less numbers of vehicles I had witnessed on last auspicious day of SHAHU CHHATRAPATI MAHARAJ JAYANTI. That was on the 26th June 2025. I saw an official gathering since the meeting was there in the hall of S&H office on the 5th floor. I looked at the standing mob … definitely standing in separate men & women’s row to listen to the speaker. I dare not choose the front gate and got inside from the other end.
I took a snap from a distance and saw that Mr. Dahifale, an Additional Director of Safety & Health is addressing the gathering, without a hint to me what is going on, on the other end. Looking at them, they called me near. They asked me to speak on the occasion. Looking at the line of Men & Women staff, I showed my presence and knew VARKARI, Addnl. Director, Safety and Health, and I said that “only a man of this cadre,who is VARKARI and moves in the mob as Vithoba with his TAL … Hari-Hari Vithal,” may guide you to be honest in our performance. Mr. Dahifale, I met at Ahmednagar when he came along with the then Joint Director, Mr. Digwakar in one of the motivational talks of mine, arranged at Ahmednagar.
That day the topic was on the occasion of Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj and I heard one or two and was able to hear the last one vote of thanks. They all spoke on the good characters of King Shahu Maharaj and the education he made compulsorily to advocate education system to all. One of the speakers also said that he has got an opportunity and because of this pattern he got the services and his sons also got admitted because of what Shahu Maharaj thought of in those bygone days. He added some other facilities of the government scheme for education, and urged to uplift the poor.
After attending the programme I reached the 7th floor of the Boiler office. Boiler Director Mr. Antapurkar showed his courtesy and shared his ROTI NIWALA. Sir … I said, offen to him but yes as Vidharbha Custom is that anybody who reaches at a meal time should be respected to share even “GHAS” i.e. one bite of chapati. I was offered food from Mr. Antapurkar, who is also from my town. After lunch I went to the washroom to clean my hand. I returned back to his chamber and saw that the Joint Director of Boiler is sitting along with the Director in the cabine. Antapurkar ji made it easy by telling me that “today’s date is the birth of Mr. Wankhede ji. Yes, I congratulated & shook my hand with him. Unable to say that I had an opportunity to speak in the offices of Safety & Health, on the occasion of SHAHU CHATRAPATI JAYANTI highlighting his birthday along with the birthday of Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj.
But Mr. Wankhede, a Joint Director Boiler told and corrected me that his birthday was on 25th and on the previous day. Correction is a very important aspect, I am convinced. Our globe is filled with great men because of corrections in their life, I am told. Disrespecting the man if something new he added within the regular system. I am sure.
Raja Shahu Chatrapati became the talk of criticism in those days when Bramhims were only parangat (scholars) I am told. Even in our Ramayan & in Mahabharat, those who were great were even known by mothers identity. In Mahabharata it is Anjali-Putra, Dasi-Putra & Karn in Mahabharata was known as SURYA Putra as were in other parts of the glob. STEVE JOBS born when his mother was a college student. His unwed mother gave him a birth when she actually was a student. His mother enrolled his name in the orphans category with a hope that anybody who wanted her son should adopt him. But put a condition that new parents should be educated & be graduate. The first one who came was an Advocate. After completing the formalities at the end they came to know that STEVE is a boy and the couple were looking for a girl to be adopted. Six months or so Steve remained in the orphanage’s hostel. After six months another couple came in. But they were not even MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADUATE. After too much persuasion the couple gave in writing that they will educate the adopted boy. After 17 years, Steve Job was admitted in college. From the college Steve Job was dropped out because the subject he wanted to be graduated-in was not there in the regular course of the syllabus. Steve Job started making computers in the garage with the help of his mother and father who adoped him. Now is known to the world as KING IN COMPUTER.