Digambarrao Padvi, a Tribal Leader

Digambarrao Padvi, a Tribal Leader:

Hon. Digambarrao Narashi Padvi was born on 27th December 1924 at Nalgavan in Akkalkuwa Tehsil in an adivasi family. His father Shri Narashi Chhotu Padvi who helped Janardan Poharya Valvi, alias Maharaj to take further education at Dhule was a progressive farmer. The economical condition of the family was much better.
Digambarrao Padvi was very clever from his early childhood. In school he had command on his classmates. That indicated his leadership qualities. He was very honest and self-reliant. He was the true lover of the Adivasi / Tribal culture in Khandesh of Maharashtra. He wanted to learn more and more and also wanted to educate all his community brothers. He completed his primary and secondary education at Talode. He passed his matriculation. Then he virtually jumped in politics.
The exploitation of his community brothers provoked him to enter in political field. He was burnt out from his soul when he saw his people drowning in bad and dead habits. He became the secretary of Forest Labour Society. Then he became the Local Board Member. And in 1961 he became the MLA. Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi liked his nature and his views regarding the development of the masses. Like Mr. Janardan Poharya Valvi, he always helped poor and needy people. He always fought against the bad in the society. At times he took hostility of the exploiters of Adivasis. He implemented many schemes for the development of Adivasi community. He served the society without discriminating people by caste or race.
In 1963 he became Deputy Minister. But he never told any one of his party workers or friends about it. But when he was with Janardan Maharaj for the inquiry of Kathi Sansthan he told the news of his oath taking ceremony as deputy minister to only Janardan Maharaj on the bank of Narmada River where they both were having bath. He became the deputy minister of Social Welfare, House Building Department and Forest Department. He became the first Adivasi Minister.
When he was Deputy Minister he inaugurated Late S. V. Thakar Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Dhadgaon of Adivasi Satpuda Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Dhadgaon. Shri Janardan Maharaj was the president of the grand function. He always helped Maharaj in running his ashram schools and the institution. Due to the help of Shri Madhukarrao Choudhari, the Minister of Education and Digambarrao Padvi Maharaj could spread his work of education to the huts of the poor Adivasis of Satpuda.
Such a great leader unfortunately died due to an accident on 11th May 1967. The early demise of this great leader made a cavity in adivasi development process. The loss is irretrievable.