Senior Congress leader and social activist Anantrao Gharad passes away at 77

Nagpur: Senior Congress leader and social activist Anantrao Gharad, known for his non-partisan approach in politics and social work, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 77.Born in Arvi taluka, Gharad pursued civil engineering but was drawn to activism and politics. During his time at Dhanwate National College, he became involved in the student movement and served as college president. He worked briefly in a govt job but soon turned to public service.Gharad was instrumental in providing employment opportunities for underprivileged students during his tenure as chairman of the Secondary Services Board. A close associate of former chief minister Shankarrao Chavan, he remained loyal to Congress and contributed significantly as a Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) trustee. He also chaired the Nagpur Civil Cooperative Hospital, ensuring accessible healthcare. Additionally, he was known for his excellence in farming.Condolences poured in from political leaders. Ashok Chavan, former Maharashtra CM, tweeted, "The news of the demise of our close friend and well-known personality in the political, educational, and social fields of Nagpur, Anantrao Gharad, is very sad. He was a continuous part of the Chavan family since Dr Shankarrao Chavan Saheb's time. His demise is our family's loss. Heartfelt tribute to him."Moreover, Chavan's daughter, who is a lawyer by profession, Sreejaya Ashok Chavan, also expressed grief, saying: "He worked closely with my grandfather Dr Shankarrao Chavan and my father Ashokrao Chavan. He was a friend and mentor to our family. With his death, we have lost a family member. My heartfelt tribute to Anantraoji Gharad."Gharad is survived by his wife, daughters, son-in-law, grandchildren, and a vast circle of friends and well-wishers. The last rites will be performed at Ambazari Ghat on Thursday at 9.30am.
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