Nagpur, Dec 26
It is a common thing to carry out agitation to name a square or road on famous individuals. But the families of Congressmen involved in the 1920 session never left the values of Congress. The family of Narayan Rangnath Alekar, who played a key role during the session, is also among such families. The family refused the proposal to name road after Alekar. Narayan’s son Vinayak refused the offer saying that “their family do not require publicity. My father worked out of patriotism and every one should have it in them. Vinayak was also a freedom fighter like his father.
Narayan Alekar was a key member of the reception committee during the 1920 Congress session in Nagpur. He use to represent NMC’s Mahal area and his family still lives near the Hedgewar Memorial in Mahal. His house used to be called as ‘Wada’ earlier, but due to extension of Shukrawari Road, lot of land went into it. Narayan Alekar’s grandson Aniruddh along with his wife Jayshree lives in the house. He became emotional when Lokmat Times team reached his house. Aniruddh said that his family still commands respect due to his grandfather.
Aniruddh has two sisters and the elder sister Nanda Deshpande stays in Rahate colony. Both brother and sister narrated tales about their grandfather and said that he remained loyal to Congress throughout his life. While Aniruddh’s father was inspired with communist thoughts.
But the family was always identified as Congress loyalist and the family did not exploit their political clout for personal gains. Aniruddh use to run a printing press earlier but due to downturn in business, he associated himself with Teacher MLC Prabhakar Datar and now he is doing proof reading work.
Close to Lokmanya Tilak
Narayan Alekar passed away on March 3, 1952. Aniruddh informed that his grandfather never compromised on his values and he was very close to Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak and whenever Tilak use to come to Nagpur, he use to visit their house.