'Children taker' to Care taker

'Children taker' to Care taker:
As he was responsible for the children he took with him, he used to take proper care of the children. The children were very small and they even could not do their self cleaning. The children could not bath themselves. They were not used to use water after toilet. Janardan Maharaj himself washed their toilets. He bathed them properly and also washed their clothes on daily basis. He taught them the lessons of cleanness. His greatness lies in the action. He never scolded the children before anyone or publicly. He knew the nature of the adivasi students. They can bear the hardest punishment but they would never bear an insult. One insulting word can spoil their whole life. He was also the superintendent of the school so he had his keen eye on the food pupils got in the school.
Janardan Maharaj did not pay as much attention towards his own children as he done for the children of the people. At times he was very strict. He filed cases against some parents who were not sending their children to the school after registration. He deliberately managed the clerk in the court that the parents were called to the court during the rainy season. That helped him much for his better administration. Janardan Maharaj needed some help from other people. He was teacher and superintendent in the school. This was the first Ashram School in Dhule District aided by Central Government. Before that only two of them were in Gujrat. Shri Chhotubhai Vasava from Dang District ran one Ashram School in that area for Adivasi children. He could not get the cook for the Ashram. His mother helped him in that noble cause. She herself cooked the food for the children. Afterwards Janardan Maharaj helped the Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal in setting up the next Ashram School at Surwani Tal. Akrani in 1958-59. He became the vice president of the institution and still he is vice president.

First Night in Molgi

First Night in Molgi:
When they were about to start the ashram school, they tried to set up the building for the ashram school. When Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar and his party worker went Molgi at first time in search of land for the school, they saw that there were only few huts of people. Nobody was in a position to be the host of these guests. Both of them spent their night under a big banyan tree. When Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar, the Member of the Parliament of India was fast asleep, the man with him saw a big poisonous snake perhaps Indian Cobra was crawling towards them. He shook Shri Jaywantrao to wake him up. Both of them watched the dreadful snake from some feet. The snake stopped near the banyan tree and slowly disappeared in the roots of the big tree. Both of them sat alert whole night under the banyan tree. Then they send message to Janardan Maharaj and called there. Janardan Maharaj came there by the evening and they got the shelter at the karbhari of Molgi. Natawadkar told Janardan Maharaj about the incident of the snake and the night under the banyan tree. Janardan Maharaj and Natawadkar took the incident as good omen for the school.
So eventually in 1955 Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal started an Ashram School at Molgi. Working for the Ashram School was the satisfying work for Janardan Maharaj. He observed that people should know the importance of education. So according to the saying, 'Charity begins at home', he went to his relatives and discussed the benefits of education. He convinced them that how education could change the life of their children. There is some spell or the power in his speech that people start agreeing with him. His relatives started sending their children with him. Every morning Janardan Maharaj went out alone but he would return with a block of some children with him. People on the way were astonished by the scene. They wondered that where could he take the children of people. They had not heard about education and school. People started calling him 'children taker'. Men and women of the area feared Janardan Maharaj that he would take away their children too. Some of them even tried to hide the children whenever they saw Janardan Maharaj coming towards their home. But Janardan Maharaj was firm on his decision. Gradually one or another started inquiring about the children. Janardan also convinced them about the importance of education. People started sending their children and now there was no need to wander in search of students. But he never stopped his quest for the students.

Setting up the Molgi Ashram School

Setting up the Molgi Ashram School:
Janardan Maharaj was the member of Executive Committee of Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal and Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar was the President of the institution. Maharaj worked for the all round development of the adivasi community from the institute. His entry in the social service, politics and finally in education field had the great impact of Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal. Maharaj operated the Grain Bank Scheme and supplied medicines to the needy and poor people in Satpuda.
Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar was the Member of Parliament. He and Janardan Maharaj filed a charge sheet against the chieftains of Kathi Sansthan i.e. the state. So there was an inquiry at Jamana, a small village in the Satpuda Ranges. There they gathered in the small hut of Shri Vesta Itanya Padvi, he was the Deshmukh of twelve villages. There he was running a voluntary school. Both, Jaywantrao Natawadkar and Janardan Maharaj praised him for his great work of education in the remote, inaccessible hilly area. There was a welfare officer for the enquiry, Shri Davar who praised the way Shri Vesta Itanya Padvi was working in that place.
He suggested to Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar, "If a person in the remote area can work for the society single handed, then you have the institution of your own. Why don't you start an Ashram School in this area?"
Jaywantrao said, "I don't have the workers to help me in this area. And it is far from Nandurbar so it is not possible to work here."
Janardan Maharaj replied at once, "Why do you say that? I am here to work for you. I am ready to resign the Membership of Legislative Assembly for this noble cause".He could say that because he knew that only education can make the change in the lives of his community. Now this was the mission of his life to work for the education of the deprived and suppressed masses.

Writer's words

Writer's words:
It is almost impossible for me to describe what Janardan Maharaj is to me. For me he is like grandfather or father, teacher, guide... I respect him because I am his employee. But there are other reasons too. He is my guide and source of inspiration to me. Who thought about me to be working vigorously for the cause of our institution, Adivasi Satpuda Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, Dhadgaon? I am not doing anything. The things are made to perform me. I was firstly told about a great personality named Maharaj by Shri Bhavsar sir. My elder brother, Shri Narayan Miraghe and Shri Bhavsar were good friends. I was B.A.B.Ed. with English and was jobless after leaving the school of Amrishbhai Patel and I was working as daily commission agent in Govt. Servant's Cooperative Bank, Shahada. The commission was more than Rs.5000 in those days. Still I was not satisfied with that. I was a teacher and I needed the job of a teacher. The work of agent was not meant for me.
Once Shri Bhavsar sir asked my brother that there was a vacancy for the post of English Teacher in S. V. Thakar High School, Dhadgaon. My brother requested him to have a word with Janardan Maharaj. Maharaj told them firmly that if I secure the first place in the written and oral exam taken by the Mandal then and then I will get the job. I had the confidence on me so I applied for the job. Bhavsar sir himself brought my call letter for the exam and interview.
Eventually I secured the first place not only in the written exam but also in interview. Thus I got the job. In the school I was introduced to Maharaj. I saw the grandfatherly figure walking like a young man. I heard about his travel through the hills and vales, I was quite impressed. After that I used to hear his speeches whenever I got the chance. And I started to get acquainted with his multidimensional personality and his works.
I wonder how could I write about a person whose height is above all and sky touching. But it is the fact that if you have faith and respect for someone you can do anything for him. The words were flowing like images in thought process. It was easy for me to write in English than in Marathi due to my knowledge of English and Computer.
It is the thing of proud for me that Maharaj Baba gave me the opportunity to serve this Community besides teaching. Being with him I got the idea about the great culture and customs of Adivasi Community. He has given me a laptop to facilitate me in my works. I use it as a teaching aid in the classroom. I have created many sets of Educational Software for teaching in the class. Maharaj Baba needs the person who is ready to work without time limit. I have worked for many nights in searching various schemes for Adivasi Students from Internet. The knowledge of English and Computer and the thirst for knowing and doing something new and for the society brought me near to Maharaj. Maharaj is like a Philosopher's stone. As philosopher's stone turns any iron into Gold, every person coming in contact with Maharaj is blessed as if his life is turned into Gold.

Forest Labour Society

Forest Labour Society:
In Thane area the contractors of the forest used to exploit the Adivasi Community. The Chief Minister of the time Shri Balasaheb Kher noticed that and started the Forest Labour Society. The society had to be registered under any guardian non profit society.
On the pattern of Thane, Shri Jaywantrao Natawadkar registered many forest societies under Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal, Nandurbar. Shri Janardan Maharaj had the experience of Consumer Stores. There was a forest society in Akkalkuwa area which was in a bad condition. Janardan Maharaj was asked to look after the society. He brought it in profit and was offered back to the local habitants of the area. The same happened in the Lakhapur and Dara Society. They were also brought into profit. So he became the chairman of those societies and the societies prospered well and were returned to the previous chairmen. Eight forest societies were registered in Akrani area by the Pashchim Khandesh Bhill Seva Mandal, Nandurbar. After that Janardan Maharaj looked after the forest society of Khushgavan. He was the chairman of the society. He brought the society in profit. As if he had the special knack in this field of co-operation. He served the society without discriminating people on the basis of their cast or religion. Though he suffered the caste-discrimination, he never allowed his mind to take revenge of that. He is of the opinion that every person is the son of god and he is as dear to him as any Adivasi.

Dakin problem in a school

Dakin problem in a school:
Janardan Maharaj started many ashram schools in Satpuda. Mostly they are remote and in inaccessible area of Satpuda. Ashram School at Danel was one of them. Everything was going well but once one student was bit by a snake and coincidently after a month his brother was bit by a snake. Now people started speaking about the Dakin i.e. witch. It was said that the snake was put in the school by Dakin. As the consequence of it all the students went their home. Nobody was ready to send his children in that school. After waiting for a fortnight Janardan Maharaj brought a Pujari i.e. quack to the school. They pretended to chant some mantras to remove the so called Dakin's snake. Then they spread the news that the Dakin's snake was removed from the school and it was safe to attend the school. And as he expected the students returned to the school. This shows that he has the keys of his community. He always exchanged his thoughts with his community by taking small or big public meetings.

Dakin i.e. Witchcraft

Dakin i.e. Witchcraft:
The superstition about Dakin i.e. witch is one of the major problems in Adivasi Community in Satpuda. It is said that a lady who does witchcraft is called Dakin. Whenever a village faces any problem regarding the simultaneous deaths of persons or children, the blame is put on any lady in the village by villagers. Lack of knowledge and fear about death compels villagers to think like this.
Janardan Maharaj always took meetings of the villagers and tried to teach them the reasons of the happenings. He is assured that there is no Dakin or like that. But he faced many problems so he understood that only Education can make difference in the lives of these people.
Once there was a problem of Malnutrition in the Bamani area in Satpuda. So Shri Amritsing Vasave the Medical Officer of Dhule Civil Hospital visited the area. He asked Janardan Maharaj to come with him. They were told that in old days the villagers of a pada in the area blamed a lady to be a Witch. The Lahya was called by the Patil of the village. The Lahya is a tradition in Satpuda to help any villager in his farms for free of cost. So, all the ladies from the village and nearby villages were called there for Lahya. The lady who was blamed as Dakin was unknown to the consequences and even the blame. In the afternoon the lady was taken out of the field by the villagers and was cut into pieces before all the ladies. The lady was killed before all because it was a threat for every lady that they should not indulge in the Dakin activity. The pieces were thrown into a ditch and a message was sent to the police station at Dhadgaon that the lady was killed and eaten by a bear.
Such was the condition of the Akrani in those days. So it was a challenge for Janardan Maharaj and Shri Dr. Amritsing Vasave to banish this terrible tradition from their community. Coincidently there was a person who was suffering from Appendix so he always had severe stomach-ache. The family members and he himself believed that the ache is given by any Dakin i.e. witch. Dr. Amritsing Vasave and Janardan Maharaj persuaded them to have an operation for the disease, they would not agree. Then Janardan Maharaj followed the way of the family.
He told them, "I agree with you that it is the work of a Dakin, but this man is a Doctor and he is smarter than the Dakin. He is very clever. He'll take out anything from his stomach that is put by the Dakin."
The family somehow agreed to have an operation. After operation Janardan Maharaj showed the appendix which looked like a bug to the family and the patient himself and said,
"Look this bug was put in your stomach and is now taken out from the stomach by this Doctor. Now tell me who is clever?"
"Doctor", said all of them.

Thus the people of the village started going to the hospital and Doctor whenever they had any disease and the thought and fear of Dakin was automatically banished from the minds of those ignorant people.