BIO-DATA

Chavan, Yeashwantrao Balwantrao : b. 12 march 1913; educ., karad, kolhapur and poona; organised student movement (1930); participated in civil Disobedience movement (1932); imprisoned for his political activities (1932); was Royist first but later dissociated himself from Roy's movement of the issue of second world wer; President, Satara D.C.C.  (1941); directed underground movement in satara district (Aug. 1942-May 1943) until his arrest at phaltan; Secretary, Maharashtra P.C.C. (1948-50); Member, Bombay Legislative Assembly ( 1946); Parliamentry Secretary (1946); started a Marathi daily Prakash at Satara (1948); Minister for Civil supplies, Bombay (1952); Chief Minister, Bombay State and later Maharashtra ( 1956-1962) ; as Minister held various portfolios at the centre (1962-77 ); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (July 1979-Jan. 1980); died on 25 Nov. 1984.

Main Points covered in the Interview

Early life and inliuences; impact of salt satyagraha in rurual areas; evalution of Gandhiji; Satyashohak movemet; about Prabhat Pheri songs and political novels in Marathi; impact of Gandhiji on him; reaction to Gandhi-Irwin pact (1931); Karachi congress session (1931); on his mother and an incident relating to his arrest (1932); on his associates (1930-32); arrest and jail life (1932-33); M. N. Roy and Indian Communists; Individual Satyagraha in Satara district; Dr Ambedkar and nationalist movement; on his own thinking process; ideological studies in jail; congress socialist party; jail life; his contribution to Atmaram patil's election (1936), and comparison with today's elections; Quit India movement; AICC session in Bombay, arrest of leaders, underground activities, distinction between violence to life and violence to property, Patri Sarkar and his arrest (1943).