Freeindia > Biographies > Freedom Fighters > Shri Narhar Vishnu Gadgil
Shri Narhar Vishnu Gadgil popularly known as Kakawaheb Gadgil, was an erudite lawyer, veteran freedom fighter, eminent politician and an outstanding literary figure. Born on 10th January, 1896, he graduated from the Ferguson College, Pune in 1918 and obtained a Degree in Law in 1920. He was deeply influenced by Lokomanya bal Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel during his life time . Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa and Swami Vivekananda also left a deep impress upon his min and character.
He actively participated in the nationalist movement from 1920 when the joined the Indian National Congress. He took part in all the Congress Movements from 1921 onwards and suffered imprison-ment eight times. Shri N.V.Gadgil came to rank as one of the prominent national leaders. He was an office-bearer in the Congress organisation for more than three decades from 1921.He was Secretary, Poona District Congress Committee (1921-25); President, Maharastra Pradesh Congress Committee (1937-45);Member Congress Working Committee(1952-55); and Whip and Secretary of the Congress Legislature Party (1945-47). He was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly in 1934. He was Minister in the First Cabinetof independent India from 1947 to 1952 and heldseveral portfolios like Commerce, Works, Mines, and Power During his tenure in the Central Cabinet he initiated many development projects such as Bhakra, Hirakud and Koyna. He served as the Governor of Punjab from 1958 to 1962.
He was appointed Vice-Chancellor of Poona University in 1964. He was also associated with several public associations and institutions asuc as Sarvajanik Sabha Pune: the Young Men's Association, Pune; the Maharashtra Youth League, Bombay; Pune Central Cooperative Bank and the pune Municipality.
He was on of the pioneers of social reform movements in Maharstra in the 1930s.
Shri Gadgil was a prolific writer. He wrote several Books and articles on Politics, Economics, Law, History, Oratory etc. His important works include `Pathik' (an autobiography), `Rajya Shastra Vichar','Sabha Shastra', `Vaktrutva Shastra' and `Gyanbache Arthashastra'. For his great contribution to Marathi literature, he was elected president of the Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in 1962. After an illustrious career of public service, he died on 12th January, 1966.
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