Maharashtra bids Vinda farewell with a 23-gun salute

Govind Vinayak Karandikar or Vinda, as he was fondly known, was sent to his final resting place on Monday surrounded by people who knew and loved him best.

At Sahitya Sahwas, the official colony of Mumbai’s literati, Vinda’s body was kept for the public to offer condolences on the ground floor of Phoolrani building. Among the first leaders to arrive was chief minister Ashok Chavan, who spoke to Vinda’s three children.
Despite their loss, son’s Anand, Uday and daughter Jaya Kale interacted warmly with all visitors.

Vinda’s old friend Mangesh Padgaonkar looked shaken. “Our friendship dates to 1953, when he came to teach English at Ruia College. He, Vasant Bapat and I were very good friends.”

It was interesting to see people from all walks of life pay their respects to the revolutionary poet who changed their lives.

One such was Rahul Shirsat, a visually challenged youth who came from Chunabhatti helped by a friend. “Vinda’s poetry was read to me 10 years ago and it made a deep impact on me, especially the one  The one denare detat and ghenare ghetat (the one who gives continues to give and one who takes, continues to take).  I just had to pay my respects to him for touching my life,” Shirsat said. Among those fortunate to sing Vinda’s poems was Padmaja Phenani-Joglekar. She said the depth of Vinda’s writing was such that even today it made her hair stand on end.

Around 2.40pm, the state police representatives and the band lined up to give Vinda a state farewell. His body was covered with the Indian flag and 23 policemen fired three rounds.

His body was taken to Sir JJ Hospital, which will be used by medical students for research. Meanwhile, Ramdas Athavale who came to pay condolences along with other Dalit leaders said they would hold a prayer meeting for Vinda on March 19, at Buddha Vihar.