Farmer's leader Sharad Joshi to be cremated on Tuesday

Farmers' leader and Shetkari Sanghatana founder Sharad Joshi, who passed away in Pune on Saturday, will be cremated on Tuesday.Joshi (81), who is credited for laying down an alternate paradigm and philosophy in agrarian economics and politics by espousing greater economic freedom and access to markets and technologies for farmers, passed away at his Bopodi residence.He will be cremated at 1.45pm at the Vaikunth crematorium on Tuesday. Prior to the completion of his last rites, Joshi's mortal remains will be kept on the grounds behind the Deccan bus stand from 10am to 1pm for his supporters and citizens to pay their their final tributes.Joshi propounded theories like "Bharat vs India," (of the economic-cultural and emotional divide between India and exploited, agrarian Bharat) and the government imposing a deliberate "negative subsidy" on farmers leading to agriculture becoming non-viable.

Many of Joshi's decade-old demands and ideas like the need for loan waivers and remunerative pricing for agriculture have found their way into mainstream political lexicon and the manifestos of political parties. He is pre-deceased by his wife Leela and survived by daughters Shreya Shahane and Dr Gauri Joshi, who are based abroad.