Vilasrao Deshmukh was a large hearted man and tired to wipe
out tears of others with a broad grin," said ' close friend Ulhas Pawar.
He was delivering a lecture on Vilasrao Deshmukh: Personality and Politics' organized
at Sant Eknath Rangmandir on the birth anniversary of Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Deshmukh died in August 2012. Jitendra Dehade and his associates had organised
the function on Deshmukh's birth anniversary. Such lectures will be organized
every year on his birth anniversary, Dehade announced. Preshit Rudrawar
conducted the proceedings of the function. Initially, the dignitaries garlanded
the portrait of Vilasrao Deshmukh. Pawar
reminisced several memorable moments he had with Vilasrao Deshmukh. He said when
Vilasrao started his political career contesting the election of the sarpanch
at Babhalgaon, out of 360 votes polled, he got no votes from
Deshmukhs. All the votes were from the OBC, Muslims and backward class people.
When he climbed the ladder of success in the political field, he always
considered these voters. He was well aware of the problems faced by the
backward class people and hence he took several decisions in the field of
social engineering. He always took interest for the safety of backward class.
He
appointed Dr Bhalchandra Mungekar as the first Dalit vice chancellor of the
Mumbai University and also provided financial aid to the wife of Dr Babasaheb
ambedkar in adverse situation, pawer mentioned.