In Yavatmal, local community helps farmer’s daughter marry 19 years after father’s death

Mumbai: Way back in October 2006, Shravan Chincholkar of Kopamandavi tehsil in Kelapur district of Yavatmal died by suicide because of agrarian distress. He left behind his wife Geeta Chincholkar, who was just 17 and Lakshmi, their six-month-old baby girl. 

On Sunday, the local community, activists and elected representatives poured love, gifts and financial support for the simple wedding  when Lakshmi, now 19, tied nuptial knot with Kunal Waghade, a 23-year-old graduate farmer-cum-trader.

“It was a touching moment,” said Kishor Tiwari, the founder of Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, a farmers’ pressure group, who has been working for decades.

Tiwari is based in Yavatmal and was among those who had highlighted the Vidarbha agrarian crisis. 

More than 2,000 people attended the marriage ceremony. 

“The agrarian crisis is serious…still farmers are ending their lives,” said Tiwari, urging the Narendra Modi-led NDA government and the Devendra Fadnavis-led MahaYuti government to address the issue. 

Geeta Chincholkar had tears of joy welling up her eyes as she remembered her late husband, Shravan Chincholkar, who ended his life out of sheer financial difficulties and unpaid loans, 19 years ago with an infant Lakshmi crying in her arms. The family hails from the Kopamandavi village of Yavatmal.

“Geeta got Lakshmi educated till Class XII (HSC). Geeta  was fortunate to receive an unconditional marriage proposal for Lakshmi from Kunal,” said Tiwari. 

Though the boy’s side made no demands, the girl’s side wanted to do something memorable for their sole daughter who grew up under trying circumstances, so a public appeal was made for help to conduct the wedding.

The family arranged around Rs 50,000 through loans/savings, but the local community, individuals, activists and elected representatives opened up their hearts and purses with another Rs. 150,000. 

Among those who participated or contributed to its grand success included Shiv Sena’s Dr. Neelam Gorhe, MLA Hemant Patil, Yavatmal BJP MLA Madan M. Yerawar, Grand Maratha Foundation Chief and BJP ex-MP Ajay V. Sancheti, Seva Kitchen founder and social worker Khushroo Poacha, Smita Tiwari, Ankit Naitam, Sanjay Dekar, Nitin Sardar, Suvidhi Surana, Rohit Patil, Laika Guzdar, Chandra Nayak, Satish Jhajharia plus Khetani Foundation, Jagdamba Temple Trust and other organisations.