By Aditya Waghmare
Down reminiscence lane: Centenarian in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar recollects his days with Ambedkar
Chhatrapati Sambhajingar, Because the nation gears as much as rejoice Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 134th delivery anniversary, a centenarian from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar who as soon as gave up a gentle job with the railways to briefly serve the Dalit chief, shares how that have continues to outline his life.
Regardless of age catching up on him, 103-year-old Laxman Khotkar nonetheless remembers, with vivid element, the six to seven years he spent serving the architect of the Structure in newly unbiased India.
In 1948, Khotkar was employed as a gate watchman with Nizam’s State Railways when he acquired a chance to work on the Subhedari Circuit Visitor Home, the place Ambedkar stayed intermittently in the course of the development of Milind School, which he based in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
“I was posted with the Railways in Shernapur . I found out that Babasaheb was building a college, and I left the railway job in a heartbeat and came to the college site, requesting the contractor, Appasaheb Gaikwad and one Mr Warale to hire me,” he says.
Khotkar says he took on the job of a watchman and handyman for ₹1.5 per day simply out of his love and admiration for Ambedkar.
“I earned ₹15 per month in my railway job. However, I was paid ₹1.5 a day at the college. There was no guarantee of work every day, and the income wasn’t steady. My family was small, and in those days, 16 kg of jowar cost ₹1, which was enough for us,” he says.
Khotkar says he took care of Ambedkar’s every day routine and wishes throughout his visits to town.
“I would be informed of Babasaheb’s visits beforehand and would take care of everything for him during his stay,” he says with delight.
Ambedkar was a thoughtful and caring man, Khotkar says.
“Babasaheb would always ask us if we had had our meals and even asked his driver Maruti and me to have breakfast with him,” he says.
Khotkar recollects that Ambedkar was a workaholic and would work late into the night time and be up by 5 am.
“Once, I left for duty at the guesthouse without having my meal. My wife arrived at the gate carrying my infant son and waited for me patiently with food. Babasaheb spotted her and jokingly asked if she thought her husband would be starved at work,” Khotkar says, speaking about an incident nonetheless contemporary in his reminiscence.
Ambedkar then gave blessings to Khotkar’s six-month-old son.
Khotkar continues to dwell close to Milind School, celebrating recollections he has of one of the vital revered personalities within the nation.