Making long trips by foot in the forests of Talasri, draped in dhoti and simple Kurta, Madhavrao ji Kane’s persevered endlessly for the wellbeing of and opening the doors of knowledge for the so far disdained Vanvaasis for fifty years. No season including bitter winter, scorching summer or the flooding Monsoon ever stopped Madhavraoji from meeting his single pointed aim of uplifting Vanvasis of this tribal belt. This article brings forth to this generation an unforgettable story of Sewa and devotion.Born on 15 December 1927 in a middle-class family of Kalyan, Madhavrao Kane was one of the RSS pracharaks whose life journey illustrates the spirit and principal of the Sangh. Kane ji devoted 28 years of his life in the pursuit of uplifting Vanvaasis in Talasari taluka(Thane district, Maharashtra) through holistic education. He spent his entire life for others. Madhavrao at a very young age became a Satyagrahi which lasted till the end of Goa’s liberation struggle. He went on to become the president of Kalyan Municipality in 1964, the youngest in the country at that time. His tenure at Kalyan Municipality was considered highly successful. At the call of his mentor Damu Anna Tokeker Ji who was Vibhag pracharak at Kalyan during that period, this modern karma yogi gave up his shining career in politics and turned towards the ravines of Talasari to serve the forest dwellers.In 1967, through the untiring efforts of Kane ji, Hindu Seva Sangh started a hostel as “Vanvaasi Vasati -Graha” with only five students, for the education of Vanvaasi kids. Later, with the efforts of Kane ji, over nine acres of land was donated to this organization. In the last 55 years, over 2000 children who stayed in this hostel and received holistic education are now well placed as doctors, engineers, and other Govt. Officials. Madhavrao ji toiled with dedication for twenty-eight years which resulted in the form of successful careers for many children as well as made them responsible humans. His dedication towards his cause can be understood by the fact that Madhavrao ji walked many times for several kilometers to meet the families of the students. Madhavrao ji’s room at Kalyan became a home for Vanvaasi children for 24 continuous years. When Madhavrao ji was detected with cancer, he then urged the doctors to donate the money that would incur in his treatment towards the upkeep of the “Vanvaasi Vasati Griha” hostel. Appa ji Joshi, third-year trained swayamsevak of the Sangh who co-managed the student’s hostel with Madhavraoji, says that, Madhavraoji was a sage of the modern times, who always slept on Khatias (Handmade cots with wooden or Bamboo frame and woven with Coconut rope), lived in huts, and travelled on foot. Through his efforts, Naxalism in Talasari, Dahanu, and Palghar was completely eradicated.”
Dattopant Thengadi ji”s expression aptly summarizes his life. He said “Madhavraoji devoted his entire life towards the development of the Vanvaasi region in a hinterland that was far away from the glitter of any fame”.
