Renowned social activist Baba Adhav passes away at 95; PM Modi condoles

Baba Adhav breathed his last in Pune at the age of 95.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday expressed grief over the death of respected social activist and labor leader Baba Adhav, saying he will be remembered for his lifelong efforts to empower the marginalized and improve worker welfare. In a post on

Veteran socialist leader and prominent activist Dr. Baba Adhav passed away in Pune on Monday evening at the age of 95. He was undergoing treatment at Poona Hospital. Respected across the state for his decades of work for the poor, unorganized and marginalized communities, Adhav dedicated his life to ensuring the rights and dignity of porters, rickshaw drivers, construction workers, laborers and other informal sector groups. He played a key role in creating major worker-led initiatives, including the Hamal Panchayat, and supported transformative campaigns such as One Village – One Water Source.

Deeply influenced by the Satyashodhak tradition as well as Shiv, Phule, Shahu and Ambedkarite ideology, Adhav continued to work for public causes even in his final months, advocating justice and welfare for the working class and vulnerable groups. Condolence messages poured in from across the political spectrum. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed grief, saying Baba Adhav’s contributions to workers’ rights and social equality were “unparalleled” and that his death was “the end of an era in Maharashtra’s social reform movement”.

(With inputs from news agency ANI).