PART - III
OBITUARY REFERENCES TO LATE Y. B. CHAVAN
THE LOK SABHA
In the untimely death of Shri. Y B. Chavan, the country has lost one of its seasoned and experienced national leaders an administrator. A distinguished son of India, Shri Chavan was a man of great integrity and ability with an abiding faith in socialism, secularism and democracy. Shri Chavan was born in March, 1913 at village Deorashtre in District Sangli in Maharashtra and was educated at Kolhapur and Pune. He was imprisoned twice for a total period of seven years during the freedom struggle. His parliamentary career spanned nearly forty years from 1946 to 1984. Starting as Parliamentary Secretary in 1946 in the Government of erstwhile Bombay State, Shri Chavan rose to be the Chief Minister of that State in 1956. After the reorganisation of the States, Shri Chavan was Chief Minster of Maharashtra state from 1960 to 1962. After the Chinese aggression, Shri Chavan was drafted by Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, to look after the Defence Portfolio in the Central Government and to modernise the Defence Services. He held to Defence portfolio from 1962 to 1966 with great distinction. During the period from 1966 to 1977 he held important portfolios of home, Finance and Foreign Affairs in the Union Cabinet. For a brief period from August 1977 to January 1980, he served as Deputy Prime Minister. Only recently, his vast experience was availed of and his services utilised a Chairman of the Eight Finance Commission.
The nation is certainly poorer by his passing away.
THE RAJYA SABHA
Shri Y. B. Chavan, a Member of Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Lok Sabha during 1964-84, passed away on 25 November, 1984, at New Delhi at the age of 71 years. Prior to his election to Lok Sabha, he was a Member of Rajya Sabha in 1963 and a member of the Bombay and later Maharashtra State Legislative Assemblies during 1946-62. He joined the Government of Bombay as a Parliamentary Secretary in 1946 and became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra during 1960-62. He was Minister of Defence in the Union Council of Minister during 1962-66 and later held other important portfolios including Home Affairs, Finance and External Affairs during 1966-67. He functioned as the Deputy Prime Minister during July 1979 - January, 1980.
A noted parliamentarian, Shri Chavan was Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha during November 1977, April 1978 and again in July 1979. The debates of Lok Sabha bear witness to the valuable contributions made by Shri Chavan both during his tenure as a Minister and as a Member of the Opposition in upholding democratic values of the Parliamentary system of Government. All sections of the House respected and heard him in silence.
A veteran freedom fighter, he actively participated in the freedom struggle and suffered imprisonment for several years.
An eminent political and social worker, Shri Chavan was the President of the Institutes of Defence Studies and Analysis besides being associated with a number of voluntary social, educational and other organisations. He was the Chairman of the Eighth Finance Commission and also the Chancellor of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth.
A distinguished administrator, Shri Chavan represented the country abroad on several occasions. He led the Indian delegation to the United Nations and attended several other national and international conferences. He was author of many publications and a number of articles in English and Marathi.