R.K. SinhaMadhu Limaye, who has lost his memory, is one of those leaders with whom you cannot stop respecting even after having differences. You could not help but be impressed by his wisdom and simplicity. He was an outstanding scholar, thinker, creator of a vast literature on political, economic, social, burning problems of the country and abroad and their diagnosis. Due to her intelligence, intensity, determination and dedication, 25-year-old Madhu Limaye was sent to Rangoon by Jayaprakash Narayan and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia as the secretary of the Asian Socialist Conference. Madhu Limaye represented India at the Socialist International Conference in Antwerp in 1947.
Born on 01 May 1922, Madhu Limaye was originally from Pune. A Marathi person winning elections from Bihar four times is unique in itself. There have been many other such leaders in the Rajya Sabha, but such examples are rarely seen in the Lok Sabha. Limaye’s childhood was spent in Maharashtra. He completed his studies from there as well. He was also active in Maharashtra politics. Limaye used to come from socialist ideology and also became a part of many movements like Goa Liberation. But when he stepped into national politics, he chose Bihar only to contest the elections. For the first time he reached the Parliament in 1964 by winning the by-election from Munger. In 1964, the Socialist Party and the Praja Socialist Party merged to form the United Socialist Party. Madhu Limaye went to the Lok Sabha for the first time on a United Socialist Party ticket. After this victory, he also became the chairman of the parliamentary board of the United Socialist Party.
Madhu Limaye used to live in Bihar, from where he reached the Lok Sabha. He had a deep understanding of the society and culture of Bihar. Madhu Limaye once told that Biharis get satisfied if they get sweet mangoes continuously in summer. In this sequence, he spoke on the taste of Zardalu mango. He told that the taste and fragrance of Zardalu mango is unique.
Freedom Fighter, Madhu Limaye, who fought against the barbarism of three foreign empires British, Portuguese, Nepali rule since childhood, was a true Gandhian. He was sentenced to one year’s rigorous imprisonment in 1940 for giving a speech against the British rule at the age of 18 during the World War.
Released from jail in 1945 after being arrested in 1943 in the Quit India Movement. In 1955, he was sentenced to 12 years for participating in the Goa Liberation Movement. Became the president of the Socialist Party in 1958. He spent his life in favor of civil liberties, against inequality, oppression, injustice, casteism, communalism and in establishing a socialist system. Reached Hisar (Punjab) in 1959 and Lakhisarai (Bihar) in 1968 and Munger, Bihar in 1970 due to struggle for public questions.
In another historic act in the history of Indian Parliament, Madhu ji had resigned from the Parliament membership in 1975 declaring the duration of the Parliament to be 6 years instead of 5 years as unconstitutional after the Emergency was imposed. He is also a symbol of high standards of honesty, sacrifice, simplicity, frugality in public life. He not only coined the socialist philosophy, principles, ideas, policies, but also awakened the whole life to implement them, train thousands of workers and walk on that path.
We can never forget the contribution and sacrifice of Madhu ji’s life partner respected Champa Limaye. In Madhu Limaye’s houses on North Avenue, Western Court and Pandara Road in the capital, there would definitely be gatherings in the evening. It used to have teachers, students, editors and their other friends from Delhi University and JNAU. Champa ji used to make and serve tea to the guests coming to her house. In summer, people used to quench their thirst by drinking water from the jug. After Madhuji’s death in 1995, the Pandara Road house was vacated. Champa ji went to Mumbai to be with her son. Meanwhile, a road was named after Limaye ji, who lived in Pandara Road, in the Chanakyapuri area. This thing is beyond understanding. Any road around Janpath, Pandara Road or Lodhi Road could have been named after Madhuji.
Madhu Limaye was a member of the Lok Sabha four times but never took the pension of a freedom fighter and former MP. He used to run his life only with the hard work of writing. Never compromised on principles. Rejected the offer to become foreign minister twice. Refused to go to Rajya Sabha after losing the Lok Sabha elections. The fascination of power could not distract Madhu ji. You also played the role of the heir of the tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, Acharya Narendra Dev, Jayprakash Narayan, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, Achyut Patwardhan, Yusuf Mehar Ali. He “took the minimum, gave the maximum and lived the best” in his life.
Leaders Chaudhary Charan Singh, VP Singh and Chandrashekhar, who became the Prime Minister of India, often used to come to Madhuji’s official residence for advice. There was no count of Chief Ministers, Ministers, Members of Parliament, MLAs. Madhu ji also had a deep understanding of art and music. Many artists like Bhimsen Joshi, Kumar Gandharva, Malikarjuna Mansoor, Dagar brothers, Jitendra Abhishek, Gangubai Hangal, Yamini Krishnamurthy, Sonal Mansingh, Uma Sharma used to come to him to discuss the nuances of music.
Madhu ji’s house used to have government cane furniture. He had an old type of tape recorder. He used to listen to classical music by plugging in his favorite cassette to get pleasure. Many times his friends and followers would complain to him that Madhu ji is very hot. We bring air conditioning for you. Let’s send the refrigerator. But Madhu Limaye’s thirst and desire was something different.
He wrote- “I would be happy to undergo solitary life imprisonment with all the works of Shakespeare, the Mahabharata and the Greek tragedies. And if I do not get this opportunity till the end of my life, my thirst for reading the works of Saint Dnyaneshwar will remain unquenchable.” However, Madhu ji had differences with Sangh’s thinking on some points. Sangh also had disagreements with him on some issues. All this is normal in a democracy and it should be welcomed. (Writer, Senior Editor, Columnist and former Member of Parliament.)
