Azad Hind Mandal in Amravati has entered 99th year of Ganeshotsav
The story of Azad Hind Mandal began in 1926 with the establishment of the Royal Club in Budhwara. The Mandal won Vidarbha and state-level trophies and produced Indian team players Surendra Chikhalkar and Vinayak Mali. Inspired by noted patriots Veer Wamanrao Joshi, Nanasaheb Bamangaonkar and Annasaheb Kaloti, the club aimed to channel the energy of local youth through indigenous sports such as kabaddi, hututu, atyapatya and kho-kho. Prabhakarrao Kewale captained the Nagpur University kabaddi team, while wrestlers Prakash Ingole and Sanjay Tirathkar earned the prestigious Vidarbha Kesari title.
In 1928, the Royal Club launched its first Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav at the wada of Giriraj Anna Deshpande before shifting to a public pandal in Budhwara. A defining chapter came in 1948. A special bhajan programme by renowned Khatu Shyam lyricist Chhotu Singh Rawna on Sept 19 promises to add a devotional highlight to the festival.
The Royal Club was renamed Azad Hind Mandal by Captain Shahnawaz Khan of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose ’s Azad Hind Fauj after he unfurled the national tricolour at the venue on Independence Day, giving the organisation its enduring identity, according to festival secretary Revan Someshwar Pusatkar. The pioneering team behind the initiative included Babasaheb Kaloti, Popatlal Raja, Kashinathrao Hatole, Laddumiya Gulam Ali, M.D. Agrawal, Vishnupant Lokhande, Arjunrao Lohar Kanhaiyyaji, Ramrao Birsule, Dada Pailwan and Trimbakrao Wathodkar. What began with simple decorations eventually evolved into elaborate tableaux depicting mythological, historical and social themes. Azad Hind Mandal carved a distinctive sporting identity through kabaddi. After the golden jubilee, Padma Shri Prabhakarrao Vaidya became president and gave new direction to social, cultural and religious activities. Kabaddi tournaments are held in memory of national player Balasaheb Dighekar. Former mayor Vilas Ingole, who is president of Amravati District and Vidarbha Kabaddi Association, led the sport under the guidance of Subhash Pusatkar. As the Mandal enters its 99th year, preparations are underway for a grand celebration centred on a replica of the famous Khatu Shyam Temple of Sikar, Rajasthan, designed by Anil Wat and his team. Festival president Sachin Wankhade, led by Gnyaneshwar Hiwase and supported by secretary Revan Pusatkar, Krishna Hiwase, Vedant Dange and other volunteers, is overseeing the arrangements.