Friends recall Ajit Pawar’s college days in Kolhapur: Never missed a Bachchan movie, zipped around town in his Fiat, neatness

KOLHAPUR: Late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar shared a deep and enduring bond with Kolhapur, a city where he spent his formative years as a student at Shri Shahaji Chhatrapati Mahavidyalaya during the late 1970s.

Pawar moved to Kolhapur in Sept 1978 to pursue his first-year BCom. For two-and-a-half years, he resided in room no. 1 of a chawl near Maratha House in Panch Bungalow area. His roommate at the time was Arvind Satav, a fellow native of Baramati.

Despite being the nephew of Sharad Pawar — who was already a towering figure in Indian politics — Ajit was known for his humility. His long-time friend Madhukar Chavan, a resident of Ambewadi village, recalled: "Even though his uncle was at the peak of his political career, Ajit never flaunted his identity. He remained grounded throughout his life, even after rising to the rank of deputy chief minister."

Chavan said Pawar was not a bookworm, but he was notably disciplined and possessed a penchant for cleanliness. "He was very keen on keeping his room spotless. His clothes and his favourite shoes were always kept with military precision in his cupboard," Chavan added. During those days, Pawar was a familiar sight in Kolhapur, often seen driving his Fiat (registration number 9999) or riding his motorcycle.

The group of friends spent their leisure time exploring the city's culture. They were regulars at local cinema halls, never missing an Amitabh Bachchan release. After college hours, the group would cruise through Rajarampuri and Bhawani Mandap on their motorcycles or take trips to the historic Panhala Fort.

Pawar's journey in Kolhapur followed his early schooling in Deolali and his junior college years (XI and XII) in Mumbai. However, his education was tragically interrupted by the death of his father, forcing him to return to Baramati to take up family responsibilities. Despite his departure, his loyalty to his friends remained unchanged. When he contested his first Lok Sabha election in 1991, his college troupe from Kolhapur travelled to Baramati to campaign for him.

The news of his passing has left a void at his alma mater. College principal R. K. Shanediwan said plans were underway for a grand homecoming. "We were planning to invite him for an alumni meet under the leadership of Kolhapur district bank director Babasaheb Patil-Asurlekar. We had preliminary discussions just a few months ago, but his untimely death means that meeting will now never take place," he said.