| Jawaharlal A. Darda | |
| Honorific Suffix: | 'बाबूजी' |
| Office: | Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council |
| Term Start: | (1972–1978), (1978–1984), (1984–1990), (1990 |
| Term End: | 1996) |
| Office2: | President of the Yavatmal City Indian National Congress |
| Term Start2: | 1946 |
| Term End2: | 1956 |
| Office3: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister3: |
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| Term Start3: | March 1978 |
| Term End3: | July 1978 |
| Office4: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister4: |
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| Term Start4: | June 1980 |
| Term End4: | Jan 1982 |
| Office5: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister5: |
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| Term Start5: | March 1985 |
| Term End5: | June 1985 |
| Office6: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister6: |
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| Term Start6: | June 1985 |
| Term End6: | March 1986 |
| Office7: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister7: |
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| Term Start7: | June 1988 |
| Term End7: | March 1990 |
| Office8: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister8: |
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| Term Start8: | Jan 1991 |
| Term End8: | June 1991 |
| Office9: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister9: |
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| Term Start9: | June 1991 |
| Term End9: | Feb 1993 |
| Office10: | Cabinet Minister Government of Maharashtra |
| Minister10: |
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| Term Start10: | March 1993 |
| Term End10: | March 1995 |
| Birth Date: | 2 July 1923 |
| Birth Place: | Babhulgaon, Yavatmal district, Maharashtra |
| Death Place: | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Spouse: | Veenadevi |
| Children: | Vijay & Rajendra |
Jawaharlal Amolakchand Darda (2 July 1923 – 25 November 1997), known popularly as Babuji, was an Indian freedom fighter and a senior Indian National Congress politician.[1] He is the founding editor of Lokmat group of newspapers (now Lokmat Media group). He was a pioneering journalist and a prominent politician of his time.[2]
Darda began as a social worker and then, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, participated in the Satyagraha Movement in 1942 and joined the Quit India Movement, for which he was sentenced to jail for one year and 9 months. While in Jabalpur Jail. he organized youth conference on 10 August 1942. In 1944 he created Azad Hind Sena at Yavatmal. He remained President of the Yavatmal City Congress 1946-56.[3] In 1973 he represented the Government of India at Copenhagen (Denmark) at an International Conference on Housing.[4] [5] The Government of India will be issuing a Rs 100 commemorative coin to mark the birth centenary of Jawaharlal Darda,[6]
Darda's contribution to the freedom struggle is unparalleled. With his efforts, Yavatmal district had spontaneously responded to the call of the freedom struggle and gained the attention of legendary personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Yavatmal district was actively participating in the freedom struggle and credit for rekindling the nationalist spirit among the people there goes to veteran freedom fighters like Jawaharlal. He is amongst the most prominent freedom fighters from the Yavatmal district.[7] [8]
Jawaharla Darda deeply felt about Vidarbha's progress. In his tenure as the state industry minister, he set up many industrial estates in Vidarbha area. Darda's arguments in the state legislature were unparalleled.[9]
Jawaharlal Darda has Four children, Vijay and Rajendra (Sons); Snehal & Jayashree (daughters)
Vijay Darda, a politician of Indian National Congress party, was a Member of the Parliament of India representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha since 1998 having been elected for three consecutive terms into the upper House of the Indian Parliament. He is the chairman of the Lokmat Media Group. Rajendra Darda, also a politician, elected thrice from Aurangabad East Assembly constituency since 1998. He was the Education & Industry and State Home Minister in Maharashtra Government. He is the Editor-in-Chief of Lokmat Media Group
On 12 September 2013, Jawaharlal Darda was posthumously conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award at UK's House of Commons.[10]