At a Glance: Late Dr Shrikant Jichkar, India's one of the most learned politicians

New Delhi: An efficient orator and one of the most respected Indian parliamentarians; Dr Shrikant Jichkar died on 2nd June, 2004 at the age of 49. He was a member of the Indian National Congress party. Dr Shrikant Jichkar was one of the most academically qualified persons of India politics. He was an eminent educationist, erudite politician and a connoisseur of Indian culture. He loved to express himself through art. Dr Shrikant was born to an affluent family in Aajangaon in Nagar (Maharashtra) on 14th September, 1954. He hailed from a family of wealthy farmers. Death sneaked up on him when he least expected it. The former Rajya Sabha MP died as his car collided with a bus on 2nd June, 2004 near Kondhali which is approximately 60 kms from Nagpur. He was accompanied by his relative, Dr Shriram Dhawad. Both of them sustained multiple injuries. Dr Shrikant and his relative were rushed to a nearby private hospital where they succumbed to their injuries. Jichkar is survived by his wife Rajashree, daughter Maitrayee and son Yagyawalkya. He spent most of his life buried in books. His intelligence and sincerity won many hearts. Dr Shrikant Jichkar began his political career in 1977 when he was elected as the President of the Nagpur University Student's Council. He stepped into politics as a youth leader. Later in 1980 he went on to become India's youngest MLA when he was elected to Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Seeing Jichkar's confidence and capacity, Congress leaders felt that this young man could be handed over more responsibility. He became an important minister in the state government and held 14 different portfolios simultaneously. Dr Shrikant was popular in his constituency. He represented his assembly constituency for twelve years.In 1992 he was elected as a member of Lok Sabha from Maharashtra and represented his LS constituency till 1998. For the first time Dr Shrikant lost the Lok Sabha elections in 1999 by a narrow margin. Dr Shrikant was a member of Patents Committee, Resource Mobilization Committee, Taxation Reforms, Irrigation and Transport Committee for the Central and State governments. He was a core member of the Parliamentary Standing committee of Finance. Dr Shrikant served as member of Rajya Sabha from 5th July 1992 till 4th July 1998.In 2004 he again contested the Lok Sabha Elections from Ramtek Constituency but was defeated by Subodh Mohite of Shiv Sena. One of his prominent roles as the Minister of State in Maharashtra was to persuade policemen of the state to call off strike in 1982. He was the President of Maharashtra State Marathi Encyclopedia Production Board.Dr Shrikant's rivals also praise him. Gopinath Munde, Union Minster for Rural Development condoled his death and said that despite holding several degrees, Jichkar was a humble man. Gopinath Munde said that he was a perfect blend of studious worker and a politician. Dr Shrikant Jichkar was well versed in Sanskrit and all the Hindu religious texts. Apart from possessing an excellent academic record, he came across as a top class professional. In his personal life, he was spiritual in his outlook. Till date the Limca Book of Records has him listed as the most qualified person in India. The list of Dr Jichkar's academic qualifications is very long- MBBS, MD, DBM, MBA, BA in Journalism, LLM (International Law),MA in Administration, MA in Sanskrit, MA in Economics, MA in English Litt , MA in Philosophy, MA in Political Science, MA in Ancient Indian Culture, D Litt in Sanskrit (highest degree that a person can acquire in literature) Dr Shrikant bagged 20 gold medals in academics. He qualified for IPS and IAS with impressive rank. He attained all this before the age of 30. Apart from being studious by nature, Dr Shrikant was a good painter, a professional photographer and an exemplary actor.He owned a personal library of over 52000 books. An interesting fact about his life is that Dr Shrikant wrote 42 University examinations each summer and winter between 1972 and 1990. He resigned from IPS to pursue a career in IAS in 1980. After a couple of months he resigned from that service too to contest elections. After his defeat in 1999 he quit politics and founded Kavi Kulaguru Kalidas, a Sanskrit University in Maharashtra and became its 1st Chancellor. In 2006 he was awarded with Bharat Asmita Jana Pratidhi Shrestha Award for Academic Excellence. His widow Rajashree collected the Award on his behalf.His achievements are beyond words. Dr Shrikant's sober-mindedness, his polite nature, intellect and passion for his nation, all combine to make him a perfect role model. On his death, India lost her precious son. It amounts to an irreparable loss of a versatile personality. Yet great men like him are not lost forever. He has left behind footprints in the sands of time. Youth must take a leaf out of Dr Shrikant Jichkar books and learn from him. May his soul rest in peace and may India be privileged to have many more scholars and visionaries like him.