Vasantrao Narayanrao Naik belong to Hindu Vanjari Community was born on 21st November 1912 , in Vehelgaon (Tal.Nandgaon), Nashik district of Maharashtra state. He was son of soil who had a great vision, contributed his life in freedom struggle of India and was known as “ Krantiveer ”. He was also identified as ‘ Krantiveer Vasantrao Narayanrao Naik’.
He lived Revolutionary life and had devoted himself for the Welfare of the society. He was inspired by the call given by Krantisingh Nana Patil of Patrisarkar and participated in many revolutionary activities for freedom of India. He himself had of passion for freedom and devoted himself with unstinted energy to organise peasant moments.
When the Simon Commission landed in Bombay he organised ‘Hartal’. He also participated in the civil disobedience movement and due to which he was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.
In 1931 he was incharge of the Bombay picketing section, later he was arrested and sentenced to 1 year and 3 months rigorous imprisonment. After he was released from jail he organised No-Tax campaign in Nashik district. Hi gathered 10000 peasants and offered Mass Jungle Satyagraha. He was the president of the Manmad Congress Committee and as a chairman he also successfully managed Manmad municipality for two years.
Inspired by the leadership of the father of our Nation, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi also known as Mahatma Gandhi, he participated in ‘Namak Satyagraha’ of freedom struggle at the age of 15 years, for which he was sentenced to rigorous imprisonment by the British Government in the year year 1932, 1939, 1942 and 1944.
He was convicted in a political trial first time in the year 1940. After his release from jail he actively participated in Quit Indian Movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. Due to participation in Quit India Movement, British Government send many people to jail so Vasantrao Naik went underground and contributed the Quit India Movement indirectly. When the British Government came to know his participation in Quit India Movement, to the demoralise him they decided to auction his own properties but due to his popularity in freedom struggle nobody participated in the auction.
He participated in different social movements and also actively work in Association with Achyutrao Patwardhan, Sane Guruji and S.M. Joshi.
As a good organiser he served as General Secretary of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee and Member of All India Congress. He successfully organised 56th conference of All India Congress which was held at Nashik in 1950.
After independence he was appointed as Chairman of State Travel Mahamandal; an Organisation representing Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation.
He was the youngest member of Legislative Assembly who was elected from Nashik West Constituency in the Bombay Legislature in 1937.
Unfortunately on December 14, 1968 he passed away due to heart attack while attending a public meeting at Bhusawal.
The LoGMIEER ( Loknete Gopinathji Mundhe Institute of Engineering Education and Research ) was established and named in his memory in the year 2011-2012, Which was celebrated as his birth centenary.
Compiler : Mr. Girish Darunte, Manmad