PUBLIC LIFE AND VOLUNTARY SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANISATION

PUBLIC LIFE

The various Voluntary Social Service Organisations reveal the nature of public life and social progress in the district. Public life reflects the form of political consciousness, educational level and development of various arts of the community of the people.

Compared to other districts the district of Wardha has a valuable tradition of public life. The Chimur-Ashti incident had one time flamed the fire of patriotism in the mind of people and guided them to participate in the freedom movement. The holy Sevagram was not only a temporary residence of Mahatma Gandhi but was a place of inspiration to all. The first practical step towards the removal of untouchability took place in the temple of Laxmi Narayan under the guidance of Gandhiji. During 1940, Wardha was a centre of revolution and revolutionaries. It was here, that in 1941 a meeting of the Congress leaders was held which led to the passing of the famous ' Quit-India ' resolution subsequently.

Newspapers.

Though the activities of Voluntary Social Service Organisatjons help in creating healthy social atmosphere, yet the press is the most powerful weapon that creates, makes and reveals public opinion. In fact, the press takes leading initiative in creating political consciousness and expresses freely and sympathetically the grievances of the common man. Naturally, if not of foremost importance, at least of prime importance are the newspapers popularly called the fourth estate. They educate public opinion and enrich public life.

Of the leading publications in the district the Wardha Times which is published in English is the most important, besides which a number of weeklies and magazines are also published.

A list of Newspapers published from the Wardha district is given below:—

Political Representation.

The last decade saw the emergence of numerous political parties in India as also in the State. This factor had a very profound effect on the political situation of Maharashtra. The main parties that now exist in the State are the Congress (both O and R), the Janasangh, the Swatantra, the Communists (CPI and CPM), the Peasants and Workers Party, the P.S.P., the S.S.P., the R.P.I., the B.K.D., etc. Of these parties, the party which has a large following is the Congress (R). This could be easily judged from the number of seats which the party won in all the elections in the bi-lingual State of Bombay as also the State of Maharashtra which came into existence in May 1960. It may also be noted that the voting pattern in the district barring a few exceptions was the same as in the National and the State elections.

Since 1957 the district has four assembly seats. In 1957, Wardha constituency was a double-member constituency with one of the two seats reserved for scheduled castes. After the abolition of the double-member constituencies in 1961, the seat from Pulgaon is reserved for scheduled castes. In the 1962 General Elections, the Assembly constituencies of Hinganghat, Wardha, Pulgaon and Arvi were combined with Wani and Yelabara Assembly constituencies from Yeotmal district to form one Parliamentary constituency viz., Wardha constituency.

In the 1967 General Elections, the District of Wardha was represented in the State Assembly with a total number of four seats. Of these the party-wise division is as under:

The details of the votes polled in the same election are as under [Source: Socio Economic Review, Wardha District.]:

The total number of seats for the whole of State in the Parliament is 45 of which the share of Wardha district is one.

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