Pune Airport to be Renamed After Sant Tukaram Maharaj

Approval Process and Political Support

• Maharashtra state cabinet approves proposal to rename Pune Airport
• New name: 'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj International Airport'
• Proposal initiated by Pune MP and Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol

Strong support from the ruling Mahayuti alliance:

• • Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
  • Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena
  • Deputy CM Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party
• Union Minister Nitin Gadkari pledged support and promised to seek approval from Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Next steps:

• • Proposal to be forwarded to the central government
  • Final approval expected before the upcoming assembly election

Rationale and Significance of the Name Change

• Lohegaon, where the airport is located, was the birthplace of Sant Tukaram Maharaj's mother
• Tukaram Maharaj spent his childhood in Lohegaon, establishing a strong local connection
• Aims to honor the 17th-century saint's legacy and cultural importance
• Recognizes Tukaram's role in the Bhakti movement and his influence on Maharashtra's spiritual heritage
• Reflects the government's effort to preserve and promote local cultural icons
• Potential to boost tourism and raise awareness about the region's historical significance

Sant Tukaram Maharaj: A Brief Overview

• Lived from 1608 to 1650, born in Dehu, near Pune
• Renowned Hindu saint and poet from Maharashtra
• Key figure in the Bhakti movement
• Famous for his devotional poetry called Abhanga
• Focused on devotion to Vithoba, a form of Lord Krishna worshipped in Pandharpur
• Wrote approximately 4,500 poems, collected in the Tukaram Gatha or Abhanga Gatha
• Themes in his work:
  • Devotion and divine love
  • Social equality and criticism of caste-based discrimination
  • Pantheistic beliefs about God's presence in the universe
• Known for simple yet profound poetry addressing the human condition
• Initially faced opposition but later gained widespread respect
• Influenced social reform and spiritual practices in Maharashtra