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Pune Airport to be Renamed After Sant Tukaram Maharaj

The Maharashtra state cabinet has approved a proposal to rename Pune Airport to 'Jagadguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj International Airport'. The proposal was initiated by Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol.

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

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