This was a proud moment for Wamanrao Bhimrao Deshmukh.
The smiling Indian editor is pictured receiving a certificate from Lord Thomson, owner of a worldwide newspaper empire and founder of the Thomson Foundation, during a European study tour for international journalists in 1970.
Today the photograph is a treasured possession of his son, Dr Anil Deshmukh. Until the recent discovery of the picture, this career highlight had remained a family mystery. For shortly after returning from his European adventure, Wamanrao Deshmukh died, aged 42.
Now Dr Anil is appealing for help in tracing other members of the tour as he gathers together the pieces of his father’s remarkable life.
Dr Anil says that his father’s place on the trip, organised by the Thomson Foundation, was secured only after local villagers clubbed together to help pay his costs: “He virtually rose from ashes to brightest student; from the tiny village of Ugwa to to the UK.
“He didn’t have a single penny in his pocket when he was selected to join your centre. Every man from his village contributed to make this study tour possible,” wrote Dr Anil in an email to the Thomson Foundation.
Editor of the Daily Shiv-Shakti
At the time of the tour, Wamanrao was editor of the Daily Shiv-Shakti in Akola, north east of Mumbai and close to the village where he was born on a farm. Orphaned as a child, Wamanrao’s passion for words helped him progress from the local school in Ugwa to study English and achieve his dream of becoming a journalist.
When he reached the highly-respected position of editor, it seems Wamanrao dedicated his life to helping others. Dr Anil continues: “He worked for the betterment of journalists from rural areas. He formed an organisation for them, organising training camps, conferences and meetings. For poor members, he formed a co-operative housing colony.
“My father helped every person who needed it. In Ugwa, he founded a secondary school, arranged the water supply, bus transportation and encouraged the building of rural roads.
“He donated all of his farmland to the poor and needy and wanted to achieve great heights in the fields of journalism and social service.
“But unfortunately he died at the young age of 42.”
Other photographs from Dr Anil, below, show his father with members of the 1969/70 study tour and with colleagues in his newspaper office.
• If you have any more information about the study tour attended by Wamanrao Deshmukh, please get in touch »
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this is nice article
i am proud of this special person
i think have a nice article
I feel proud about Mr.Wamanrao Deshmukh & wish good luck to Dr. Anil for finding out the details of the other members & about the study which his father carried out.
I am really proud of my grandfather Mr Wamanrao Deshmukh.
Thanks a lot to Thomson Foundatiuon team for publishing this article.
Because of shyness many great pelople like Shri. Wamanrao are forgotten.These things always encourage new generation.
It’s not only the Deshmukh family feeling proud of this achievement, but all Akolaits and Ugwa circle is proud of this towering personality in the field of journalism who made it from scratch.
From a very smal place Ugwa to UK, really great !!!
THOMSON PUBLICATION THANKS A LOT.
thanxs to thomson foundation for publishing personality in the field of journalism. it is a proud for our countery.
I came to know a lot about Anil’s father not from Anil but from my Father. Unfortunatly Anil & his brothers has to face the facts of life too early in the childhood. Its good that Anil is collecting those proud memories attached with his dedicated father. Hope Anil acheives this goal.
I’m proud of my Grandfather Mr.Wamanrao Deshmukh.
Thanks to Thomson Foundation a lot.
Inspiring !! Feels proud that someone from my motherland has shown such capabilities. I would like to thank Dr. Anil Deshmukh for unveiling these facts. I wish him best luck.
Thank you Thomson Foundation for publishing an article over almost forgotten but a towering personality in the field of journalism.
W.B.Deshmukh representing rural and remote part of India tried to serve the populace through the media.
It is a proud moment that his work is being remembered 40 years after his untimely death.
TF has always encouraged the media people in serving the world through better training.
“Title The News,” competition was held in TF during the study course for inter national Editors and Journalists,and it has been learnt that Late Mr.W.B.Deshmukh.I believe that it is indeed a great achievement for a person from remote-rural area on the globe.I salute TF and Mr.Lord Thomson for giving wonderfull oppurtunity to my father.
“Title The News”,competition was held in TF duringthe study course for international Editors and Journalists and it has been learnt that Late Mr.W.B.Deshmukh won it consistantly.I believe that it is indeed a great achievement by any standard for a person from remote-rural part of globe.I salute the TF and Mr.Thomson for giving such a wonderfull oppurtunity to my father to interact,study with them.
Late Mr.W.B.Deshmukh,an editor of a daily Shiv-Shakti,from Akola,was an extremely talented person since his childhood.He lost his father in his very early life.He had tremendous command over English,Hindi and Marathi languages,although he belonged to a remote village,with no sound family background.He was strong-staunch follower of Late Acharya Vinobaji Bhave,Indiraji Gandhi,Vasantraoji Naik and Dr.Gopalrao alias Abasaheb Khedkar.He lived his life by following their thaughts,views,policies and programmes.
Well done and thanks to my friend Dr Anil. Feels proud that someone from my motherland has shown such capabilities.