Freedom figher Iswarbhai Chavda passes away

Ahmedabad, May 20 (UNI) Freedom fighter and co-operative leader involved in the development of Amul dairy, Iswarbhai Khodabhai Chavda, died here today.

He was 93.

Born on August 2, 1913, Chavda hailed from Anand and was elected to Lower House of the Lok Sabha since 1980 to 1999. He was the member of Bombay Legislative Assembly between 1952 and 1957.

A staunch supporter of prohibition and favour promotion of Khadi and Village Industries, he took special interest in rural development and village panchayat activities.

A widely-travelled leader, Mr Chavda was associated with Tobacco trade, various cooperative banks, Kaira district co-operative milk producers union limited, Amul dairy and Anand since 1952.

He was instrumental in bringing about economical, social, political and educational revolution among the backward classes of Kheda district. Chavda started Vidyarthi Chhatralaya at Satyagrah Chhavani at Borsad town in 1947. He was associated with 15 post basic high schools in Anand and Kaira districts, from where scores of youths passed out and had settled well.

He is also the grandfather of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) President Bharat Solanki, who now represents Anand Lok Sabha seat. Former Chief Minister of Gujarat and Union Minister Madavsinh Solanki was the son-in-law of Chavda.

The GPCC Chief, who was participating in the Party's Parivartan rally, that began from Ambaji in Banaskantha district in North Gujarat, rushed back to Anand on learning about his grandfather's death.

Chavda's last rites will be performed in Anand at 0930 hrs tomorrow, family members told UNI