Baroda's first mayor Nanalal Chokshi dead

Vadodara, Mar 7 (UNI) Noted freedom fighter and first Mayor of Baroda, Nanalal Chokshi died here today after a prolonged illness.

He was 92.

The Gandhian leader was admitted to a city nursing home last week with a stomach ailment and breathing problem. He passed away at 0700 hrs today.

A week ago, Vadodara had lost its second mayor and renowned social worker Dr Thakorebhai Patel, who died at the age of 94.

Born on May 18, 1915, Chokshi was imprisoned for 17 months for participating in Gandhiji's Satyagraha movement in 1943. Before he was made the first president of Baroda Nagarpalika (1961-1966) and first mayor of Baroda Municipality (1966-1968) after Gujarat was separated from Bombay, Chokshi was a member of the Bombay Assembly in 1959. He was also a member of the M S University syndicate for over 25 years.

Chokshi, who dedicated his life for the uplift of the poor and downtrodden by setting up a number of welfare trusts and educational institutions in Vadodara, played a key role in providing drinking water to the city residents from the Mahi river.

He was also the founder president of the Gujarat as well as the National Consumers' Cooperative Federations, and was instrumental in setting up the Baroda dairy and implementing domestic gas pipeline project in the city, the first of its kind in the country.

He is survived by wife and three daughters.

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