Maharashtra Pays Tribute To Green Revolution Pioneer Vasantrao Naik

District officials commemorate former Chief Minister’s birth anniversary at Thane Collectorate

In a heartfelt ceremony marking the birth anniversary of former Maharashtra Chief Minister Vasantrao Naik, often hailed as the architect of the state’s Green Revolution, district officials in Thane paid floral tributes at the Collectorate office on Monday.

Additional District Collector Harishchandra Patil, along with Tehsildar Revan Lembhe and other government staff, garlanded a portrait of the late leader, remembering his transformative role in Maharashtra’s agricultural growth. Naik, who served as the longest-tenured Chief Minister of the state, is widely credited for introducing forward-looking agricultural policies that shaped rural development in the 1960s and 70s.

His birth anniversary, observed every year on July 1, is officially celebrated across Maharashtra as Krishi Din (Agriculture Day), acknowledging his contributions to the farming community.

District Collector Ashok Shingare extended his greetings to citizens and officials on the occasion, urging renewed commitment to the values of sustainability and rural upliftment that Naik championed throughout his political life.

The ceremony was marked by simplicity and reverence, reflecting the enduring legacy of a leader whose reforms still impact millions of farmers in the state. Educational institutions and local bodies also observed the day with tree plantation drives and awareness campaigns on modern farming practices.