Nagpur: Datta Meghe, one of Vidarbha’s most enduring political figures and also the founder of one of the state’s largest private education networks, passed away on Sunday at the age of 89. Meghe’s younger son Sameer Meghe, a BJP MLA from Hingna, said, “My father never refused to help anyone who came to him.” He said that is how he wanted people to remember his father.Meghe’s passing marks the end of a public life that stretched across five decades, two houses of Parliament, the Maharashtra legislative council, and three national parties. Born on Nov 11, 1936, in Pawnar in Wardha district, Meghe graduated with a BA from Nagpur University in 1963 and worked briefly as a development officer with LIC before entering public life. He entered the Maharashtra legislative council in 1978 and served three consecutive terms there until 1991, a run of over 13 years. During that stretch, he served as minister of state for housing and civil supplies and technical education, and later as cabinet minister for energy and forests. He also served as leader of opposition in the legislative council.
