Mumbai, Oct 8 (PTI) Social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday paid tribute to versatile actor and philanthropist Nana Patekar, saying there could never be another person like him as he went beyond film roles and demonstrated through his actions how to address critical issues such as water conservation.
Patekar (75) passed away at his Goa residence in the early hours of Thursday.
“There can never be another person like Nana Patekar. He did immense work, and the lives of such people serve as a beacon of light and support to society and the country. He did great work across various fields and raised the water issue through his actions. He demonstrated ‘stop water, percolate water’ through his actions,” Hazare noted.
He was speaking to reporters at his native village in Ahilyanagar district in western Maharashtra.
The anti-corruption crusader maintained Patekar’s work on water conservation, including river deepening and widening, showed how every drop of rainwater could be stopped and allowed to percolate into the ground to raise the water table.
“Patekar showed through his actions how the water problem can be addressed by stopping every drop of rainwater and allowing it to percolate into the ground,” said the octogenarian, who transformed his drought-prone native village of Ralegan Siddhi into a self-sustaining model village through watershed management and social reforms.
He praised Patekar’s NGO, Naam Foundation, saying it had done significant social work and provided direction to society.
Hazare recalled the veteran actor had presented him with an award, saying he considered it particularly significant as it was given by one social worker to another.
“I have received many awards, including the Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan, but an award given by one social worker to another social worker is extremely important to me,” he emphahsised.
Hazare offered his condolences to Patekar’s family and prayed for eternal peace for the actor’s soul. PTI ND RSY
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