Bhausaheb Hiray was such a towering personality in every field, social, political, educational and co-operative that his life-sketch cannot be confined to words. Not words, but his deeds speak out the momentous work he has done. Still it is an humble attempt to write about him.

India, and especially Maharashtra, has been rightly called 'the land of saints, sages, seers, patriots and great social reformers'. Late Bhausaheb Hiray is one of them who always believed in social service and hence named as "a Karmaveer".

Childhood ....
Born, on March 1, 1905, in an utterly poor family of peasants of Nimgaon, Bhausaheb, originally Bhaurao, seemed to be promising right from his childhood. Educated upto Std.IV at Nimgaon under the austere discipline of his teachers Shri.Chandratre and Waghmare who found that Bhausaheb was not an ordinary child and therefore suggested that he should continue his further education. However, it was not available at Nimgaon. Though poverty, inconvenience and lack of facilities have their roles in life, destiny always comes forward in the favour. Rakhamabai, Bhausaheb's mother expressed her anxiety about his further education to her brother at Dabhadi who readily extended his hand of help to the sister and managed for Bhausaheb's education. Bhausaheb passed the vernacular final examination (Std.VII) with flying colours. Now, Bhausaheb longed for high school education. He expressed his desire to his mother who pleaded the same to his father. Those were the days when Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, Karmaveer Annasaheb Shinde and Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad of Baroda had started schools, boarding schools for the masses tribals and for women. One such boarding school was at Vani started by Raosaheb Thorat who agreed to admit Bhausaheb to a high school at a rather distant place. With instinct to learn and the inborn talent, Bhausaheb found his place as a clever student. In him were the traits of leadership and a spirit of fighting against oppression on the poor, illiterate people who were suppressed under. After passing the matriculation exam with good marks, Bhausaheb was awarded a scholarship by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad. With perseverance and rigorous efforts he studied hard to achieve his goal. Self-help and longing for knowledge led Bhausaheb with distinction at Inter class in the subject Politics. In 1930 he passed B.A. Politics with outstanding merit.

Legal Education and Profession ....
Now, Bhausaheb wished to pursue legal education. But poverty and financial misery was an obstacle in the way. Still the parents resolved to overcome the plight and send he completed with Ist class. Bhausaheb was the first Lawyer from Maratha and farmer cummunity. He was the pride not only of the village but of the whole Malegaon Taluka. Then Bhausaheb embarked his practice at Malegaon with the determination to avail justice to the poor masses.

Participation in Politics ....
In 1934 he was unanimously elected the President of Taluka Local Board. By now his concern for the poor, his devotion to the service of the poor had reached Shri.Shankarrao Deo, President of Maharashtra Congress who liked Bhausaheb join the party. This was the right field for him to serve people. Party high commands were pleased with Bhausaheb's way of work and day by day they assigned more and more responsibility on him. Now Bhausaheb was the candidate of Congress party for Law Board from Malegaon. He won the election with a bumper margin as against Dr.Bhutekar of the opposition.
Further Bhausaheb was offered the task of Secretary for Home and Revenue Department, where, only of 32, he proved to be an efficient administrator.
In the year 1937, he established Nimgaon Education Board which started 22 schools. Though busy with the would provide his concern and care for the education of the massess.

Social Work ....
The Second World War broke out in the year 1939 and India was reluctantly dragged into war. The Congress Party expressed its protest by resigning the membership of Ministry. Bhausaheb, too, resigned. He was not idle then. He started movements against the British Government and the War. He realized that rural people and farmers must be uplifted which was only possible by extending a hand of co-operation. And hence a co- operative movement was undertaken by virtue of which banks, credit societies, development boards were established.

Bhausaheb Hiray, being the follower of Gandhiji, Vinobaji and Jawaharlal Nehru, believed and participated in "Satyagraha" for which he was sent to jail in December, 1940. He was sentenced 1 year rigorous imprisonment. His movements still continued even after his release. In 1942 he founded Maharashtra Literacy Campaign at Malegaon. He opened the first school with boarding facility at Saundane for the tribals.

Bhausaheb Hiray joined the "Quit India" movement in 1942. Gandhiji along with so many activists like Bhausaheb Hiray were sent to jail. He was released in November, 1943. Participation in freedom struggle and that the native people should come up was the only dream of Bhausaheb Hiray and that was only possible through education. One such school "Saraswati Mandir" was established at Satana especially for the tribals and the Harijans, run by Dang Education Board. Bhausaheb Hiray was the President of this Board.

While working in different capacities, Bhausaheb Hiray happened to visit the whole of Nashik District when he came across the misery and plight of the masses. He earnestly felt some commitment to them. Through education they would be uplifted was Bhausaheb's conviction and therefore he emphasized on providing education to them through schools, boarding schools throughout the district.

His motto was ..

Welfare of the masses Happiness of the masses.

Hindu-Muslim Communal Harmony .... Another problem Bhausaheb Hiray faced was the unity of Hindu and Muslims. Muslims, though doted on by the British, were opposed to Congress, for they had no representation in the Law Board. Bhausaheb Hiray reconciled the situation and brought about Hindu-Muslim comity.

The year 1944 faced the disaster of flood which almost drowned the whole of Malegaon Taluka. People were turned out to be homeless. There was a great loss of lives and wealth. Bhausaheb Hiray raised a huge relief fund for the flood-affected people.

Member of Parliamentary Board and Constituent Assembly ....
Now, Bhausaheb Hiray was given an upper seat in Congress Party. Along with membership of Maharashtra Parliamentary Board, he was nominated as a member of All India Congress Party.

In 1945 Bhausaheb Hiray had the honour of being a member of the Constituent Assembly. Bhausaheb Hiray is often remembered by whole Maharahstra for his devotion and sacrifice. He was offered in the first Ministry to be led by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. However, he humbly suggested that Kakasaheb Gadgil, being senior, be offered the office of the Ministry.

Contribution to Co-operative field .... Bhausaheb Hiray had a deep concern for the peasants and farmers who could only come up if provided with financial assistance. So at Taluka level he established Marketing Federation and there was such a federation at District Level. In 1956 he established Nashik District Central Co-operative Bank. Another milestone was the Girna Sugar Factory at Dabhadi in 1956.

Architect of Samyukta Maharashtra (Composite Maharashtra)....
At Belgium Literary Conference, it was demanded and resolved that the re-organization of States be based on linguistic ground, i.e. Maharashtra for Marathi speaking people. Along with litterateurs and politicians like Bhausaheb Hiray strongly supported this demand. However, it was opposed by Morarji Desai, Sardar Patel, S.K.Patil and the like. Bhausaheb Hiray was at the forefront of this demand of composite Maharashtra with Mumbai. The veteran writer and journalist Acharya Atre had praised and admired Bhausaheb Hiray then. The report of States Re-organization Commission published on October 10, 1955 declared that the demand of Samyukta Maharahstra with Mumbai could not be ratified. This led Maharashtra to rages. And as a result, on October 21, whole of Maharashtra went on protest, strike and demonstrations. Situation was tense, Morarji Desai ordered to open fire which tolled 15 innocent lives. Nehru was willing to create 3 states of Maharshtra, Karnataka and Gujrat while Mumbai would be a Union Territory. Bhausaheb Hiray resigned at this juncture which made him so popular that in the elections of 1957, while the party suffered a great loss, Bhausaheb alone won from Congress. And in the last with herculean efforts of Bhausaheb Hiray and others, the dream of Maharashtra with Mumbai came to truth.

Tenancy Act and Money Lender's Regulation Act ...
Those were the days when tenants cultivated the land and the yield of crop was handed over to the land-lord. Again the money-lenders exploited the poor. They extracted from the ignorant and illiterate villagers and farmer. Bhausaheb Hiray was deeply concerned over this situation. Therefore, he brought out The Tenancy Act and Money Lenders Act in 1957. The Tiller's Day brought about a dawn in the lives of the tenants who at once became the owners of the land they were cultivating.

Efforts for the Koyna Project ....
Helwak Water Conference presided over by Bhausaheb Hiray was held in view of hydro-electricity to enhance industrial development of Maharashtra. Bhausaheb Hiray represented the utility of the project to Congress Committee and Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Bhausaheb Hiray, assisted by Dr.Dhananjayrao Gadgil, Shri.Deogirikar and others, was appointed the President of Koyna Project Demand Council. The Planning Commission was convinced of the utility of the project which was soon approved and the project came into reality.

Participation in Bhudan Movement ....
Acharya Vinoba Bhave led the Bhudan Movement. He went in all parts of India on foot. Lakhs of acres of land were donated by people. Farmers and poor people were deeply influenced by Vinoba's preaching. He was warmly welcomed by Bhausaheb Hiray alongwith lakhs of people at Dhule. Bhausaheb Hiray, too, moved through our the taluka and so many landless farmers were benefited.

Relief Work for the famine-stricken ....
Maharashtra was famine - stricken during 1952 - 53. Bhausaheb Hiray paid visits to the drought-affected areas with Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who was deeply impressed by the farmer’s work in Maharashtra and Zadi Dam. Nehru expressed his view that lasting scheme and projects would enable the state to overcome such calamities like drought.

Contribution to Educational Field ....
Bhausaheb Hiray had been campaigning for literacy among people since 1934. He had started educational institutions and about 1500 schools at Nimgaon, Malegaon, Satana and other places. All these were amalgamated into one institution named Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir in the year 1952.

Now Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir started secondary schools at Malegaon, Nimgaon, Manur, Yeola, Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Umrane, Dabhadi and Surgana. In 1959 Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad College was opened at Malegaon, the foundation stone was laid down by Dr.Rajendra Prasad, President of India. Primary Training College was also started at Malegaon in 1951. Realising the need of agricultural education to farmers' children, agricultural school was started in 1955. Renukabai Bhausaheb Hiray Kanya Vidyalaya was started at Malegaon especially for girls. In 1945 Adivasi Seva Samiti was founded for the education of the tribals and the Adivasis.

Remand Home for Children ....
Juvenile delinquency, delinquents and their rehabilitation were the social problems realized by Bhausaheb Hiray. To bring light into their lives by way of education and rehabilitation, Bhausaheb Hiray established Remand Home for such children at Malegaon.

Relations with dignitaries and their visits to Vidyamandir ....
Bhausaheb Hiray had cordial and influential relations with prominent people who always appreciated his work. In 1953 Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had paid a visit to Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir and was impressed by the momentous work done by Bhausaheb Hiray in the field of education. In November, 1954, Dr.Rajendra Prasad laid down the foundation stone of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad College at Malegaon. In 1960 Shri.Chintamanrao Deshmukh, Chairman, University Grants Commission had visited Maharaja Sayajirao Gaikwad College. While felicitating Shri.Chintamanrao Deshmukh, Principal Shinde, had said that with Shri.Chintamanrao Deshmukh's visit, all the worries would disappear. And Deshmukh had replied, "If you have diamonds (the Hirays) with you, you do not need any Chintamani" Representative for the Anti-weapon Conference in Japan ....

Bhausaheb Hiray's work in every field, social, political, educational, etc., was appreciated by the Central Government which assigned a special responsibility on him. He was asked to attend and represent in the Anti-weapon Conference to be held in Japan in 1960. Bhausaheb Hiray ably and successfully performed the task.

Sad Demise, Irreparable loss ....
Bhausaheb Hiray, who dedicated all his life to the service of the masses, who had no second thought but of the farmers, education was the only dream of him, died on November 6, 1961. Maharashtra and especially Nashik District had lost its great son, a visionary, a social reformer and a great patriot. Shri.Yashwantrao Chavan, alongwith so many leaders and politicians were present for the Karmaveer's funeral.