Page:Sharad Joshi - Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage.pdf/119

 life members and 42 annual subscribers was published. That number was of course very small but then the farmers generally lacked reading culture. Each issue carried news of various activities of SS ranging from volleyball tournament it organized for farmers to public meetings. A detailed development plan for Bhamner Valley was also published. Joshi himself wrote a detailed article in each issue educating farmers in simple language which was the main attraction of Warkari. It also carried advertisements from local traders. Joshi ensured from the beginning that small local traders were supportive of SS. About half a page was reserved for the readers’ comments. Joshi used every possible way of bringing farmers together. Getting the issue printed and distributed was quite an ordeal given that Babulal’s press was a very primitive one. If there was a breakdown of the printing machine, all composed pages had to be carried to another Press in Pune. As SS work expanded Joshi began to find it difficult to give attention to each weekly issue. Issues of Warkari began to come out irregularly and eventually after fifteen months Warkari stopped. 17 January 1981 was the date of the last issue. In later years Sanghatana published two periodicals; Shetkari Sanghtak and Athavadyacha Gyanaba; the former being for the longest period. But Joshi personally was not involved in editing and publishing them. Warkari was the first and last publication in which Joshi was directly involved. During its short lifespan Warkari played an important role. It was the only means of communication Joshi had with the farmers. It was the first introduction of the SS and Joshi to the farmers of Pune and other nearby districts where some copies did reach. For anyone wanting to study the evolution of SS, back issues of Warkari is an invaluable source.

106

Q

Sharad Joshi : Leading Farmers to the Centre Stage