By Vinaya Deshpande Pandit

Copyright thehindu

Renowned Gandhian and freedom fighter G.G. Parikh, who was imprisoned during the Quit India Movement and during Emergency, and who spent his entire life in empowering the labour movement and spreading socialist democratic values at the grassroot by involving youth, is no more. The founder of Yusuf Meherally Centre, he passed away in the early hours on Thursday (October 2, 2025) due to old age. He was 101 years old.

Friends and associates remembered him as a freedom fighter, an upholder of secularism, a builder of labour movements and consumer co-operatives, and a man who worked tirelessly to involve the youth in spreading the values of democratic socialism. He founded Yusuf Meherally Centre with this purpose in Maharashtra’s Raigad district. Today, the centre operates in over 12 States, with youth working for the empowerment of local communities my empowering them through the development of local sustainable industries. G.G. Parikh was also insistent on being a part of zero-carbon movement in the recent years.

“As per Mahatma Gandhi’s ideology, he worked to empower local communities by starting gramodyog or rural enterprises. In 1962, he started his work at Taara village in Panvel. Today, people made organic soaps, mud utensils, bakery products. They have also learnt carpentry, vermicomposting, opened nurseries. Now, there are three schools, one hostel which accommodates 100-125 girls, a hospital in the village,” said Madhu Mohite, secretary of Yusuf Meherally Centre.

“He didn’t wait for the government to do everything. Instead, he took the lead in bringing people together, organising them for the formation of consumer co-operatives. So may it be Apna Bazaar or Gaondevi consumer society or Nan Chowk consumer society, he took the lead. He also organised women through samajwadi mahila sabha, organised the labourers, helped build village industries,” he said.

In 2005, G.G. Parikh undertook a Bharat Yatra for communal harmony and to involve the youth in the development of their own regions. With this, the work of Yusuf Meherally Centre spread to over 12 States where the youth now take lead for building village industries for economic empowerment at local level.

After seeing the impact of climate change on the environment in the recent years, he was insistent that everyone should be involved in zero-carbon movement, and actively spread awareness about it.

Born in Rajkot on December 30, 1924, he participated in the Quit Indian Movement in 1942, at a young age. At that time, he was imprisoned for 10 months by the British government. It is here that he came in touch with Acharya Narendra Dev who nurtured him. The interactions with him led to a strong ideological foundation.

In 1948, he married Mangala Parikh, a fellow Gandhian and a student of Shantiniketan. In the same year, Parikh started working for Samajwadi Paksha, and led the labour union at Hind Mazdoor Sabha. He also ran a dispensary at Chikhalwadi in Grant Road in Mumbai.

He was involved in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement in the 1960s. During Emergency, he was imprisoned for his participation in protests. It was in 1962 that he started working in Panvel taluka in Raigad district, neighbouring Mumbai. He started health services there with a weekly Sunday clinic. Over the years, the work expanded to Ratnagiri district as well.

“We have lost a man who was instrumental in shaping karyakartas, who gave constructive guidance, who worked for imbibing socialistic values without waiting for the government to act, who built consumer societies. Till his last breath, we worked for a democratic, secular society. We pay our respects to him,” said Mr. Mohite.

As per his last wish, his mortal remains were donated to J.J. Hospital, one of the biggest public hospitals in Mumbai. He is survived by his daughter, a grandson and a sister-in-law.