Pune: How A 79-Year-Old From Pimple Saudagar Is Saving Abandoned Idols From the Streets ? Click To Know More.
Pune: How A 79-Year-Old From Pimple Saudagar Is Saving Abandoned Idols From the Streets ? Click To Know More.
In a quiet, noble campaign that has touched the hearts of his community, 79-year-old Dattatray Satturwar, a resident of Sai Vastu Society in Pimple Saudagar, has taken upon himself the task of protecting the sacred from the profane.
Affectionately known as “Satturwar Kaka,” the former Philips company employee has launched a one-man initiative to rescue broken idols and discarded religious photographs from the streets and garbage dumps, ensuring they are treated with respect.
The inspiration for his mission struck during his morning walks. His route from Kokane Chowk to Swarajya Hotel was often littered with shattered idols and faded photos of deities lying in the dirt. “It felt very wrong to see them like that,” Satturwar recounted.
He decided to act. Armed with a jute bag, he began collecting every discarded idol and photo he could find on his path. He then carefully transported them to the nearby Mahadev Mandir for proper immersion or safekeeping.
“On the first day, I made four rounds to collect them all, from Kokanee Chowk to Swarajya Hotel in Pimple Saudagar” he said. Realizing the scale of the problem, he continued his efforts the next day, cleaning up the area around as well.
He has since informed municipal corporation officials about his efforts, handing over the responsibility for further action to them. His work has also been recognized within his housing society, where he was honored for his selfless service.
Community Hails Him as an “Unsung Hero”
The initiative has not gone unnoticed by his neighbors. Milind Patil, Chairman of Sai Vastu Society, formally hailed Satturwar Kaka as the “Unsung Hero of our society.”
In a note to residents, Patil wrote, “I would like to introduce you to an ordinary person from our society who can truly be called our ‘unsung hero’. Our Satturwar Kaka is an extraordinary personality in the Pimple Saudagar area, selflessly working to collect photos and idols of all gods and goddesses from the roadside and garbage, saving them from desecration.”
Patil added that Satturwar Kaka then takes the collected items to a nearby temple for immersion or hands them over to the municipal corporation, ensuring they are disposed of respectfully.
“He has been involved in social work for a very long time,” Patil noted, saluting the senior citizen’s efforts.
Through his simple yet profound act of care, Dattatray Satturwar has become a living example of how individual responsibility can preserve both civic cleanliness and cultural reverence, inspiring an entire community to be more mindful.
