Manohar Narhar alias Annaji Mendjoge, Founding President of Shikshak Sahakari Bank (SSB), breathed his last on Friday. He was 88. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister; Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, and many other dignitaries visited Mendjoge’s house and paid tributes to the departed soul. Mendjoge is survived by three daughters, a son, and a big family to mourn his loss.

The funeral procession will start at 9.30 am on Saturday from his residence along Santi Road, near Itwari High School. The last rites will be performed at Gangabai ghat. Fadnavis and Gadkari expressed shock and grief over the demise of Mendjoge. They recalled his monumental contribution to the co-operative sector and to the welfare of teachers.

Born on April 10, 1931 in Hingna, he studied at New English High School. In 1951, he joined teaching as a profession. He was a Swayamsevak of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, and worked for Bharatiya Jan Sangh. An institution builder, he founded several organisations. He founded Shikshak Parishad. In 1975, he founded SSB and soon developed it into a major co-operative institution. He was Director of Vidarbha Urban Banks Association, and Maharashtra Urban Banks Federation. His knowledge of the finer points relating to banking sector was so deep that many bankers and even the officials of Reserve Bank of India used to consult him. He was Chairman of the board of administrators appointed on Nagpur Co-operative Bank.

Many organisations including Vidarbha Gaurav Pratishthan, Yuvak Mudra Varshik va Yuvak Mudra Nyay, Global Economic Council, Maharashtra Co-operative Federation, Sahakar Bharati, etc honoured Mendjoge for his immense contribution to the growth of co-operative sector. He was associated with several organisations including Apex Bank, Nagpur Nagarik Bank, Vidarbha Premier Co-operative Society, Gorakshan Sabha, Jain Kalar Samaj, Dhananjayrao Gadgil Institute of Co-operative Management, Vaikunthbhai Mehta National Institute of Co-operative Management etc.

Sahakar Bharati expressed deep grief over demise of Mendjoge. “In his demise, we have lost a veteran whose contribution to the growth of co-operative sector cannot be forgotten. He kindled the co-operative sector’s growth in Vidarbha,” stated a release issued by Ashish Chaubisa, President of Vidarbha unit of Sahakari Bharati; Vivek Jugade, General Secretary; Nilkanthrao Devangan and others.

Pradip Maitra, President of Patrakar Gruhnirman Sahakari Sanstha; Shirish Borkar, President of Nagpur Union of Working Journalists; and Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust (TPBT) also expressed grief over Mendjoge’s demise. “We have lost a friend, who had played a major role in journalists getting home loans at the time of Patrakar Sahniwas construction. For, then, no bank or financial institution granted home loans to journalists,” stated Vishwas Indurkar, Trustee of TPBT in a press release.