Vilas Haribhau Rupawate (born 16 March 1967) is a noted Indian social activist, humanitarian, and political leader from Maharashtra, known for his lifelong dedication to the upliftment of the underprivileged and marginalized communities. He has been actively working since 1995 for widows, destitute women, Devadasis, domestic workers, the disabled, transgender people, and other oppressed groups across Maharashtra.[citation needed]
Vilas Rupawate was born on 16 March 1967 at Wadia Hospital, Parel, Mumbai.[citation needed] His ancestral village is Dubera, Taluka Sinnar, District Nashik. He spent his early life in Naigaon Bhoiwada, Dadar, Mumbai.[citation needed] His father was Haribhau Yashwant Rupawate and his mother Mainabai Haribhau Rupawate. He has four siblings — Sindhutai, Milind, Sanjay, and Arun.[citation needed] He is married to Mrs. Sangeeta Vilas Rupawate, and they have two sons, Pratish and Atish, both married — to Mrs. Deepti Pratish Rupawate and Mrs. Swarali Atish Rupawate, respectively.[citation needed]
Personal interests
Rupawate is fond of all sports and is deeply committed to social service. He follows a non-religious (secular) philosophy and belongs to the O+ blood group. Professionally, he is a businessman.[citation needed]
Social work and activism
Since 1995, Vilas Rupawate has dedicated his life to serving the underprivileged.[citation needed] He provides daily meals to poor and senior citizens at his Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar office in Ghatkopar, and runs a low-cost clinic through a trust for the needy.[citation needed] In 2008, he organized massive donation drives, distributing food and essentials to over 3,000 Devadasis, widows, domestic workers, and transgender people during Diwali.[citation needed] At the age of 14 (in 1982), he participated in the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University renaming protest at Azad Maidan, alongside renowned activists and journalists.[citation needed] He later worked with the Dalit Panthers under Ramdas Athawale until the age of 24.[citation needed]
Humanitarian efforts
Rupawate has extended help across all religions — donating to Buddhist viharas, Hindu temples, mosques, gurudwaras, and churches, and supporting religious and cultural events such as Ganesh festivals and Dahi Handi.[citation needed] He has provided financial aid to patients suffering from cancer, kidney, and heart diseases, as well as accident victims. Thousands of youth have received employment and business guidance through his initiatives.[citation needed] He organized blood donation camps, free medical camps, eye check-up drives, wheelchair distributions, and HIV awareness programs, and offered financial support to widows, the blind, the disabled, and Devadasi women for self-employment.[citation needed] During the Kargil War, he contributed to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the families of martyred soldiers.[citation needed] He exposed a blood bank corruption case, saving countless lives, and has gone on hunger strikes several times for public welfare — including a four-day fast at Azad Maidan in 2010.[citation needed]
Major movements and protests
Rupawate led numerous large-scale movements to secure justice for marginalized women and communities.[citation needed] In 2010, under his leadership, thousands of women — Devadasis, widows, sex workers, domestic workers, and transgender persons — protested across Maharashtra. The movement became historic when women publicly protested topless, declaring "India is still not independent for women." The protest gained international attention from BBC News and other global media.[citation needed] On 22 June 2010, statewide agitations were held including rail rokos, raasta rokos, and government office sieges. Over 2,000 women and Rupawate himself faced police cases and arrests.[citation needed] He also organized massive rallies at Shivaji Park (Dadar), Azad Maidan, and Somaiya Ground, attended by political leaders including Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.[citation needed]
Vilas Rupawate has successfully influenced many government welfare schemes for women and the poor, including increased pensions and aid for widows and Devadasis.[citation needed] His pending demands to the Maharashtra Government include:[citation needed]
Formation of a separate welfare corporation for Devadasis and widows
Fresh statewide survey of Devadasis
₹5,000 monthly pension for widows and elderly domestic workers
Legal recognition for sex workers and social security benefits
Housing for transgender people under government schemes
Other achievements
Protested against Google in 2015 for not featuring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary, resulting in the addition of Ambedkar's doodle[citation needed]
Corrected Ambedkar's birth date in Maharashtra's 6th-grade textbooks through protests[citation needed]
Fought for the release of poet Shahir Sachin Mali through a hunger strike[citation needed]
Ensured installation of a 13-foot Ambedkar statue at Ghatkopar's Ramabai Nagar after a protest[citation needed]
Fielded transgender, widowed, and Devadasi women candidates in Lok Sabha elections to give them political voice[citation needed]
Advocated for train access for women during COVID-19 lockdown and distributed ration, Ayurvedic medicines, and digital payments to help poor families[citation needed]
Despite facing numerous police cases, political opposition, and personal hardship — including a major accident in 2009 that left him severely injured — Vilas Rupawate continues his struggle for the dignity and rights of the marginalized.[citation needed]
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