The cremation—held with full state honors, including a 21-gun police salute—concluded close to midnight on Thursday, October 8, attended by political dignitaries including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and close fraternity colleagues.
The Reason for the Midnight Funeral: Transit Delays from Goa
Speaking to reporters outside the Donje farmhouse after lighting the funeral pyre, Malhar explained that logistical hurdles and transit from Goa pushed the schedule into the late hours:
“We were in Goa, and his mortal remains were to be brought to the farmhouse in the village [Donje, Pune]. We expected to arrive earlier, but the journey and clearances took more time than anticipated. We proceeded with the last rites today because the tragedy occurred early this morning, so a significant amount of time had already passed. That is why we decided to go ahead with it tonight rather than postponing it to the next day.”
Following Patekar's collapse and subsequent declaration of death at 5:20 AM IST at Manipal Hospital in Dona Paula, Goa, the family had to complete medico-legal procedures, post-mortem formalities, and interstate transport logistics. By the time his mortal remains arrived at the Pune rural estate and community members paid their final respects, the evening had drawn to a close.
Malhar on Nana’s Immortality and Continuing NAAM’s Work
Addressing his father's broader legacy, Malhar emphasized that a figure of Nana's stature lives on through his humanitarian footprints:
“A person like Nana Saheb never truly leaves us. Through their work, they become immortal. Secondly, his mindset was always consistent; he would frequently repeat the line: 'Let's get together in the name of humanity and work for the betterment of the world'. Through our organisation [the NAAM Foundation], work was already underway in the water sector, and large-scale initiatives in education and health had begun in Kashmir as well. Thirdly, he assigned specific responsibilities to everyone before he left.”
Malhar confirmed that the family and the NAAM Foundation team will carry forward all ongoing water-conservation and drought-relief projects across rural Maharashtra without interruption.
Dignitaries and Final Farewell
The farmhouse saw an influx of leaders and villagers from surrounding Konkan and Pune districts paying homage:
State Leadership: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde laid wreaths and offered condolences directly to the family at the Donje residence.
Agrarian Delegations: Several farmer community representatives from Marathwada and Vidarbha arrived to pay tribute to the man who championed check dam construction and debt alleviation in their villages.
The mortal remains were consigned to the flames with a ceremonial salute, concluding an extraordinary chapter in Indian arts and public service.
