Pundalik Tukaram Kodagire was born on 4 June 1916, in Mukhed taluka, Nanded district, to Nagabai and Tukaram Kotgire. After completing his primary education in Mukhed, he pursued Ayurveda medicine and received his degree from the Naturopathy Center in Yavatmal. Kodagire's family faced financial hardships during his childhood, and his mother had to earn a living by carrying water on her head to wealthy households. Feeding her six children was a challenge, and she survived on bran bread. However, their situation gradually improved as everyone in the family worked hard to earn a living.
At the time of India's independence, the Hyderabad state remained under the control of the Nizam, and his soldiers, the Razakars, led by Qasim Razvi, began attacking the people of Marathwada and subjecting them to torture. It was crucial to resist this oppression, and the winds of the liberation struggle were blowing across the region. Pundalik, who was away studying at the time, heard about the situation and grew angry with the Nizam. He decided to join the fight and became involved in the Hyderabad Satyagraha movement. He supported the Hyderabad State Congress and the Hindu Mahasabha, and in the autumn of 1948, he was caught in a police trap set by Nizam's forces. He was arrested, fined Rs. 100, and held in remand for 18 days before being sentenced to six months and one week of hard labour as a freedom fighter. After India gained independence, Pundalik devoted his life to educational work for society.
Pundalik passed away on 8 April 1996.
Source: Kavita Damodarrao Joshi, DRP, CCRT