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Vitthaldas Thakkar into Thakkar Bappa. It was the impact of
their prolonged hard work. In the same way, when Lakshmanrao
Inamdar transformed into Vakil Saheb, it was because of his
Tapasya, untiring hard work and complete harmony with his
work.

     History is witness to the fact that the life of this ‘Tapasvi’
has passed through numerous ups and downs. The influence
of family situation and social environment too is perceptible. It
was no easy task to measure the prevalent events in the scale of
truth, and then transform the high ideals emerging from these
events in order to brighten them further. When we look at the
childhood of Vakil Saheb, we find just this fact.

     Vakil Saheb was born at a village called Khatao in Satara
district of Maharashtra. His father was Madhavrao. His surname
was Khataokar, which later changed into Inamdar. There is a
history behind this too. There was a tradition in Maharashtra
of bestowing some important village or land as an Inam (prize)
to an individual or family that did distinguished service to the
Swaraj. A forefather of Vakil Saheb, Krishnarao Khataokar too
had served the Swaraj in such manner, so Chhatrapati Shahuji
Maharaj, the son of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and grandson
of Shivaji Maharaj, bestowed on him the title of ‘Sardar’ and
granted him some land. A part of the revenue earned from the
prized land was given to the awardee. With the passage of time,
the Inam or prize vanished, but the title of Inamdar remained.

                   If you don’t deviate from your path,
                   You can attain everything, O dear.
                   You too can attain zenith,
                   And can touch the stars in the sky.
     Vakil Saheb was born on 21 September, 1917. According to
the Indian Lunar calendar, it was the day of Bhadrapad Sudi
Panchami or Rishi Panchami. Vakil Saheb had seven brothers
and two sisters, and among the brothers, Vakil Saheb was the
third.
     The family of Vakil Saheb’s father was quite large. Of six
sisters of his father Madhavrao, four had become widow and
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