An interview with Dr. Tanaji Jadhav of Tiger Group. Tanaji has won many honours, including Dada Saheb Phalke award and Nelson Mandela Peace Award, for work providing support to many women seeking refuge from domestic violence.
“My name is Dr. Tanaji Jadhav from Maharashtra state in India. I belong to a family of wrestlers.
I have an extremely humble background. my parents used to work as labourers in early days. Now, we run a charity called “Tiger group”. We are a self run organisation with a network of good Samaritans.
During my school days. I used to help students. and even teachers, if they had any issue like study material, mismanagement in school or even resolving fights. I would also try to stop any harassment of girls on the campus. In my college days, I’ve encouraged my college mates to avoid any involvement in gangs or substance abuse and helped some to get involved in wrestling training.
Tiger Group itself started with a horrific experience in our lives. One of my cousins met with a road accident. He was badly injured and pronounced dead due to the time taken to the hospital to have necessary care. That had broken my whole family like hell. We were extremely depressed for years with a precious life taken too soon. Just for not getting the right help at the right time. Later on, one of my friends’ brother-in-law met with an accident. As soon as we knew we rushed to get the required help to him in time and managed to save his life. My friend’s family was grateful for their brother-in-law’s new life. It stuck in our hearts, that if my cousin would have had the right help with urgency he might have been saved. So, the urge of having some kind of organisation to help people in desperate need started. My older brother Jalindar took the initiative to start an organisation in 2006 with the help of some friends. He is my older brother, my wrestling trainer and guiding angel. Much more, he has been the driving force, and the rock by my side. It started on from my taluka and gradually expanded its wings from state level to national. Currently, we also help people from different countries like Germany, UK and Dubai. In COVID times we had a huge number of calls from abodes of concern for older family members stuck alone in homes without any help or care. Our organisation members visited their home and gave them the necessary help.
she found a woman from an apartment pleading and begging for rescue
We also help women to come out of any violent domestic abuse relationship. For instance, we had a phone call from a woman from Mumbai, Borivali. She was walking down the street and found a chit thrown towards her. Looking around she found a woman from an apartment pleading and begging her to rescue her. She immediately called on our helpline number. Our members immediately rushed to the scene with the help of police. We suggest our members not take the law into their own hands. The husband of the captivated woman was extremely violent with the members and police also. Still, we managed to give that woman the safety and freedom she deserved.
We have zero tolerance for violence or disrespectful attitudes against women. All our members have to follow all the ethics and ethos of our organisation. If we find any of our organisation members, not following the code of conduct or taking any sort of advantage using our organisation, we immediately kick them out.
There are times when I do get frustrated. When women fall to the pressure and back off against the violation and assault against them. It’s hard to see them get manipulated. It’s agonising. We fight so hard for these women, putting lives on the line. Behind the scenes they often believe they have to compromise and turn away from justice. My coping mechanisms with all the stress and strain is wrestling and meditating to Gods like Ganpati and Shiva. That uplifts me to make a new start.
My parents and relatives are concerned and often get angry at me. For keeping too busy, engrossed with the organisation work. I mostly come home around 5 in the morning and head straight to my gym and wrestle. They also get paranoid If there are threats from mafia or any political pressure. But we consider our service towards the community as our duty, helping in housing, education and health. We work for youngsters to get good jobs and education. Especially girls’ education. We also run old age homes. Whenever I travel by road from one place to another, a huge motorcade of followers joins me. I’m content with our service so far but committed to continue forward.”
Tiger are seeking to collaborate with any organisation or individual in the UK, and plan to open a branch in the UK. They can already offer support to those living in the UK.
For more information use the contact details below…
Head office: Sumant Nagar,Karmala,
Solapur,Maharastra 413203.
Email:tanajijadhav037@gmail.com
Mobile: 00917387229999
