NDTV
MUMBAI, INDIA, October 25, 2003: Well-known social reformer and winner of the 1997 Magsasay award winner for community leadership, Sri Pandurang Shastri Athavale, died at around 2 pm in Mumbai today. Athavale was 83 years old. He died of a massive cardiac arrest at his residence. He had also been awarded the Padma Vibhushan. Athavale was founder of the Swadhyaya movement and had strived for reformation of the fishermen community in Maharashtra and Gujarat. He had a huge following, mostly in Maharashtra and Gujarat, with branches around the world. His is one of the most successful social movements in the world.