Former Chairman of Janata Sahakari Bank, Pune, Arvind Keshav Khaladkar passed away on August 28, 2026, at the age of 84 following a brief illness at Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital. Janata Sahakari Bank paid tribute to Khaladkar, recalling his significant contribution to the bank, particularly during difficult times. His contribution to the institution during challenging periods was described as unprecedented.
Khaladkar had also served as President of the Deccan Education Society and Trustee of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and Maharaja Shivchhatrapati Pratishthan. He was associated with Morya Hospital, Chinchwad, as a Trustee and was also a senior volunteer of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The bank expressed its condolences and remembered Khaladkar for his contribution to the cooperative movement and social institutions.
Excerpts:
Arvindrao Keshav Khaladkar was a man of discipline, knowledge and remarkable commitment who believed that every responsibility came with an obligation to deliver. He took voluntary retirement from the Income Tax Department in 1994 as a Deputy Commissioner and subsequently devoted himself to professional, educational, social and cooperative institutions.
Straightforward and forthright, Khaladkar could sometimes appear stern or impatient, particularly when confronted with delays or indiscipline. Yet those who knew him closely remember a warm, affectionate and deeply sensitive person who never deliberately hurt anyone. His spiritual grounding and simple approach to life shaped much of his personality.
He placed work and duty above personal recognition and had little interest in showmanship. Punctuality mattered greatly to him, as did completing every assignment properly. Whether working as a lawyer and tax consultant or taking responsibility for an institution, he pursued every task to its logical conclusion. He was known for his sharp eye for detail and unwillingness to compromise on matters he considered incorrect or impractical.
Born in Pargaon-Nemane near Saswad, Khaladkar had a deep devotion to Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj and Sopandev. The Dnyaneshwari and Dasbodh were familiar to him and he frequently drew upon Sant literature in his speeches and conversations. A voracious reader with command over Marathi, English and Sanskrit, he encouraged others to read and would often recommend books personally suited to their profession or interests.
His understanding of people was equally remarkable. He could often sense from someone’s expression whether they were facing a difficulty or experiencing happiness. Those close to him likened his personality to a jackfruit—somewhat thorny on the outside, but warm and sweet within.
After retirement from the Income Tax Department, Khaladkar became associated with the Swadeshi Jagran Manch and later held important responsibilities in institutions including the Deccan Education Society, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and Morya Hospital, Chinchwad.
His most enduring contribution, however, came in cooperative banking. He joined the Board of Pune Janata Sahakari Bank in 1996 and began learning banking from experienced professionals. He would candidly say, “I understand Income Tax, but I do not know banking,” reflecting his willingness to acknowledge what he did not know and learn from others.
He became a Director in 1997 and Chairman in 2001. His leadership coincided with one of the most difficult periods in the bank’s history. Between 1997 and 2011, the institution faced serious challenges, but Khaladkar and his colleagues took difficult decisions and implemented them decisively.
The transformation was striking. From a business volume of around ?2,800 crore in March 2002, Janata Sahakari Bank crossed ?10,000 crore by March 2014 and attained Multi-State Cooperative Bank status. The turnaround earned appreciation from the Reserve Bank of India and became an important chapter in the bank’s history.
Khaladkar always attributed this success not to himself but to five pillars: dedicated employees, loyal customers, patient members and shareholders, a courageous Board and a capable CEO. He documented the lessons of this challenging journey in his acclaimed book “Naval Vartale”, published in Marathi and English.
An accomplished writer, he also authored books on the stock market and investments and delivered lectures on banking, investments, cooperatives and financial matters. He remained committed to strengthening professional knowledge in the cooperative banking sector.
His guiding principles were simple: keep the customer at the centre and control expenditure. Behind these words lay a larger philosophy of responsible management and prudent use of resources.
With his passing, the cooperative and banking sector has lost a man widely regarded as a living repository of institutional experience. Khaladkar’s legacy will endure through the institutions he served, the people he guided and the cooperative values he championed.
Heartfelt tribute to Arvindrao Khaladkar. Om Shanti.
