Aajibai Banarase
Aajibai Banarase, born Radhabai Dahake, was an Indian community leader in London.
Early life
Radhabai Dahake was born in Choundi, Yavatmal, Maharashtra. She married young, to Tulshihar Dehenkar, and had five daughters. She was widowed at age 33. She remarried in 1945, to Sitarampant Banarase, an older widower with grown sons, Vitthal and Pandurang, already living in London.In London
Banarase moved to London with her second husband, and worked in his sons' boarding houses there. She was widowed again in 1950. In 1953, rejected by her husband's family and without other material support, Banarase borrowed money and bought a house in London's Hoop Lane, and she subleased rooms to Indian students. She also had a catering business; her Indian cooking was especially appreciated by homesick young Indians. In time, she owned twelve houses and a fleet of cars, and by 1965 she opened a Hindu temple at her home in Golders Green, visited by Indian dignitaries while in the city. She also funded a well and a temple in her hometown, Choundi.In London she was president of the Maharashtra Mandal London. Her granddaughter, Shyamal Pitale, was president of the Maharashtra Mandal in 2019.