Ramsingh Hazare, a former government chemist with the Directorate of Geology and Mining
Eighty-seven-year-old Ramsingh Hazare, a former government chemist with the Directorate of Geology and Mining, lies bedridden in the suburbs of Kolhapur, his frail body weighed down by ailments, but his spirit still questioning. There are parallels with the blockbuster Marathi film Dashavatar, that shows the story of the stubborn fight of Babuli Mestri, that has amassed nearly ₹13 crore in just ten days. Yet, as Hazare watches this reel battle draw thunderous applause, he wrestles with a haunting question: will the masses who cheer in theatres ever rally behind the real fight he has waged all his life?
Set against the lush backdrop of Maharashtra’s Konkan coast, the film weaves Babuli’s personal struggle with his community’s fight to preserve their land and culture from destructive mining. But beyond the screen, reality has been far more unsettling—echoed in the decades-long lone battle of scientist RS Hazare.
Chemist who smelt gold in iron
Hazare recalls how routine lab tests on Sindhudurg’s iron ore samples revealed “peculiar appearances.” Ordinary tests for iron, silica, and titanium hinted at something extraordinary.
“Unusual metals don’t show up in gram-sized samples—unless present in abnormally high quantities,” Hazare explains. “That was when I suspected the presence of noble metals like gold and platinum.”
From 1978 to 1998, he wrote repeatedly to government departments, warning that precious metal was being exported as iron ore. His persistence earned him ridicule, threats, and finally, forced retirement in 1995. Villagers, much like Babuli Mestri in Dashavtar, began calling him “half-mad”—yet he refused to fall silent.
Vindication in reports
In 1994, the Maharashtra government appointed US-based geologist Sharad Vyas to probe Hazare’s claims. A year later, Vyas confirmed the presence of precious metals, noting gold values of 1 gram per tonne—comparable to global mining benchmarks—and recommended further exploration.
By 2002, Shivaji University joined the investigation. Then Vice-Chancellor MG Takawale wrote to the Chief Minister in 2004 that Redi ore samples contained 67 grams of gold and platinum per tonne and Kalne samples 20 grams per tonne. To put that in perspective, Karnataka’s Hatti mines yield just 6 grams per tonne. Takawale warned that Sindhudurg’s mineral wealth could spark a mining rush—and urged the state to protect the region until its potential was properly assessed.
But instead of action, Hazare says he was told to “keep quiet or quit.” He chose neither.
A legal and moral battle
Hazare pressed on, sending his findings to the State and Central governments. Fire assay tests at Bharat Gold Mines and Kolar Gold Fields confirmed his suspicions officially classifying the ore as gold-bearing.
In 2022, Hazare wrote directly to the Prime Minister. By April 2022, the PMO had nudged Maharashtra’s Chief Secretary to take “appropriate action.” Yet, bureaucratic silence prevails. A PIL filed in 2019 by advocate Nandkumar Pawar was dismissed by the Bombay High Court with the remark: “Detection does not mean commercial extraction.”
Hazare, however, insists the issue isn’t feasibility. “Enough reports are proving Sindhudurg’s ores contain gold and platinum. For decades, these metals have been exported disguised as ordinary iron ore. All we ask is for the government to conduct a resurvey and place facts before the nation and save nation’s wealth”
Cinema reflects struggle
The uncanny overlap between Babuli Mestri’s fictional fight in Dashavatar and Hazare’s real battle has struck a chord. Just as the veteran folk performer in the movie embodies resistance against the mining lobby Hazare has become a living symbol of defiance.
“The reel drama may be drawing crowds to theatres, but the real-life battle over Konkan’s hidden gold is still unfolding—not on stage, but through petitions, courtrooms, and a chemist’s unshaken belief that truth cannot be buried forever. We have once again resolved to press the issue with both the state and the Centre, hoping this time our voices will be heard,” says activist Uday Kulkarni, Hazare’s long-time companion in the relentless fight.
Published on September 28, 2025