CM Fadnavis inaugurates Ashta edu complex, releases ex-minister's memoir
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
In the heart of Sangli district, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis arrived at Ashta on 9 August 2026 to mark a twin milestone — the release of a former minister's autobiography and the inauguration of new buildings at one of western Maharashtra's growing educational hubs.
The occasion brought together two distinct but complementary moments: the launch of 'Amravriksha' ('The Mango Tree'), the memoir penned by former Maharashtra minister Dr. Annasaheb Dange (Appa), and the formal opening of multiple new structures at the Ashta Educational Complex, home to institutions including Annasaheb Dange College of Engineering and Technology (ADCET Ashta). The event began at 12:30 PM.
A memoir named after a tree, rooted in Sangli
Dr. Annasaheb Dange, known widely as 'Appa', is a former Maharashtra minister and educationist whose legacy is closely tied to the institutions at Ashta. His autobiography, 'Amravriksha' — the mango tree, a symbol of deep roots and sustained shade — captures a life spent in public service and education in this part of western Maharashtra. The release of the memoir at the very campus he helped build gives the moment a particular resonance.
New buildings, expanding horizons at ADCET Ashta
Sangli district has steadily expanded its technical and higher education footprint over recent years. The inauguration of new buildings at the Ashta Educational Complex adds physical capacity to that growth — more classrooms, more laboratories, more space for students from the region's towns and villages. ADCET Ashta, the engineering college bearing Dange's name, sits at the centre of this complex and has become a reference point for technical education in the district.
Maharashtra chief ministers have consistently shown up for district-level education inaugurations — these are not ceremonial detours but deliberate signals about where the state is investing. For Sangli and its neighbouring districts, each new building is a concrete answer to the question of whether higher education can stay local.
A memoir released, buildings opened, and a district reminded that its ambitions have a roof over them now.