On the day of Kojagiri Purnima, which is considered the birthday of Goddess Lakshmi, the day she emerged from the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan), and the day when, in Dwapar Yuga, Lord Krishna performed the Raas Leela with the Gopis in Vrindavan, a pearl was born in the village of Adhale Budruk in Maval taluka, nestled at the foothills of forts and the beauty of the Sahyadris. This pearl, born on October 26, 1979, during the early morning Kakad Aarti (before dawn) under the blessings of Lord Krishna and Goddess Lakshmi, was adorned with qualities like intelligence, wealth, courage, detachment, and playfulness. That pearl is none other than our beloved Gosevak, Shri Nitin Dada Vishnu Ghotkule.
From an early age, Dada, being born into a farmer's family, started working alongside his father, Vishnu Haribhau Ghotkule, in farming and supported his mother, Muktabai, in household responsibilities. Together with his two brothers, Sachin and Sandeep, they shouldered the responsibilities of their home.
During his primary education itself, Dada mastered a unique skill – overcoming challenges posed by poverty and lack of money. Whether it was building a bullock cart without having money or gifting his father a scooter, he learned how to find a solution. Another skill he developed was leadership, as he organized various community activities like water schemes, internal roads, and festive celebrations. His leadership abilities became apparent to the society around him, and before even completing his 10th grade, he became known as Nitin Dada.
However, due to the family's financial struggles, Dada could not continue his education after the 10th grade. He immediately began working with cows and buffaloes in the dairy business and managing his family's farm. His efforts helped him secure an apprenticeship at Tata Motors. But in 1999, the global recession struck, and he lost the opportunity for a permanent job at Tata Motors. Unfazed, he worked as a driver for others and took on temporary jobs with small companies for short periods.
During this time, on February 25, 2000, Nitin Dada married Kumari Kunda Nathu Shirsat, who later became Smt. Nikita Tai Nitin Dada Ghotkule, the Maval Taluka Sabha President. Nikita Tai stood by his side during every high and low in life, supporting him in both family matters and community work, rising from Sarpanch to the President of the Maval Panchayat Samiti. Through her efforts, she brought honor to her family and in-laws.
Nitin Dada and Nikita Tai are blessed with two children. Their elder daughter, Snehal Tai, has completed her degree in hotel management and is now managing the family business. Like her father, she excels in various fields. Their younger son, Om, is currently pursuing a BBA degree. Both children have recently launched their own company, Godham Group Multi Services (One-Stop Solution).
In 2004, Dada finally secured a permanent position at Tata Motors. It was during this period that he met his mentor, Dr. Umesh Kanakvalikar, through a training program called "Mee Vijeta Honarach" (I will be a Winner). With this guidance, Dada began his successful journey in the world of business and industry.
In 2005, Dada established Maval Vaibhav Nagari Sahakari Patsanstha (a cooperative credit society) and became its first chairman.
Simultaneously, Dada's spiritual journey started in 2004 when he connected with ISKCON. His spiritual growth blossomed as he became deeply involved in pilgrimages, both domestically and internationally, and cultivated relationships with spiritual mentors like Radha Prasad Prabhu, Gopati Prabhu, Raghupati Prabhu, Rohini Kumar Prabhu, Govind Prabhu, and many others. This spiritual growth profoundly transformed his life.
In 2007, despite losing his job, Dada did not give up. He established his business under the name Om Tours and Travels while simultaneously working tirelessly for cow protection, fort conservation, and the promotion of faith, country, and religion.
Dada's motto: "Shiv Chhatrapati is my Guru... I will die for the Sahyadri... I will serve society and protect Mother Cow till my last breath."
Inspired by this belief, he laid the foundation for the Godham Eco Village, a modern village rooted in Vedic traditions.
In Adhale Budruk, Dada has started large-scale projects under various sectors through the Godham Eco Village:
Godham Go-Gram Research Center (Goshala)
Godham Health Care Center
Godham Agri Tourism Center and Godham Resorts
Godham Spiritual Tourism Center
Godham Gurukul Anandigram
Godham Organic Farming and Organic Mall
Godham Training Center
Godham Sports Academy
Godham Bird Valley
Godham Water World – created 3 lakes and 13 wells
Godham Eco Village Farmer Producer Company
Beyond his efforts at Godham, Nitin Dada has also made significant contributions to Maval Taluka through politics and social service, benefiting the people in various ways.
Dada's greatest recognition is his philanthropy. He has contributed to schools, provided drinking water, built roads, installed lights, donated computers, water filters, furniture, and other essentials. He has organized mass marriages, supported the Warkari sect, and provided for countless other needs in the community.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, he ensured that food and other essentials reached the needy and helped hospitals. This spirit of giving earned him the title of "Dada the Philanthropist" within the community.
Dada also ventured into Marathi cinema, producing the film "Mhais" based on P.L. Deshpande's novel "Golaberi", which earned government recognition for its excellence.
For his contributions in various fields—spirituality, cow protection, fort conservation, business, film, cooperation, politics, social service, and the Godham Eco Village Project—Nitin Dada Ghotkule has been honored with numerous awards and certificates, from the village level to the Maharashtra state level.
He has held various social and political positions and has consistently excelled, giving justice to every role he’s been entrusted with. Recently, he was appointed as the President of Rotary Club of Maval for 2024-25, adding another feather to his cap.
Despite his busy life, Dada still finds time for spiritual practices, including the annual Pandharpur pilgrimage, Brahmagiri Pradakshina, Govardhan Parikrama in Vrindavan, and a 3,200 km Narmada Parikrama. He is known as the "Problem Solution Machine", solving problems for anyone who approaches him with a smile.
Thus, with pride, we can say:
Dada is the support of the troubled sister, the rain for drought-stricken villages, the walking stick for the elderly, the bread for the unemployed, and the embodiment of humanity in society.
Despite his life being filled with struggles and challenges, Dada continues to live joyfully, bringing happiness into the lives of others. May this joy stay with him forever, and may he continue to progress in all areas of life, including devotion.
Thank you,
Hare Krishna!👏🌹
