From among his contemporaries, many of them have retired from active politics or are no more in this world. But one man who has been around for decades and still continues to hold his influence on various political developments is Sharad Pawar.
Those from Mumbai still talk of the lavish celebrations that they were part of when Sharad Pawar turned 60. Held at the plush Mumbai's Race Course with Mumbai's who's who in attendance, they talk of good old days.
But nothing has changed in Pawar's camp. Fifteen years down the line and many political turnabouts later, talk is that Sharad Pawar's 75th birthday celebrations are being planned on a much grander scale.
And this time, the grand old man of Maratha politics will be celebrating his birthday not in Mumbai or Baramati, but in Delhi.
Blame it on the ever dynamic nature of Indian politics, where Sharad Pawar continues to have his hold and say, this time his supporters are organising a grand mega event at Vigyan Bhavan on the eve of his birthday which falls on December 12.
And attending the do will be the biggies from political and social world with the likes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sonia Gandhi, Lalu Prasad Yadav, the Thackeray cousins Uddhav and Raj among others.
Talk is that a coffee table book will also be out and many say this is also a pre-cursor to Pawar's possible appointment as President of India, now that Pranab Mukherjee's term is coming to an end.
