India, July 19 -- Veteran socialist-Gandhian activist, writer, founder of the youth movement Yuvak Kranti Dal (Yukrand) and former MLA from Ahmednagar (now Ahilyanagar), Dr Kumar Saptarshi died here on Saturday evening following a prolonged illness.

Dr Saptarshi, 84, breathed his last at a private hospital. His last rites will be performed on Monday, said his younger brother Pravin Saptarshi.

"I was with him since the Yuvak Kranti Dal was established back in 1967....He was always fearless in leading movements and believed that Satyagraha was a powerful weapon," Pravin said.

Dr Saptarshi's close associate, Anwar Rajan, said that he was not keeping well due to old age for some time.

"He passed away while being taken to a hospital for tr...