Sakharam was a farmer, a wealthy landlord, and was devoted to Baba. The Shelke family owned 250 acres of land. The credit of giving First Police Patil to Shirdi village also goes to this family. His house is near Baba's Chavadi with a west facing entrance.

Sakharam shelke had a son Triambakrao who was born in 1898. Triambakrao had two wives and one son by name Haribhau (nana) Shelke who was born in the year 1926. Haribhau (Nana)Shelke died on 2nd March 1992. Haribhau had two wives by name Sakarbai Shelke and Shantabai Shelke. 

Sakara Bai, the wife of his grandson, Hari Bhau, states that Baba loved Sakharam very much. Baba would stand at the crossroad between Vaman Rao Gondkar's house and Shelke's house and call out "Sakharam Roti de". She also stated that his son Triambak (Hari Bhau’s father) donated some land to Shri Sai Baba Sansthan.  The land for the Shirdi Bus Stand was also donated by him.

Haribhau had 5 daughters. Hari Bhau donated 28 guntas to Shri Saibaba Sansthan. Hari Bhau was a big politician during his time. He was the founder of Ganesh sugar factory, Ganesh nagar. He was also founder of Ahmednagar District Cooperative Bank, Ahmednaghar and Ex Trustee of Shri Saibaba Sansthan, Shirdi from 1958 to 1960. 

Haribhau Trayambak Shelke (Nana)

Haribhau Trayambak Shelke with Indira Gandhi in Shirdi

Sakharam Patil Shelke was also the uncle of Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil. The story of Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil is as follows:

Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil was a contemporary devotee of Shri Sai Baba. He was Police patil from 1912 to 1922 & again from 1942 to 1953. He was born in 1892. He studied in zilla parishad school,shirdi. He was also a Watandar Police Patil of Shirdi village. When Saibaba took Mahasamadhi in 1918 Santaji Shelke Patil was the Police Patil of Shirdi village. Santaji Shelke Patil (ancestral house of Sakharam Patil Shelke) house was amongst the five blessed houses where Saibaba used to go for Bhiksha. The house (Wada) of Santaji Shelke patil was situated to the Eastern side of Shri Saibaba Samadhi mandir and Shri Saibaba's chavadi. Santaji Shelke patil was a land lord and a reputed person in Shirdi. Santaji Shelke Patil's ancestors were also Watandar Police Patil of Shirdi village . Santaji Bhivsen Shelke patil passed away peacefully on 27th May 1961 in Shirdi.

Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil

Family Members presenting Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil photograph to Sansthan

Milind Sampatrao Shelke, Great Grandson of Santaji Bhivsen Shelke Patil presented the above photograph to Sansthan Ex-CEO.

Lord Lakshmi Narasimha was the Kula Daiva of Sakharam Shelke Patil family. Shelke family constructed the Narasimha Temple. This temple is situated to the eastern side of Shri Sai Baba's Chavadi. A priest performs puja daily along with Aarti and offers Bhog.

Around the year 2000, this house was sold by his descendants, and a multi-storey shopping complex now stands in its place.

Vitthalrao Nanasaheb Shelke Patil (Police Patil of Shirdi), Sampatrao N Shelke Patil (Ex director of Shirdi Society), Panditrao N Shelke, Shamrao N Shelke are Grandsons of Santaji Shelke Patil. Milind Sampatrao Shelke, Pramod Vitthal Shelke, Avinash Panditrao Shelke are Great Grandsons of Santaji Shelke Patil. The descendants are following the legacy of Late Shri.Sakharam Shelke Patil and leading a peaceful life in Shirdi.

(Santaji Shelke Patil Information & Photo Courtesy: Shri.Avinash Panditrao Shelke, Shirdi)