As the city celebrated the sixth day of Ganeshotsav with full gusto yesterday, Mumbai's East Indian community remembered the man who, together with Lokmanya Tilak, started it all. Joseph Baptista fondly called as Kaka Baptista is said to have coined the phrase "Swaraj is my birthright", which was later made popular by freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak. Baptista even assisted Tilak by launching the Sarvajanik Ganpati (public Ganpati celebrations). He played an active role in the Home Rule Movement along with Lokmanya Tilak and Dr. Annie Besant.

The Mumbai Gaothan Panchayat paid respects to Kaka Baptista on his 88th death anniversary by ensuring that the community didn't forget the noted East Indian's contribution to India's freedom struggle. The MGP team, along with local representatives, visited Baptista's grave in Sewri Cemetery, and later assembled at his bust at Boot Bangla in Uttan.