Former Maha Governor DY Patil passes away; PM Modi expresses grief
Kolhapur, Aug 4
Former Maharashtra Governor and education pioneer Padma Shri D.Y. Patil passed away in Kolhapur on Tuesday at the age of 90 after a prolonged illness.
Patil had also served as the Governor of Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal and was widely known for his contributions to education.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the death of the renowned academician and recalled his contribution to the education sector.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Shri DY Patil Ji was at the forefront of serving society through philanthropy and education in particular. He always worked to improve the lives of others, especially the poor. Pained by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti."
Meanwhile, a large number of people gathered at Patil's Kasaba Bawada residence to pay their last respects.
Political leaders, educationists, social workers, and citizens from various walks of life visited to offer their tributes to the former Governor.
Patil, born on October 22, 1935, in Kolhapur's Ambap, carved out a niche primarily in education. He started his career in politics with the Congress party; however, later stepped away from politics to focus on education. He is credited with having built an extensive network of schools, colleges, universities and hospitals across Maharashtra and other states.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi also took to social media and expressed grief over the passing of Patil.
"The news of the demise of former Governor, renowned educationist, and social worker Dr D. Y. Patil ji is extremely heartbreaking. His contributions in the fields of education and public service will always remain memorable," Gandhi posted on X.
"I express my deepest condolences to all the grieving family members, well-wishers, and supporters," he added.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Sad day for Kolhapur. He was more than just a politician - he was a visionary who believed education could change lives. My father studied in his college on scholarship. Deepest condolences to the family.
His contribution to education is unmatched. It's rare to see someone build such a vast network of schools and hospitals purely for public service. May his soul rest in peace.
Though I wish he had stayed in active politics longer to do more for the state, his decision to focus on education was truly noble. He proved that serving society doesn't require a political post. Om Shanti 🙏
From Ambap village to Governor of three states - what an incredible journey! His hospitals have saved countless lives in rural Maharashtra. The state has lost a great soul.
Such a humble man despite all his achievements. I remember meeting him once at a college function and he was so down-to-earth. His legacy will live on through the thousands of students he educated. RIP.
भारताने एक महान शिक्षणतज्ज्ञ गमावला. (India has lost a great educationist.) His work in Bihar and West Bengal as Governor was also commendable. The crowd gathered at his residence shows how loved he was. Om Shanti
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