Gulabrao Patil

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Gulabrao Raghunathrao Patil =

(Marathi: गुलाबराव रघुनाथराव पाटील )(September 16, 1923- Janunary 21, 1989). He was Ex. [Member of Parliament-Rajya Shabha] , MLC, Ex. President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee.

1) Introduction:

Gulabrao Patil was a renowned Maharashtrain politician from Sangli Maharashtra. An Maratha strongman of western Maharashtra. He was famously known as 'Sahakar Probodhankar ' due to his outstanding work in Maharashtra Cooperative sector and politics. He was Member of Parliament -Rajya Shabha for 12 years i.e two terms from 1962-1968 and 1968-1974. President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee from 1981-1982 and Member of Legislative Council, Maharashtra Government(MLC) for four years.

He also served as Chairman of Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank, Mumbai form 1980 to 1982 and Secretary of National Co-operative Union of India (NCUI), New Delhi.

2)Background:

Born on 16th September 1923 in Maratha Family in 'Benadi' a small but famous village on Maharashtra- Karnataka state boundary near Kolhapur. He completed his LLB(Special) from Kolhapur, Law college. He started practicing law in Satara city. Then he moved to sangli city, where he took more interest in regional politics and joined Indian National Congress at the time of Indian Independence. Though he didn't took direct part in freedom struggle, he was closely related to struggle of Indian Independence. Under the influence of people like Yeshwantrao Chavan- pioneer of Maharashtra, Balashabe Desai-Home minister of Maharashtra, and other such leaders, Gulabrao Patil engaged himself in social context.

He also worked with many other renowned leaders such as Rajarambapu Patil, Aabashabe Shinde-Mhaisalkar etc. Initially he faced many problems but overcame it by his strong leadership quality. He always took leading part in solving problem for poor and needy people. He understood grassroot problems of local farmers and workers and helped them in every possible ways.

3)Social Work & Co-operative Movement:

After Independence he started working on farmers problems. He established different Co-operative societies in nearby palace of sangli. In 1951,he was firstly elected as a member of local council, followed by Councilor of Sangli city in 1954-55. Where he took many brave step and brought new development in City including Water pipeline for entier sangli city. In 1958, he was main mentor with vasantdada patil in establishing largest Co-operative Sugar factory of Asia in Sangli.

Meanwhile, he was influenced by Vaikhuntbhai Mehta & Dhanajirao Gadgil both great leaders of Indian Cooperative movement. Gulabrao Patil believed that 'Sahakar' i.e Cooperative Movement is main source of upliftment of society & economic growth. Later he dedicated his entire life for strengthening Cooperative Movement in Post Independence era of India.

Late. Gulabrao Patil was a main instrumental in establishing & developing Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank (SDCC) where he severed as a Chairman & Managing Director for over two decades. Here he took many brave decisions for economical development of farmers. He was 1st chairman to promote growing of World famous Seedless Grapes in Sangli district. In 1960, he started Sangli District Cooperative Board for basic education & training in Cooperative for common people. He made valuable efforts to increase irrigation scheme for agriculture via Co-operative societies in Sangli district. One of the reasons why Sangli District is now one of the Leading Cooperative hub in India. It comprises of highest number of Co-op sugar factories, spinning Mills, Co-op Banks and many other Cooperative industries.

4)Politics:

Gulabrao Patil was mainly active in Regional politics and National Politics rather than local politics, as he was Member of Parliament for 12 years. In 1980, he joined Indira Gandhi led Congress he was one of the poineer person from Maharashtra who joined Indian National Congress at that time. Soon in 1981 he was appointed as a President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. Where he initially played important role in taking Congress to comman people. In next general election Congress won by big margin in Maharashtra under his strong leadership.

After Controversial resignation of Chief Minister A.R. Antule in 1982, Gulabrao Patil was leading & most able candidate of next Chief Minister of Maharashtra at that time. But at last moment his name was changed due to internal politics. Sooner in Next government he was offered a lower post that his designation of State Ministership, but he denied the Ministership, and famously said, "Power without Prestigious, is a Gun without Bullets". This historic statement made him more popular in entire Maharashtra State, as this showed that he was not greedy for power but a 'True Leader' dedicated for uplifment of society.

5)Current Senario

Currently, his son Prithviraj Patil is socially and politically active and expanding the social and educatonal work of Late. Gulabrao Patil in society. Through Gulabrao Patil Memorial Trust's- Homeopathy, Pharma, Nursing, B.Ed, D.Ed College and Cambridge English School in Miraj and Sangli Cities.

Reference

1. [http://www.gpmt.org/index.html] 2. [http://www.maharashtrapcc.org/PCC%20Presidents%20of%20Maharashtra.aspx] 3. [http://www.mymarathi.com/sahityasagarswf/gulabrao_patil.swf]

Politics of Maharashtra
People from Maharashtra