The passing of Dr Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil marks the end of an extraordinary era in Maharashtra’s public and educational life. Dr DY Patil passed away on Tuesday in Kolhapur after a prolonged illness at the age of 90. Revered across the country as an educationist, institution builder, and social reformer, Dr Patil dedicated more than seven decades of his life to the service of education, agriculture, cooperation, and society.

Long public career

Dr Patil was mayor of Kolhapur from 1957 to 1962. He was elected as an MLA from the Panhala constituency and served as a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (from 1967 to 1978) and later as governor of Tripura, Bihar, and West Bengal (from 2009 to 2014).