Former Bihar Governor and Educationist D Y Patil Dies at 91

Kolhapur, 4th August 2026: Former Bihar and Tripura Governor, veteran Congress leader and noted educationist Dr Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil, popularly known as D Y Patil, died at his residence in Kasba Bawda in Kolhapur on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 91.

A Padma Shri awardee and founder of the D Y Patil Group, Patil is credited with building one of the country’s largest private education networks, with institutions spanning engineering, medicine, management and other professional courses across Maharashtra. He is survived by his sons, Congress MLC Satej (Bunty) Patil, Sanjay Patil and Ajinkya Patil, and daughter Dr Nandita Palshetkar.

Announcing his demise, Smita Jadhav, Pro-Vice Chancellor of D Y Patil University, Pimpri, said, “It is with profound grief and a heavy heart that I inform you of the sad demise of our beloved Founder, Hon’ble Dr D Y Patil Sir. His visionary leadership, unwavering commitment to education, and extraordinary legacy have shaped countless lives and institutions. His passing is an irreparable loss to the entire D Y Patil family.”

His mortal remains will be kept for public homage at Yashwant Nivas in Kasba Bawda from 11 am to 4 pm on Wednesday. The funeral procession will begin thereafter, and the last rites will be performed at the D Y Patil Medical College campus in Kasba Bawda.

Born on October 22, 1935, in Ambap village of Kolhapur district to a farming family, Patil rose from humble beginnings to occupy constitutional office and become one of Maharashtra’s most influential educationists. He served as Mayor of Kolhapur between 1957 and 1962 and was elected twice to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the Panhala constituency in 1967 and 1972 on a Congress ticket.

After electoral defeats in the late 1970s, Patil gradually withdrew from active politics in his mid-40s and turned his focus to education. In 1983, he established Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) in Navi Mumbai, the first institution under the D Y Patil Group. Over the following decades, the group expanded into a network of deemed universities, private universities and more than 180 educational institutions in cities including Kolhapur, Mumbai and Pune, educating lakhs of students across disciplines such as engineering, medicine, pharmacy, management, architecture and agriculture.

Patil later served as Governor of Tripura and Bihar and also held additional charge as Governor of West Bengal. During his tenure as Governor, he was known for promoting education, administrative reforms and social welfare initiatives.

In recognition of his contribution to society and education, the Government of India conferred the Padma Shri on him in 1991.

His educational legacy is now being carried forward by members of his family, who continue to lead the group’s institutions and remain active in public life. His grandson, former MLA Ruturaj Patil, is also active in politics.