Padma Shri awardee D Y Patil passes away, education sector mourns founder of D Y Patil institutions

Former Governor, educationist and Padma Shri awardee D Y Patil passed away at his residence in Kasba Bawda, Kolhapur, on Tuesday morning after a prolonged illness. He was 91. Widely known as “Dada”, Patil served as the Governor of Bihar, Tripura and West Bengal and was recognised for his contributions to education and public life.Patil was also the founder of the D Y Patil group of educational institutions, which expanded across multiple disciplines, including medicine, engineering, management and higher education. His death marks the end of a public career spanning politics, education and social service.

Public life and educational contributions

Before serving as Governor, Patil was associated with the Congress and remained an influential public figure in Maharashtra. He later established several educational institutions that now operate across different parts of the country, providing programmes in professional and higher education.In recognition of his contribution to the social sector, he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1991.

Patil is survived by his sons—Congress MLC Satej Patil, Sanjay Patil, Vijay Patil and Ajinkya Patil—and his daughters, Bhageshree Patil, Supriya Patil, Rajashree Patil, Nandita Palshetkar and Pooja Patil. Confirming his demise, Smita Jadhav, Pro-Vice Chancellor of D Y Patil Pimpri and his granddaughter, said in a statement that the family had suffered an irreparable loss. She described him as a visionary leader whose commitment to education shaped generations of students and institutions.She said his leadership and dedication had helped build an enduring educational legacy that influenced countless lives through the institutions he established.

Legacy in higher education

Over the years, the D Y Patil educational institutions grew into a network offering courses in medicine, dentistry, engineering, management and other disciplines. The institutions have campuses in Maharashtra and other states, serving students across a range of professional programmes.Patil’s work in expanding access to higher education earned him recognition beyond public office. His contribution to educational development remained one of the defining aspects of his career alongside his constitutional responsibilities as Governor.