Former West Bengal governor and senior Congress leader DY Patil died after a prolonged illness at his residence in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on Tuesday, family sources said.
He was 92.
A veteran politician and educationist, Patil founded several educational institutions in Maharashtra. He is survived by his sons, former Maharashtra minister and Congress leader Satej Patil, Sanjay Patil and Ajinkya Patil.
Hailing from Kolhapur, Patil served as an MLA from 1967-78. He then turned his focus to the education sector, and founded the D Y Patil University, which offers courses in medicine, engineering and several other disciplines.
A Padma Shri awardee, Patil had served as the governor of Tripura, Bihar and held additional charge of West Bengal.
Leaders remember Patil
Condolences poured in as leader across the country remembered his contributions and leadership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “pained” by Patil’s demise and shared his condolences with his family and admirers.
“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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
Congress MP and leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed his condolences over passing of Patil, calling it “extremely heartbreaking.” He added that the former Governor’s contribution in the fields of education and public service wil always be memorable.
“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 said in a post on X.
“I express my deepest condolences to all the grieving family members, well-wishers, and supporters.”
Bihar chief minister Samrat Choudhary called the news of Patil’s death “heartbreaking” and hailed his contributions in the fields of education, health, and public service.
“The news of the demise of Padma Shri Dr. D. Y. Patil Ji is extremely heartbreaking. As a visionary educationist, social worker, and former Governor of Bihar, he made indelible contributions in the fields of education, health, and public service. His inspiring life will forever remain memorable,” he said in a post on X.
“May God grant a place at His holy feet to the departed noble soul and bestow strength upon the bereaved family and his countless well-wishers to bear this immense sorrow.”
Former union cabinet minister Suresh Prabhu said he was “deeply saddened” by the passing of the former governor and remembered him as a “distinguished educationist” for his contribution to education and nation building.
Prabhu said that he shared a “personal” relationship with Patil, adding that he will always remember him for his “kindess” and “humility.”
In a post on X, he said, “Deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. D. Y. Patil, former Governor and a distinguished educationist whose vision transformed the lives of countless students through his immense contribution to education and nation-building.”
“I had a very warm personal relationship with him and will always remember his kindness, humility and unwavering commitment to public service. His wisdom and encouragement left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.”
“My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and the entire D. Y. Patil family. May his noble soul rest in eternal peace. Om Shanti.”
NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar also expressed his condolences over Patil’s passing away, calling the news “extremely heartbreaking.” He added that with his departure, Maharashtra has lost a visionary and socially committed personality.
“The news of the passing of Padma Shri, former Governor Dr. D. Y. Patil is extremely heartbreaking. The unparalleled work he accomplished in the fields of education, health, sports, and social service will inspire generations. With his departure, Maharashtra has lost a visionary and socially committed personality,” Pawar wrote on X.
“His affection, warmth, and relentless zeal to bring about something positive for society, spanning many decades, will forever remain etched in memory. I offer my heartfelt tribute to Dr. D. Y. Patil and express my condolences to his family.”
Calling him a “great educationist”, Maharashtra deputy CM Eknath Shinde said Patil has left an “indelible void” in the entire state and the academic world.
Shinde hailed him for not only establishing institutions, but imparting education in what he called principles of “academic excellence” and “holistic education”.
“The great educationist, former Governor, and Padma Shri Dr. D. Y. Patil, whose visionary efforts transformed the face of education, society, and healthcare in Maharashtra, has left an indelible void in the entire state and the academic world upon his passing,” the Deputy CM wrote on X.
“Far beyond merely establishing institutions, he imparted education rooted in the principles of ‘Academic Excellence’ and ‘Holistic Education,’ thereby giving higher education in the country a bold new direction. Today, D. Y. Patil University offers over 146 courses across more than 16 disciplines, including engineering, medicine, management, pharmacy, law, and architecture. The unparalleled and historic record of establishing as many as 7 independent universities across the nation stands proudly in his name.”
“The hospitals he built in the three major cities of Kolhapur, Pune, and Navi Mumbai have proven to be a boon for lakhs of patients. Moreover, by constructing the state-of-the-art ‘D. Y. Patil Stadium’ in Navi Mumbai—ranked 6th in the world—he created a new benchmark in the realm of sports.”
On Patil’s role as a Governor, Shinde said he elevated the dignity of the office.
“As the Governor of Bihar, Tripura, and West Bengal as well, he elevated the dignity of the office. Establishing an institution is relatively straightforward, but running it with unwavering dedication, discipline, and a profound sense of social responsibility is an immense challenge; Dr. D. Y. Patil accomplished this with effortless grace,” he added.
“With his departure, Maharashtra has lost a visionary leader, a towering educationist, and a generous guide. May the Almighty grant eternal peace to Dr. D. Y. Patil’s soul and bestow strength upon the Patil family to endure this profound sorrow—this is our heartfelt prayer! A respectful tribute to the sacred memory of Dr. D. Y. Patil!”
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis called the news of Patil’s passing “extremely heartbreaking.” He hailed the former Governor’s work as “invaluable” and said that his passing has caused the loss of a “visionary personality.”
In a post on X, he said, “The news of the passing of Padma Shri Dr. D. Y. Patil, founder of the D. Y. Patil Group and former Governor of Tripura, Bihar, and West Bengal, is extremely heartbreaking.”
“His journey, which began as an ordinary worker, reached important constitutional positions such as mayor, people’s representative, and eventually Governor of various states. He accomplished invaluable work in bringing about revolutionary changes in the field of education, ensuring that educational opportunities reached ordinary and needy students in society.”
“In addition to establishing a network of educational and medical institutions, he created a world-class sports complex in Navi Mumbai, and also left his mark in the fields of agriculture and social work. Recognizing his remarkable contributions, he was honored with the Padma Shri award. His passing has caused the loss of a visionary personality. I offer my heartfelt tribute to him. We share in the grief of his family.”
