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Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil - Great things are never done by one person. They are done by a team and people.

His life: Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil was born on 16th June 1917 to the legendry couple Karmveer Bhaurao Patil and Laxmi Vahini. He took his primary education in Shrimant Chattrapati Pratapsigh High school, Satara in 1933 and passed his Matriculation Examination in 1939 from Rajaram High School, Kolhapur. He took admission for his higher education but the ‘Quit India Movement’ started in the year 1942 and he participated in it. He was imprisoned for 3 months, this marked the end of education in his life. He got married to Sushilabai on 10th March 1943 in Jain Boarding, Kolhapur.

Rayat Shikshan Sanstha’s foundation was laid by Karmveer Bhaurao Patil and the building blocks were laid by many, with lots of sacrifice and enormous struggle. Karmveer Bhaurao Patil sowed the seeds of Rayat and shed each drop of blood for its establishment which included the sacrifices of his family too. In those days it was very difficult to fund for the Sanstha but its base was built on service to humanity and sacrifice. Appasaheb by nature was a responsible, polite and humble person. Appasaheb was a figure of sacrifice which cannot remain untold. The loss of Rayat mauli Laxmibai in 1930 was heart wrecking for Appasaheb and Anna sent him to boarding where he had to lead a very simple life along with other children and do pity things like cleaning the premise, gather the cow dung and clean the shed, making roti etc. Rajaram Maharaj had granted Rs. 10 as scholarship for Appasaheb’s education. When this was discovered by Anna, he met Appasaheb in Kolhapur and enquired about his monthly expense upon which Appasaheb replied Rs. 3. So Anna ordered the difference amount of Rs. 7 to be deposited in Sanstha. As ordered he deposited Rs. 7 in Sanstha thereafter. The sacrifices of Appasaheb cannot fade over by passage of time. In those times, Valchand Hirachand had set up an ‘Hindusthan aircraft industry’ in Bangalore wherein Appasaheb showed inclination to join. At times, Valchand and Anna shared a good bond of friendship. So Appasaheb asked for the recommendation letter to Anna, but his request was denied. Anna was not only man of iron will but a man of principles which he never surpassed, even for his children. Appasaheb took up the job as a teacher in 1944 in Maharaja Sayajirao free & Residential School, Satara and earned Rs. 30 as his salary.

Appasaheb took up the job as the manger for stores in Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. Over a course of time the store had a crucial time as it did not earn profits and the authorities decided to condense number of employees. Anna asked for Appasaheb’s resignation, first because he did not want the poor employees to starve. Without any complaint Appasaheb resigned but he was in great need of job for survival of his life. Thereafter, Appasaheb took up the job of insurance agent. His life took a grip but then Anna gauged it and wrote to the authorities of insurance company that certain amount from the Profit of Appasaheb had to be transferred to the ‘Laxhmibai Smarak Fund’ of Sanstha. Appasaheb never complained and held no grudges.

Karmveer Bhaurao Patil then appointed Appasaheb as a private manager on 1st January 1953. After the demise of Anna the management of Sanstha had to be in hands of scrupulous and diligent hands, so Appasaheb was selected as the coordinator to handle the affairs of Sanstha under the guidance of Yashwantrao Chavan. Later on Yashwantrao Chavan, the chairman asked Appasaheb to enter politics which would bring affluence along with name and fame. He was offered the seat of MP and MLA which he denied to adhere to the Sanstha. He was a figure of simplicity, sacrifice, humanity and humbleness. Years after death of Anna too Sanstha is flourishing and a very huge considerable number of schools and colleges are running successfully all over Maharashtra. His wife Sushilabai was the strong support to him. They shared a good bond whole life through. Merely only after 23 days of sad demise of Appasaheb at the age of 90 on 20th May 2007, Sushilabai left her body. They both had donated eyes posthumously and saw the world through the sparkling eyes of others. The pure soul led a life of simplicity, politeness and humbleness walked on the footsteps of his father and worked and sacrificed his life for the betterment of mankind. He was a man of principles and never surpassed them for monetary gain.

• Works of Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil:
• Law college was named as Ismail Mulla Saheb Law college under his guidance.
• Pandharpur College got its name and identity.
• Sanstha’s first Engineering College was set up.
• Resolved the land problems of Navi Mumbai (Vashi)
• Acquired the office land of Inspector Office in Sangli
• Established Sanstha’s four women’s colleges.
• Set up of Laxmibai Patil Hostel.
• Established Bhimabai Ambedkar Girl’s School

Awards conferred on Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil:
• ‘Dalit Mitra Award’ conferred by Government of Maharashtra
• Awarded as a ‘Freedom Fighter’

A gratitude to Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil:
The Rayat Shikshan Santha’s Rayat English Medium School was renamed as Appasaheb Bhaurao Patil English medium school on 14th February 2020 in his fond remembrance.