Pandharinath Sitaramji Patil (1903–1978) was an Indian social reformer, politician, and activist of the non-Brahmin movement. He was one of the earliest biographer of

Jotirao Phule Jyotirao Govindrao Phule, also known as Mahatma Jyotiba Phule (11 April 1827 – 28 November 1890) was an Indian social activist, thinker, anti-caste social reformer and writer from Maharashtra. His work extended to many fields, including erad ...

Early life

Patil was born to Radhabai and Sitaram Raut on 20 September 1903 at Amboda village in Buldhana district of

Bombay Presidency The Bombay Presidency or Bombay Province, also called Bombay and Sind (1843–1936), was an administrative subdivision (province) of British India, with its capital in the city that came up over the seven islands of Bombay. The first mainl ...

(now in

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

). He had his primary education in Marathi in vernacular schools at Pimpri Adhao and Chandur Biswa. According to traditions of those days, he was married at a young age of nine with Saraswati (née Junare) in 1912. He further had his English education at

Pimpalgaon Kale Pimpalgaon is a village in the Thane district of Maharashtra, India. It is located in the Bhiwandi taluka. Demographics According to the 2011 census of India The 2011 Census of India or the 15th Indian Census was conducted in two phase ...

during the years 1917–1919.

Social work

Patil was an active member of non-Brahmin movement in the Buldhana district and was greatly inspired by the work of Jyotirao Phule. He started many schools at various places in the district like Jambhuldhaba, Kinhola, Deulgaon Mahi, Mera, Chandol, etc. He also founded a hostel named after Chokhamela. He successfully arranged a session of Satyashodhak Samaj at Amravati in 1925.

Political career

Patil started his political career along with his work in non-Brahman movement. Following the

Government of India Act 1935 The Government of India Act, 1935 was an Act adapted from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It originally received royal assent in August 1935. It was the longest Act of (British) Parliament ever enacted until the Greater London Authority ...

, when elections were held in 1937, he ran the elections as a candidate of non-Brahmin party and won the election against a candidate of Indian National Congress (Congress). He joined the Congress around the

Quit India movement The Quit India Movement, also known as the August Kranti Movement, was a movement launched at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee by Mahatma Gandhi on 8th August 1942, during World War II, demanding an end to British rule in ...

of 1942. He was a member of Central Provinces and Berar assembly from 1937 to 1952. After Independence of India, Patil was mostly involved in work in education and agriculture sector. He also took part in United Maharashtra Movement in the 1950s. Patil was elected to the upper house of Parliament of India, Rajya Sabha, in 1962 and was a member for two terms till 1974. He died on 2 October 1978.

References

{{authority control 1903 births 1978 deaths Satyashodhak Samaj Indian National Congress politicians from Maharashtra People from Buldhana district Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra