Vithalrao Eknath Rao Vikhe Patil was an Indian industrialist, the founder of the first sugar factory in the cooperative sector in India at

Loni Loni is a somewhat popular female name related to the given names Leonie, Lonna (or Lona) and Lonnie. It may refer to: People * Loni (Pashtun tribe), a branch of the Durrani tribe in Pakistan and Afghanistan ** Arman Loni (1983-2019), Pashtun ...

, 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 ...

and the founder of a group of industries and institutions composed of ''Institute of Business Management and Rural Development'', ''Padmashri Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil Foundation's Medical College and Hospital'' and ''Padmashri Dr. Vitthalrao Vikhe Patil Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Limited'', operating under Padmashree Dr. Vithalrao Foundation. The

Government of India The Government of India (ISO: ; often abbreviated as GoI), known as the Union Government or Central Government but often simply as the Centre, is the national government of the Republic of India, a federal democracy located in South Asia, c ...

honoured him in 1961,with the award of

Padma Shri Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī''), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. Instituted on 2 January 1954, ...

, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his services to the nation. His son,

Balasaheb Vikhe Patil Eknathrao alias Balasaheb Vikhe Patil (10 April 1932 – 30 December 2016) was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India. He represented the Kopargaon and Ahmednagar (South) constituency of Maharashtra and was a member of the Indian National C ...

, was a recipient of

Padma Bhushan The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service ...

, a member of parliament and a former minister.

References

Recipients of the Padma Shri in trade and industry Date of birth missing Date of death missing People from Ahmednagar Businesspeople from Maharashtra Indian industrialists Businesspeople in the sugar industry Indian sugar industry {{India-business-bio-stub

See also

References