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Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil (Ex-Governor, State of Bihar) Founder President Of D.Y. Patil Group |
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Padmashree Dr. D. Y. Patil (Ex-Governor, State of Bihar) Founder President Of D.Y. Patil Group |
"Great men are born to lead," and the birth of Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil on December 22, 1935, in a prosperous agricultural family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey. Dr. D.Y. Patil, a renowned philanthropist, and visionary from Kolhapur, is the founder of the DY Patil Group and a pioneer in the fields of education, healthcare, agriculture, hospitality, and sports. Despite his humble beginnings in a small agricultural town, his influence has reached far beyond, impacting countless lives across the nation.
Dr. Patil's vision, passion, and dedication have been guided by his wisdom and generosity. Whether in founding schools for basic education or establishing institutions for higher learning, his efforts have left an indelible mark on society. He strongly believes that India's youth deserve expansive opportunities to educate themselves, regardless of geography. His mission to spread education across the nation has been realized through the creation of prestigious educational institutions in Kolhapur, Mumbai, and Pune. A firm believer in the philosophy "actions speak louder than words," Dr. Patil’s life and accomplishments are a testament to this belief.
The journey began with the establishment of the first college offering a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering in 1984, and from there, the DY Patil Group has flourished. After over four decades later, this initiative has grown into becoming Maharashtra's one of the largest private educational providers. The group now comprises 162 institutes, three deemed universities, four state private universities, more than 1.25 lac students, 4.25 lakh alumni, and 22,000 employees.
In recognition of his immense contributions to education and healthcare, Dr. D.Y. Patil was honored with the Padmashree award by the President of India in 1991. He has also been awarded two honorary doctorates in philosophy—one from the World University Roundtable, Arizona, USA (1985), and the other from Nottingham Trent University, UK (1996). Furthermore, he served as the Governor of Tripura, Bihar, and West Bengal, and received the prestigious D.Litt. from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, in 2015.
For his legendary contributions to society through educational, social, and cultural initiatives, Dr. D.Y. Patil was honored with the "Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year" award in 2018. His legacy continues to inspire future generations.