Bhaurao Patil
Encyclopedia
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil (September 22, 1887 - May 9, 1959) was a social activist and educationist in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Strong advocate of education of the masses, he was the founder of Rayat Education Society
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha is an Indian educational organisation founded by Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil in 1919. It is first widder education sociaty in the world . Its aim was to provide education to students who, due to caste, religion of economic status, had not previously had the opportunity...

, one of the most important educational institution in Maharashtra. Bhaurao played an important role in educating people from backward castes and also the poor masses by coining the philosophy earn and learn. He was also a prominent member of Satyashodhak Samaj
Satyashodhak Samaj
Satya Shodhak Samaj is a religion established by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on September 24, 1873. This was started as a group whose main aim was to liberate the social Shudra and Untouchables castes from exploitation and oppression....

(Truth seeker's society) founded by Mahatma Jotirao Phule. The people of Maharashtra honoured him with the epithet of Karmaveer (king of actions) and the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 awarded him with Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...

 in 1959.

Life

Bhaurao was born in a Jain Farmer family at Kumbhoj
Kumbhoj
Kumbhoj is the name of an ancient town located in Kolhapur district in Maharashtra. The town is about six kilometers from Hatkanangale, about twenty seven kilometers from Kolhapur and currently, also is the Taluka or Tehsil Headquarters. The famous Jain Tirtha known as Bahubali, is just two...

 in Kolhapur district. Bhaurao's father was clerk in revenue department for East India company. Bharao during his childhood days was directly influenced Chatrapati Shahu Majaraj,ho'ble maharaj of kolhapur provide facility to kamaveer bhorao patil to stay in palace of kolhapur with maharaj to do study, the King of Kolhapur who was promoter of social equality and education people belonging to backward castes. Eventually his father sent him at kolhapur for further education. Here he got in contact with Satya Shodhak Movement
Satyashodhak Samaj
Satya Shodhak Samaj is a religion established by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on September 24, 1873. This was started as a group whose main aim was to liberate the social Shudra and Untouchables castes from exploitation and oppression....

 and found another source of inspiration, Mahatma Phule and Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde. Bhaurao garnered political interest and decided to play his role in the fight for Indian freedom struggle by working in other beneficial aspects like public education. While he worked for Ogles, Kirloskars and Coopers he participated in activities of Satya Shodhak Samaj. He had realized by then that only remedy for the social evils of those time was education of masses. In the year 1919, he started a hostel where kids from backward castes and poor families could stay and get education, at the same time do work to take care of the expenses. This was the foundation of what later became Rayat Shikshan Sansthan.

As Bhaurao started working on his education for the masses, Gandhiji had also launched the freedom for Indian independence. During a public meeting in 1921, Bhaurao happened to come across Gandhiji at Mumbai. He was highly impressed by Gandhi's appearance in a loin cloth and his philosophy of Khadi. Following this encounter Bhaurao decided to adopt Khadi attire and follow Gandhian principles in everyday living. Eventually he vowed and saw it to completion, establishment of 101 schools in Gandhi's name.

Rayat Education Society

While working as an employee in the kirloskar factory at Kolhapur, Bhaurao got involved in working for Satyashodhak Samaj
Satyashodhak Samaj
Satya Shodhak Samaj is a religion established by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on September 24, 1873. This was started as a group whose main aim was to liberate the social Shudra and Untouchables castes from exploitation and oppression....

. In a council of Satyashodhak Samaj
Satyashodhak Samaj
Satya Shodhak Samaj is a religion established by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule on September 24, 1873. This was started as a group whose main aim was to liberate the social Shudra and Untouchables castes from exploitation and oppression....

, held at Kale near Karad
Karad
Karad is a town and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It lies at the confluence of Koyna River and the Krishna River. The two rivers originate at Mahabaleshwar which is around 100 km from Karad. They diverge at their origin and then meet again in...

, a resolution was passed that in order to run SatyaShodhak Movement successfully, it is necessary that they must educate the Bahujan Samaj. Accordingly, Bhaurao Patil established Rayat Shikshan Sanstha
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha is an Indian educational organisation founded by Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil in 1919. It is first widder education sociaty in the world . Its aim was to provide education to students who, due to caste, religion of economic status, had not previously had the opportunity...

 at a small village named Kale, from Satara district, of western part of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, on October 4, 1919 on the auspicious day of Ashok Vijaya Dashami. This society was specially meant for the children of masses, so it was named Rayat (Marathi word for masses). During his life-time, the Sanstha had 38 cosmopolitan boardings, 578 voluntary schools, 6 training colleges, 108 secondary schools and 3 Colleges

Awards

People of Maharashtra gave him the title of Karmveer(Marathi for "King of actions").
Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...

 gave him Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...

 in 1959.
The university of Pune gave him D.Litt in the same year.
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