Former Governor and Education Pioneer D.Y. Patil Dies at 90

Dr. Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil, widely known as D.Y. Patil, founder of the D.Y. Patil Group and former Governor of Tripura and Bihar, passed away in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, on 4 August 2026. He was 90.

D.Y. Patil's Political Career

D.Y. Patil began his public life in Kolhapur, serving as its Mayor from 1957 to 1962. He then served as a Congress MLA from 1967 to 1978, before moving his focus toward education.

D.Y. Patil's Governorship and Constitutional Office

Patil served as Governor of Tripura from 27 November 2009 to 21 March 2013. He then served as Governor of Bihar from 22 March 2013 to 26 November 2014, during which he also held additional charge as Governor of West Bengal.

D.Y. Patil's Contribution to Education

He founded the D.Y. Patil Group, which today runs a large network of educational institutions, including deemed universities across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, and Kolhapur, covering fields such as medicine, engineering, management, dentistry, nursing, and biotechnology. He also established Navi Mumbai's first private engineering college.

Key Achievements of D.Y. Patil

1. Beyond education, he built the D.Y. Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, which has hosted several international cricket matches. 
2. In 1991, he was conferred the Padma Shri for his contribution to social work and education.
3. He is survived by his sons Satej Patil (former Maharashtra minister and Congress leader), Sanjay Patil, and Ajinkya Patil; and his daughter, Dr. Nandita Palshetkar, a gynaecologist.

PM Modi Tributes to D.Y. Patil

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over Patil's passing, recalling his contributions through philanthropy and education. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called him a visionary who transformed education, healthcare, and sports access for underprivileged students. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar also paid tribute, with Pawar noting his lasting impact across education, health, sports, and social service.