Educationist D.Y. Patil, a Padma Shri awardee and former Governor of Tripura, Bihar, and West Bengal, passed away on Tuesday (August 4, 2026) in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, at the age of 90 due to age-related health complications.
An active member of Maharashtra politics, Mr. Patil served as the Mayor of Kolhapur from 1957 to 1962, and was a Congress MLA from 1967 to 1978. His primary focus, however, has been on education reform and social work. He founded the D.Y. Patil Group, establishing an expansive network of over 182 institutes, seven universities, and premier healthcare systems across India.
“With his departure, the pillar of support in all our lives has been lost. Dada spent his life connecting people, igniting the lamp of education in the lives of millions of students, and making social service the goal of his life. He instilled in us the values of living as a true human being. His loving and affectionate hand, his encouraging words, and his teachings on living by principles—these are our eternal treasures. It is impossible to express these feelings in words,” Mr. Patil’s son Satej D. Patil, Maharashtra MLC and former Minister, said on the passing of his father.
His final rites will be held at the D.Y. Patil Medical College in Kolhapur at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday (August 5, 2026) after a public viewing in the morning followed by a funeral procession, his family said.
Describing Mr. Patil as a man with no enemies, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said his final rites would be performed with full state honours.
Born on October 22, 1935, as Dnyandeo Yashwantrao Patil, he went on to serve as the Governor of Tripura from November 27, 2009, till March 21, 2013. He was then appointed as the Governor of Bihar on March 22, 2013, till November 26, 2014. He was also given an additional charge as the Governor of West Bengal during his tenure as Governor of Bihar.
He received the Padma Shri in 1991 for social work.
He is survived by four sons – Dr. Sanjay D.Y. Patil, Satej D. Patil, Vijay D.Y. Patil, Dr. Ajinkya D.Y. Patil, and a daughter, Dr. Nandita Palshetkar. Mr. Satej Patil, Dr. Sanjay, and his grandson Ruturaj Patil are active in politics and social work.
आधारवड हरपला..!
माझे वडील, पद्मश्री डॉ. डी. वाय. पाटील (दादा) यांचे आज 4 ऑगस्ट रोजी सकाळी 11 वाजून 8 मिनिटांनी वयाच्या 91व्या वर्षी निधन झाले.
त्यांच्या जाण्याने आम्हा सर्वांच्या आयुष्यातील आधारवड हरपला आहे. दादांनी आयुष्यभर माणसं जोडली, शिक्षणाचा दीप लाखो विद्यार्थ्यांच्या… pic.twitter.com/xQzTuuAJH1
— Satej (Bunty) D. Patil (@satejp) August 4, 2026
Condolences pour in
Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his condolences on the education reformer’s passing, saying that “he always worked to improve the lives of others, especially the poor”.
Mr. Patil was at the forefront of serving society through philanthropy and education, in particular, Mr. Modi said in a post on X, adding that “he always worked to improve the lives of others, especially the poor”. “Pained by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour,” Mr. Modi said.
Shri DY Patil Ji was at the forefront of serving society through philanthropy and education in particular. He always worked to improve the lives of others, especially the poor. Pained by his demise. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti. pic.twitter.com/paYN8qzJsz
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 4, 2026
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, took to X to share his condolences on the former Congress leaders’ death, saying that the news is “extremely heartbreaking”. “His contributions in the fields of education and public service will always remain memorable. I express my deepest condolences to all the grieving family members, well-wishers, and supporters,” he said.
पूर्व राज्यपाल, प्रसिद्ध शिक्षाविद और समाजसेवी डॉ. डी. वाई. पाटिल जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।
शिक्षा और जनसेवा के क्षेत्र में उनका योगदान सदा स्मरणीय रहेगा।
सभी शोकाकुल परिजनों, शुभचिंतकों और समर्थकों के प्रति अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। pic.twitter.com/ETSmyentc9
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 4, 2026
Congress leader K.C. Venugopal said that he was “deeply saddened” by the news of Mr. Patil’s demise. “His contributions in the academic and social sectors touch the lives of millions, and he will always be revered for dedicating his life to the nation. Our sincere condolences to his family and loved ones in this time of grief. May his soul rest in peace,” he said in a post on X.
Deeply saddened by the news of the demise of veteran educationist, philanthropist and former Governor Dr. DY Patil ji.
His contributions in the academic and social sectors touch the lives of millions, and he will always be revered for dedicating his life to the nation.
Our… pic.twitter.com/UYxW884Axr
— K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 4, 2026
“His journey from an ordinary worker to fulfilling various constitutional responsibilities, and his unparalleled contributions in the fields of education and health, will always remain memorable,” Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, noting that the demise of the educationist was “heart-breaking”. “May God grant peace to the departed soul and provide strength to the bereaved family and his well-wishers to bear this sorrow,” Mr. Goyal said.
त्रिपुरा, बिहार और पश्चिम बंगाल के पूर्व राज्यपाल तथा डी. वाई. पाटिल ग्रुप के संस्थापक, पद्मश्री डॉ. डी. वाई. पाटिल जी के निधन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।
एक साधारण कार्यकर्ता से लेकर विभिन्न संवैधानिक दायित्वों का निर्वहन करने तक उनकी यात्रा एवं शिक्षा और स्वास्थ्य के क्षेत्र… pic.twitter.com/7HGvEn7unO
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) August 4, 2026
Published – August 04, 2026 12:59 pm IST
