Bhaurao Patil, Educationist
Educationist

Bhaurao Patil

Born 22 September 1887 · Maharashtra — Died 9 May 1959

Founded the Rayat Education Society to promote mass education for backward castes in Maharashtra.

Bhaurao Patil, was a social activist and educator in Maharashtra, India. A strong advocate of mass education, he founded the Rayat Education Society. Bhaurao played an important role in educating backward castes and low income people by coining the philosophy earn and learn. He was a prominent member of Satyashodhak Samaj, founded by Mahatma Jyotirao Phule.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Bhaurao Patil was one of the first Jains known to have passed the 8th class of secondary school in early 1900s Kolhapur, breaking caste and community educational norms.

The Story

1
In 1919, Bhaurao Patil launched a hostel in Kolhapur where children from backward castes could stay, study, and work to pay expenses, planting the seed for the Rayat Education Society.
2
🌾 Born on 22 September 1887 in Kumbhoj, Kolhapur, he studied under the patronage of Chhatrapati Shahu, who was pioneering social equality and education for backward castes in the princely state.
3In 1921, after meeting Gandhi in Mumbai, Bhaurao adopted Khadi and Gandhian principles, later founding 101 schools named after Gandhi to spread mass education.
4📚 Bhaurao coined the "earn and learn" philosophy, enabling poor and low-caste students to finance their education through work, a radical approach in early 20th-century Maharashtra.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1959
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1919, Bhaurao Patil started a hostel specifically for students from lower castes to live and work while studying, an early model of inclusive education in Maharashtra.

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Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Bhaurao Patil with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Sant Gadge Maharaj in a historic meeting (1949)
Bhaurao Patil with Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and Sant Gadge Maharaj in a historic meeting (1949)
1949
Bhaurao Patil featured on an Indian postage stamp honoring his legacy (1988)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

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Birth
Birth in Kumbhoj, Kolhapur
Bhaurao Patil was born into a Marathi Jain farming family in Kumbhoj, Kolhapur district, setting roots in a community with a strong religious heritage.
1887
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Career
Founded hostel for backward caste students
Started a hostel allowing children from lower castes to stay, study, and work to pay expenses, the foundation of Rayat Education Society.
1919
⚡
Career
Met Gandhi in Mumbai
Encountered Gandhi, was inspired to adopt Khadi and Gandhian principles, pledging to found 101 schools in Gandhi's name.
1921
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Death
Death of Bhaurao Patil
Passed away in Maharashtra; posthumously awarded the Padma Bhushan in the same year by Government of India.
1959
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan
Government of India honored Bhaurao Patil with Padma Bhushan for his contributions to education and social reform.
1959
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
👤PERSONAL

Bhaurao Patil’s father was a clerk in the British East India Company's revenue department, yet Bhaurao became an educationist radicalizing caste and class barriers through schooling.

02 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

After meeting Gandhi in 1921, Bhaurao not only adopted Khadi but committed to founding 101 schools in Gandhi’s name, linking education with the independence movement.

03 / 05
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Bhaurao Patil was honored with the title 'Karmaveer' (King of Actions) by the people of Maharashtra, recognizing his practical approach to social reform.

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🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University, Ph.D Admission 2023 #phd #phd2023 #research #kbpu #satara #2023
More from this archive
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University, Ph.D Admission 2023 #phd #phd2023 #research #kbpu #satara #2023
01
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil University, Ph.D Admission 2023 #phd #phd2023 #research #kbpu #satara #2023
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Satara Live Stream - Dr. Sudha Murthy
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Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, Satara Live Stream - Dr. Sudha Murthy

🌱 What changed because of them

Bhaurao Patil transformed education for Maharashtra’s marginalized communities by founding the Rayat Education Society, which established over 100 schools focused on affordable, self-sustained learning. His "earn and learn" model created pathways for backward castes and low-income students to access education, influencing social reform policies and educational institutions in Maharashtra. His work strengthened the Satyashodhak Samaj’s mission of caste equality through practical education.

💬 Social Buzz

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