Vithalrao Vikhe Patil
A commemorative postage stamp on Padma Shri Dr. V.V. Patil, founder of first sugar factory in Indian cooperative sector in Loni, Maharashtra :
Issued by India
Issued on Aug 10, 2002
Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to release a commemorative postage stamp on Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil.
Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma
Type : Stamp, Mint Condition
Colour : Four Colour
Denomination : 400 Paise
Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.
Printing Size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.
Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 with elliptical hole on each 39.1 mm sides
Paper : Matt Chromo
Stamps Printed : 0.4 million
Number per issue sheet : 40
Printing Process : Photo Offset
Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.
Name : Vithalrao Eknath Rao Vikhe Patil
Born on 1897 at Loni, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, India
Died on 1980
About :
- Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil (1901-1980) was a prominent leader of the cooperative movement in Maharashtra. His yeoman service to the rural economy won the appreciation and admiration of the whole country.
- Hailing from a peasant family in the Ahmednagar district, he was a witness to the adversities faced by the peasants during his early years. Famines, frequent droughts, oppression by money lenders and exploitation by landlords as well as sugar factory owners had made the conditions of the local people miserable. The National Movement with its spirit of idealism inspired the young Vithalrao to think of ways and means to improve the lot of his people. The Socialist philosophy, which had succeeded in emancipating the poor in the Soviet Union, also left a deep impression on him.
- Vithalrao concluded that collective action through cooperative methods alone can improve the conditions of life for the poor peasantry. With this firm conviction he organized many cooperative credit and multi purpose societies in the Pravara region. Encouraged by this early successes, he mooted and propagated the idea of establishing a sugar factory in the cooperative sector through a series of farmers’ meetings during the years 1945 and 1946. Working tirelessly, he could finally begin the construction of the factory in 1948. The factory, which finally became functional in 1950, was a path breaking effort in the farmers’ cooperative movement.
- An enlightened leader, Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil realised that the cooperative spirit make a much deeper impact in the overall socio economic life of the people, than just opening up entrepreneurial avenues. By introducing irrigation projects, dairy cooperatives and better agriculture practices, as well promoting the setting up of educational and public health institutions, he brought about a drastic improvement in the quality of life of the common folk in the region.
- In recognition of his valuable contributions, the country honoured Dr. Patil with the Padmashree award in 1961. The Pune University and the Mahatma Phule Agricultural University also conferred him with Doctorates.
- Text : Based on materials furnished by the sponsors.
