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 these 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.

The Department of Posts is happy to release a commemorative postage stamp on Dr. Vithalrao Vikhe Patil.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India