Nana Patil

Nana Patil Biography

Nana Patil was a social worker, activist, freedom fighter, politician and parliamentarian who lived in the 20^th century. He was one of the founders of the revolutionary group, Prati-sarkar formed in Satara district of Maharashtra. He lived during the period, 1900-1976. Patil started his public life in the Indian National Congress. But soon after independence, he joined Peasants and Workers Party of India. In 1957 he successfully contested Lok Sabha elections from Satara constituency as a Communist party candidate, and he won parliamentary elections for the second time in 1967 from Beed Constituency. Thus he was a parliamentarian of two terms, both elected from Communist Party of India. He was popularly known as Krantisinh, which literally means ‘revolutionary lion’.

Nana Ramchandra Patil was born on 3 August 1900 at Bahegaon, Maharashtra. As a social worker and activist, his career started in 1919 when he joined Prarthana Samaj, an organization which towards the welfare of the lower sections of the society. He was active in Prarthana Samaj and its wing Satyashodhak Samaj for 10 years and during this time he got involved with many welfare programs for poor. He fought for the right of the poor and farmers, and also disliked caste system. He advised poor farmers to live a simple life by cutting short expenses and taking loans. He also insisted to perform marriage ceremonies in a simple way to avoid expenses.

He became a founder member of the Hindustan Republican Association, and for his revolutionary activities, he went underground between 1929 and 1932. After that he got caught and jailed by British several times till 1942. He went underground for a second time for 44 months when Quit India Movement started. After independence he left Indian national congress.

Published: February 19, 2019

Updated: February 19, 2019