Prabhashankar Pattani Biography 
Prabhashankar Pattani was a politician, administrator, diplomat and social worker from Gujarat who lived during the period, 15 April 1862 – 16 February 1938. He was the Prime Minister or Diwan of Bhavnagar State in Gujarat. He was a close friend of Mahatma Gandhi. They knew each other during their study at Rajkot. A noble personality, he was well-known for his administrative skills and diplomacy. He promoted education and offered scholarships to deserving candidates of Bhavnagar State and other states to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a generous donor, who donated most of his money. Pattani died in 1938 following a cardiac arrest.
Prabhashankar Pattani was born on 15 April 1862 in Morbi, Morvi State, Kathiawar Agency during British rule in India. He completed his studies from Rajkot. He secured first rank in Kathiavar Peninsula. After studies he married the daughter of an ayurvedic doctor. Due to his low financial status, he was often humiliated by his in-laws. He pursued his medical studies in a medical college at Mumbai. However due to some health issues, he had to discontinue his medical studies and return back to his hometown in Gujarat.
Initially he took a few small jobs to help himself with financial aid. Later he was appointed as the tutor of Bhavnagar's prince Bhavsinhji II. They developed good friendship, and it proved to be a turning point of his life as well. When the prince ascended on throne, he asked Pattani to become Prime Minister of the princely state. Pattani did not want to oust the incumbent Prime Minister, and hence joined the state as Secretary of the King. He later became Prime Minister in 1903.
Published: January 07, 2019
Updated: January 07, 2019
