The guiding light of Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, Shegaon, Shivshankarbhau Patil, passed away on Wednesday at 5.31 pm after battling health problems. He was 82. He was cremated at 6.30 pm. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis and others condoled his demise.

 

The Managing Trustee of Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan, Patil had suffered multi organ failure and his condition was critical for last two days. He had refused to be admitted to hospital. He was being treated at home by Cardiologist Dr Harish Saraf and Ayurveda expert Dr Gajanan Padghan. FDA Minister and Buldana Guardian Minister Dr Rajendra Shingane rushed to Shegaon on hearing about the sad news. In an interview given to ‘The Hitavada’ some years ago, Shivshankarbhau Patil had said,”Our Karma is an ongoing process. How a person conducts himself/herself even in the most challenging of situations, decides his/her Karma. To become a Karmayogi one requires sheer faith and dedication in oneself and the Ultimate Power.” With this dedication, he had joined Shegaon temple’s management work at a young age of 18 years. He became trustee of Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan on August 31, 1962. Keeping monetary gains at bay, Shivshankarbhau created a system that used donation money to improve educational facilities in rural areas, provide education to poor students, give health facilities, provide meals to devotees, construct Bhakta Niwas and Anand Sagar at Shegaon.

 

For last four decades, he had been efficiently handling affairs of the Sansthan which is known for cleanliness and discipline among devotees. Born on January 12, 1940 in Shegaon, Shivshankarbhau had completed education upto class 12th. He got married to Umatai at the age of 18 years. He had served as President of the Sansthan for 20 years from 1969 to 1990. Shivshankarbhau also served as Civic Chief of Shegaon from 1974 to 1979 and was associated with several social and educational organisations. Late Shivshankarbhau is survived by wife Umatai Patil, two sons Neelkanth Patil, executive trustee of the Sansthan, and Shrikant Patil, executive director of Shri Sant Gajanan Maharaj Engineering College, and three daughters to mourn the loss. A pall of gloom descended over Shegaon on learning about Shivshankarbhau’s demise and many people from various walks of life and people associated with him at Shri Gajanan Maharaj Sansthan attended the last rites on Wednesday evening and bid him tearful adieu.