Krantisinh Nana Patil was an Indian freedom fighter and Member of Parliament for the Communist Party of India serving the Beed.

Nana Patil, popularly known as Krantisinh (means ‘revolutionary lion’), was an Indian independence activist (freedom fighter) and Member of Parliament for the Communist Party of India serving the Beed District of Marathwada region.

He had been a founder of the revolutionary Prati-sarkar formed in the Yedemachindra Sangli district of west Maharashtra. Krantisinh Nana Patil established a parallel government in the district of Satara. He died on 6 December 1976.

Nana Patil in the British Raj period

Nana Patil was born on 3 August 1900 at Bahegaon, Maharashtra. His full name was Nana Ramchanra Pisal. 

He was a founder member of the Hindustan Republican Association who went underground between 1929 and 1932. 

From 1932 to 1942, Patil was jailed eight or nine times during the struggle with the British Raj. During the Quit India movement in 1942, he went underground for a second time for 44 months. He was active mainly in Tasgaon, Khanapur, Walva, and south Karad talukas in the Sangli district. 

For a few months, he visited the village of Dhankawadi, Purandhar, and received help from the then Patil (village headman), Shamrao Takawale. Patil’s method was a direct attack on the colonial government and was widely accepted in the district.

Connections with Prarthana Samaj

Patil began his social work with Prarthana Samaj in 1919. He devoted himself to the development of depressed classes and creating awareness against blind faith and harmful traditions. He spent ten years working for the Prarthana Samaj and the associated Satyashodhak Samaj

During this period, he started welfare initiatives such as ‘samaj-vivah’ (low budget marriage) and bhaiyya education.

He was against the caste system and during his life, he fought for the right of the poor and farmers. He taught them to avoid extra expenses incurred in traditional marriage ceremonies and festivals. He also advised them to avoid taking loans and emphasized the importance of education for social development.

The political career of Nana Patil

In 1948, he joined the Peasants and Workers Party of India with Shankarrao More, Keshavrao Jedhe, Bhausaheb Raut, Madhavrao Bagal

In 1957, he got a ticket from the Communist Party of India, to contest the Lok Sabha elections in the Satara constituency and 1967 from the Beed constituency. He was successful in 1957 and 1967.

Patil also fought along with Aacharya Atre for the creation of the state of Maharashtra.

>>> Read about Modern History of Maharashtra (1818-1947 CE)

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