Dr Ratnappa Bharamappa Kumbhar (Aged 89), also known as Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar, was born on September 15, 1909 in Ichalkaranji. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement and was one of the persons who signed the Final Draft of the Constitution of India along with B. R. Ambedkar. In 1985, he received the Padma Shri award for social work. He served as a Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Council and also worked as a Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in Maharashtra Government.
During his youth, he was keenly interested in political and social work and mobilized support under the Prajaparishad banner against the local princely state rulers with Madhavrao Bagal and other associates like Dinakara Desai. On July 8, 1939, Kumbhar, Bagal, Desai and others were arrested and fined by Kolhapur State. He actively participated in the freedom movement and later went underground for about 6 years.
Kumbhar was on the forefront of an agitation for the dissolution of princely states. For his long devotion to the independence movement, he was called Deshbhakt (“Patriot”) Ratnappa Kumbhar. After Independence, he became a member of the committee that framed the Indian Constitution. He was elected as an MP in 1952 and was responsible for founding a sugar mill in Ichalkaranji. He was instrumental in bringing about the industrial and agricultural prosperity of Shirol and Hatkanangle tehsil of Kolhapur. He undertook various Co-operative Movements and also ran them successfully.
The Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce in Kolhapur and Deshbhakta Ratnappa Kumbhar Vidyalaya in Kamptee district of Nagpur, Maharashtra, are named after him. He passed away on December 23, 1998.
Ratnappa Kumbhar
(1909 – 1998) – (Maharashtra)
Dr Ratnappa Bharamappa Kumbhar (Aged 89), also known as Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar, was born on September 15, 1909 in Ichalkaranji. He actively participated in the Indian independence movement and was one of the persons who signed the Final Draft of the Constitution of India along with B. R. Ambedkar. In 1985, he received the Padma Shri award for social work. He served as a Member of Parliament, Member of Legislative Council and also worked as a Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in Maharashtra Government.
During his youth, he was keenly interested in political and social work and mobilized support under the Prajaparishad banner against the local princely state rulers with Madhavrao Bagal and other associates like Dinakara Desai. On July 8, 1939, Kumbhar, Bagal, Desai and others were arrested and fined by Kolhapur State. He actively participated in the freedom movement and later went underground for about 6 years.
Kumbhar was on the forefront of an agitation for the dissolution of princely states. For his long devotion to the independence movement, he was called Deshbhakt (“Patriot”) Ratnappa Kumbhar. After Independence, he became a member of the committee that framed the Indian Constitution. He was elected as an MP in 1952 and was responsible for founding a sugar mill in Ichalkaranji. He was instrumental in bringing about the industrial and agricultural prosperity of Shirol and Hatkanangle tehsil of Kolhapur. He undertook various Co-operative Movements and also ran them successfully.
The Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce in Kolhapur and Deshbhakta Ratnappa Kumbhar Vidyalaya in Kamptee district of Nagpur, Maharashtra, are named after him. He passed away on December 23, 1998.
News