Dear ISSCT Members
Sh. Shivajirao G. Patil, Honorary Life Member of the ISSCT passed away on 22nd July 2017 at Mumbai, India at the age of 92.
Mr. Patil has had a distinguished career in many organisations including the ISSCT which he served as Councillor for India from 1992 to 1995. He was made Honorary Life Member at the XXII Congress in Colombia in 1995.
Expression of sympathy from ISSCT has been conveyed to Mr. Patil’s family through her daughter Mrs. Manya Patil Seth.
An obituary has been written by Mr. Sanjay Awasthi, Member of the ISSCT Executive Committee and is found below.
Kind regards
Jean Claude Autrey General Secretary
Mr. Patil was pioneer in spearheading the cooperative movement in Maharashtra, India and the efforts made by him will always be remembered by the cooperators forever. He was perhaps one of the few distinguished industry leaders who did a commendable job for the growth and development of the Sugar Industry in his long and illustrious career.
Plunging into politics in his teens, the young and firebrand Patil was attracted to Communism in his school days. At the tender age of 15, he was elected president of the CPI’s student wing in 1939. He took part in several agitations during the India’s struggle for Independence and was also incarcerated for 12 years for various subversive activities.
Mr. Patil also served as the Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly thrice and also one term as Member of Parliament of India from 1992-1998.
Mr. Shivajirao Patil also called Dada with affection took cudgels to take the Indian sugar industry global. He had been associated with several international organizations like, ISSCT, ICUMSA, WSRO, ISO, SIT, WABCG etc. He was the pioneer force in organizing the following mega international Congresses in India for showcasing the indigenous developments that had taken place in the Indian sugar industry:
- 23rd ISSCT Congress at New Delhi, 1999
- 23rd Session of ICUMSA at Pune in 2002 (first ICUMSA Session to be held in Asia)
- World Association of Beet and Cane Growers in 1994 first time in India
Mr. Patil also headed the following key organizations as its Chairman/President:
• The Sugar Technologists Association of India,
• National Federation of Cooperative Sugar Factories Ltd.,
• Indian Sugar and Exim Corporation,
• National Heavy Engineering Cooperative Ltd.,
• Vasantdada Sugar Institute etc.
He had been an active member of The Sugar Technologists Association of India and had actively participated in the activities of the Association. He had helped/guided us as and when required. At this hour of grief the Council, members and staff of the Association join me in sending the heartfelt condolences and sympathies.
We pray to the almighty God to give all of you the strength to bear this irreparable loss. May the pious soul rests in eternal peace.
SANJAY AWASTHI PRESIDENT
THE SUGAR TECHNOLOGISTS ASSOCIATION