Balasaheb Desai

Balasaheb Desai (Daulatrao Shripatrao Desai; 10 March 1910 – 24 April 1983) was a politician and social worker from Maharashtra, India, who held important positions in the Maharashtra state government as home minister, education minister and cultural minister during the initial formation of the Maharashtra state. He was instrumental in establishing Shivaji University in Kolhapur in 1962.

Career Desai started his law practice in Patan, Karad, Satara district. In 1940, he campaigned for election to the district local board and was elected president. In 1952, he was elected as the member of the legislative assembly (MLA) from Patan and was re-elected in 1957. In the same year, he became a state cabinet minister. He was the main minister in the bilingual state government of Bombay state as well as Maharashtra's government. He played a leading role in the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement and dealt firmly with any outbreaks of violence during its activities in Bombay. In 1978–79 he was president of Maharashtra Assembly.

Co-operative movement Desai established a sugar factory called Loknete Balasaheb Desai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Patan. This sugar mill was started as a co-operative to provide stability and the opportunity for growth for farmers in the region. Desai worked closely with prominent co-operative figures in Maharashtra such as Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil and Gulabrao Patil.

Shivaji University, Kolhapur Desai was an educational minister in the first cabinet of the Maharashtra government in 1960. He was instrumental in establishing Shivaji University in Kolhapur in 1962. He also established Balasaheb Desai College of Arts and Science in 1969 at Patan.