After 50 yrs, Karmveer Bhaurao Patil’s Chevrolet again hits the road

The legendary Chevrolet of the founder of Rayat Shikshan Sansthan, Karamveer Bhaurao Patil, had a re-run on Satara roads after 50 years on Saturday. The car hit the road on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Karmveer, who was popularly called Anna, even as Satara residents gathered in large numbers to watch the regal procession of the car and to take photographs.

Patil’s name has become synonymous with the popularisation of education in the state. His Rayat Shikshan Sangsthan had made it possible for many to pursue higher education. However, Patil had refused to accept any car for his personal usage.
In 1948, Patil decided to procure a car for himself, and the said Chevrolet was imported from the USA under the special quota of minister Vaikunthnath Mehta.

Consisting of six cylinders, Patil would fill petrol in this car and roam the state collecting funds and grains for his Rayat Shikshan Sangsthan. It is said that Patil had collected quite a lump sum of money and grains using this car.

The car travelled across the city with many people crowding to see it. The honour of driving the car went to the mechanic of Kohinoor Car Garage Malangesh Makandar.