Minister, scholar, LS speaker: Multi-faceted Shivraj Patil passes away

FORMER Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Chakurkar passed away at 90 on Friday morning at his native Latur in Maharashtra after a brief illness.

- SUDHIR SURYAWANSHI@ Mumbai

His funeral will be held on Saturday in Latur. He is survived by his son, Shailesh Patil, daughter-in-law Archana, who is a BJP leader, and two granddaughters.

Patil was widely respected for his dignified conduct and scholarly approach. Known for his statesmanship and innovative ideas, he avoided personal attacks in both public speeches and private conversations. He was “a man of high gentlemanly calibre,” admired for his vast reading, meticulous study, and articulate presentations. He had an exceptional grasp of constitutional matters as a law student and he was a “much-respected parliamentarian of his time” for his erudite speeches.