Balasaheb Desai famously known as Loknete Balasaheb Desai (People's Leader). He was a leading politician and social worker from Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

, India. He held important positions in Maharashtra State Government as Home Minister, Education Minister, Cultural Minister during initial formation of Maharashtra state. He was instrumental in establishing Shivaji University

Shivaji University

Shivaji University , established in 1962, is located in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. The University is named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire. It was inaugurated on 18 November 1962 by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the then President of India. Yashwantrao Chavan and...

 in Kolhapur in 1962http://kolhapur.nic.in/Htmldocs/svidyapeeth.htm.

Introduction

Balasaheb Desai was an famous political leader from Maharashtra

Maharashtra

Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...

 state. He was main Minister in bilingual state government of Bombay state

Bombay State

The Bombay State was a state of India, dissolved with the formation of Maharashtra and Gujarat states on May 1, 1960.-History:During British rule, portions of the western coast of India under direct British rule were part of the Bombay Presidency...

 as well as Maharsahtra government. He played main role in Samyukta Maharashtra Movement and handled a stiuation very firmly as a outrage of Violence during the Samyukta Maharashtra activities in Bombay.

A true political leader

In history of Maharashtra government Balasaheb Desai is seen as one of strongest Home Minister till date. He took many brave steps to make Home and Police Department strong and Reliable. He handled many critical situations very well during his term as Home minister, as for in outrage of violence during the Saymukta Maharashtra Movement in Bombay.

He used to contest the legislative assembly seat from Patan taluka, in Satara District

Satara district

Satara District is a district of Maharashtra state in western India with an area of 10,480 km² and a population of 2,808,994 of which 14.17% were urban . Satara is the capital of the district and other major towns include Wai, Karad, Koregaon, Koyananagar, Rahimatpur, Phaltan, Mahabaleshwar...

 of Maharashtra state in India. He won 3 times from his constituency and secured a place in the cabinet of the Maharashtra government. He was Speaker of Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha

Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha

The Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha or the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral legislature of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is situated in the Nariman Point area of South Mumbai in the capital Mumbai...

 from 4 July 1977 to 14 March 1978.

Cooperative movement

Balasaheb Desai established Sugar factory known as Loknete Balasaheb Desai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana in Patan. This sugar mill was started on cooperative base which help to provided stability and growth for farmers in the region. Balasaheb Desai worked closely with leading cooperative leaders in Maharashtra such as Yashwantrao Chavan

Yashwantrao Chavan

Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan was the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra after the division of Bombay State and the fifth Deputy Prime Minister of India. He was a strong Congress leader, Cooperative leader, social activist and writer. He was popularly known as Leader of Common People...

, Vasantdada Patil, Gulabrao Patil

Gulabrao Patil

Gulabrao Patil was a Co-operative Leader, Member of Parliament -Rajya Sabha India from 1966–1978, an Member of the Legislative Council of Maharashtra 1983-87 and President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee 1981-82.Famous quote: Power without Prestige, is a Gun without ...

 and many more. He led the foundation of cooperative in rural areas of Maharashtra, which in turn provided employment and economic growth in the State.

Establishment of Shivaji University

Balasaheb Desai was a educational minister in the first cabinet of Maharashtra government in 1960. He took many brave decisions as education minister for Maharashtra. He was instrumental in establishing Shivaji University

Shivaji University

Shivaji University , established in 1962, is located in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India. The University is named after Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, founder of the Maratha Empire. It was inaugurated on 18 November 1962 by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the then President of India. Yashwantrao Chavan and...

 in Kolhapur in 1962http://kolhapur.nic.in/Htmldocs/svidyapeeth.htm. He also established Balasaheb Desai College of Arts and Science in 1969 at Patan.

Current scenario

His Grandson Shamburaje Desai was MLA from 2004-2009 in Patan and was elected on shivsena ticket. However he lost the general election in 2009 by a small margin. He is also chairman of Loknete Balasaheb Desai Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Daulatnagar. Shambhuraje Desai was Awarded Best Legislative Member of Maharashtra Assembly in 2009.

Centenary (100th) Birth Anniversary Celebration of Balasaheb Desai is being celebrated in 2010 year throughout Patan andKarad Taluka and Western Maharashtra.