Dr. Ratnappa Bharamappa Kumbhar (15 September 1909 – 23 December 1998), also called Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar, was an Indian independence activists

Indian independence activists

This is a listing of people who campaigned against or are considered to have campaigned against foreign domination and cultural imposition on the Indian sub-continent...

 from Ichalkaranji

Ichalkaranji

Ichalkaranji is located at . It has an average elevation of 538 metres .Ichalkaranji , lies in the Pancaganga valley about eighteen miles east of Kolhapur and half a mile north of the river. It is six miles southeast of Hatkanangale railway station...

, who actively participated in the Indian independence movement

Indian independence movement

The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...

. He was one of the persons to sign the Final Draft of the Constitution of India

Constitution of India

The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...

 along with B. R. Ambedkar

B. R. Ambedkar

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar , popularly also known as Babasaheb, was an Indian jurist, political leader, philosopher, thinker, anthropologist, historian, orator, prolific writer, economist, scholar, editor, a revolutionary and one of the founding fathers of independent India. He was also the Chairman...

. He received Padma Shri

Padma Shri

Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...

 award in 1985 (social work).He was Member of the Parliament, Member of Legislative Council and also worked as a Minister of Food and Civil Supplies in Maharashtra Government.

Biography

Dr. Ratnappa Kumbhar was born in a Maratha

Maratha

The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...

 Kumbhar family at Nimshirgaon village in Shirol

Shirol

Shirol is an industrial area and tehsil in Ichalkaranji subdivision of Kolhapur district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.Shirol industrial area is rapidly developing with new industries coming up. Major among them are sugar factories and auto ancillaries....

 tehsil.

Indian independence movement

During his youth he was keenly interested in political and social work and mobilized support under the Prajaparishad banner against the local princely state rulers. He actively participated in the freedom movement and went underground for about 6 years. He was on the forefront of an agitation for dissolution of princely states. For his long devotion to the independence movement, he was called Deshbhakt ("Patriot") Ratnappa Kumbhar.

Political career

After Independence, he became a member of the committee that framed Indian Constitution, later he was elected as an MP in 1952.

He founded a sugar maill In Ichalkaranji.


Between 1962 and 1982 and from 1990 till his death.He represented shirol assembly constituency as an MLA.And between 1974 and 1978 he was minister of state for home and civil supplies. He was instrumental in bringing about the industrial and agricultural prosperity of Shirol and Hatkanangle tehsil of Kolhapur.

Co-operative Movement

Ratnappa Kumbhar, undertook various Co-operative Movements and also ran them successfully, including :

1. Panchaganga Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd. Ganganagar Ichalkaranji.
2. Peoples Co-operative Bank Ltd.
3. The Kolhapur Zilla Sahakari Shetakari Vinkari Soot Girani Ltd
4. The Janata Central co-operative consumer stores Ltd.

Ratnappa Kumbhar died in morning of 23, December 1998, at the age of 89. The Deshbhakt Ratnappa Kumbhar College of Commerce college in Kolhapur is named after him.