Patil's salary account at the State Bank of India (SBI) is credited with Rs 38, Re 1 each for his 36 months' tenure as the Tripura governor and two months here. In fact, the septuagenarian has been taking only a token salary from the government since 1967, when he was first elected an MLA from Panhala constituency of Maharashtra and all his government postings henceforth.
When asked the reason, the soft-spoken governor replied, "It is not necessary for me."
Patil, who follows the ideologies of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, said, "People give respect to a person after he dies. But, helping out a living being is more important and would earn more blessings." The governor also pays for the higher education of 32 students from India who study at Mauritius at his college. And that's just one of the several humanitarian activities that Patil is involved with.
According to Shivdeep W Lande, ADC to governor, Patil has about 70 acres of agricultural land in Maharashtra, which is a source of his sustenance and philanthropic works. "He also pays for the travelling allowances (TA) of his aides who travel with him. Even I don't claim my TA," said Lande, adding that if Patil's guests stay at the circuit house, the expenses are also paid for by the governor.
Patil took over the charge of Bihar governor on March 22 this year. He has founded 160 colleges and four deemed universities. "I retired from active politics in 1980 and then from the administrative work of my colleges in 1993," he said.
His duties as the head of the state keeps him occupied for most part of the day. "However, I like to go for a walk early morning," said Patil, adding that his day begins by drinking a glass of popular Bihari drink "sattu". In fact, another Bihari cuisine that has invaded the otherwise Maharashtrian kitchen of the governor house is "litti-chokha", having found favour with Patil lately. But, food is only necessary for survival and is a taste to the tongue, feels the educationist.
In fact, his visits to Bodh Gaya, Rajgir and a few other places of Bihar have helped him form a positive opinion of the state. "In Mumbai, the place where I lived was named 'Siddhartha' and there were two temples of Buddha there. Now I am on the land where Buddha once walked. There must be some divine connection," said the Padma Shri recipient.
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