D Y Patil, the Padma Shri-winning educationist who built one of India’s largest private education networks, died Tuesday in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, at the age of 90.

Patil had been dealing with age-related health issues before his death, according to people familiar with his condition. He was widely known across Maharashtra and beyond for founding and expanding the D Y Patil Group, a conglomerate that grew to include more than 180 educational institutions.

Among those institutions are seven deemed universities, spread across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Kolhapur and other cities in Maharashtra. The group’s institutions cover fields ranging from medicine and engineering to management and the arts, making Patil one of the most influential figures in India’s private education sector over the past several decades.

Beyond education, Patil held significant political office. He served as Governor of Tripura from 2009 to 2013 and then as Governor of Bihar from 2013 to 2014. During his time as Bihar’s governor, he was also given additional charge as Governor of West Bengal for a brief period in 2014.

Patil’s death drew tributes from political leaders and academicians across the country, who credited him with expanding access to higher education in Maharashtra and building institutions that trained generations of doctors, engineers and professionals.

He was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India’s highest civilian honors, in recognition of his contributions to education. His family and the institutions under the D Y Patil Group are expected to announce further details of funeral arrangements in the coming days.

Patil’s passing marks the end of an era for one of India’s most prominent education entrepreneurs, whose institutions continue to enroll tens of thousands of students each year across Maharashtra.