Pandurang Mahadev Bapat, popularly known as 'Senapati Bapat'- owing to his revolutionarty role in freedom struggle- was born on November 12, 1880 in Parner (Maharashtra). He had a brilliant academic career and after graduation proceeded to England for studies in Engineering on a scholarship. He campaigned in England for India's independence and these activities led to the Bomaby University withdrawing the scholarship. Bapat rturned to India in 1908 and went to Calcutta to meet the Maniktola group of revolutionaries in Bengal. Later he went underground for four years to avoid arrest i the Maniktola Bomb case. From 1913 to 1920, Bapat engaged himself in social work. He took an active part in politics and was the sub-editor of Lokmanya Tilak's 'Maratha'. Bapat's life was a saga of struggle and suffering. He led the famous 'Mulshi Satyagraha'.

The movement was so revolutionary that it earned him the title 'Senapati'. He spent nearly two decades in prison for his part in the freedom struggle. After independence, Bapat played a significant role in the struggle for Samyukta Maharashtra and took part in the Goa liberation movement. Senapati Bapat was also an erudite scholar. His published works include commentaries on Bhagwat Gita and the Upanishads and translatios from Sri Aurobindo. Bapat died on November 28, 1967.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India