Late Sahakar Maharshi Shri. Bhausaheb Santuji Thorat, a distinguished Freedom Fighter and devout Gandhian from Maharashtra's Ahmednagar District, ardently responded to Mahatma Gandhi's 'Quit India' movement in 1942. Sacrificing his education, he actively participated in the Freedom Struggle, enduring a 15-month imprisonment in Nashik Central Jail. Following Independence, Shri. Thorat dedicated his life to social service, contributing significantly to the nation's development.
Choosing Social Service as his life's purpose, Shri. Thorat dedicated over half a century to uplift and comprehensively develop the lives of the downtrodden, peasantry, landless laborers, and workers. His impactful service made a lasting impact in areas such as cooperatives, education, environment, agriculture, banking, irrigation, and rural development. Shri. Thorat's commitment to societal transformation extended well beyond India's struggle for independence, contributing significantly to the nation's progress and the welfare of its people.

Shri. Bhausaheb Santuji Thorat, visionary founder of Sahyadri Bahujan Viday Prasarak Samaj, established an educational network with 2 Primary, 21 Secondary, 4 Higher Secondary Schools, and 2 Senior Colleges. This serves around 18,000 students in remote rural areas of Sangamner Taluka. His commitment goes beyond mainstream education, addressing the needs of specially-abled and underprivileged students through institutions like Jaihind Ashram Shala and Sangram Mook Badhir and Matimand Vidyalaya.
To deliver high-quality professional education to rural communities at an affordable cost right at their doorstep, Sahakarmaharshi Shri. Bhausaheb Santuji Thorat, also known as Dada, established the "Amrutvahini Sheti & Shikshan Vikas Sanstha" in Sangamner in 1978. Over time, the Sanstha has evolved into a metaphorical "Banyan Tree," offering educational opportunities from kindergarten to doctoral studies for those who aspire to blossom in a peaceful environment. Today, the Sanstha boasts a diverse array of educational offerings, including an Engineering College, a Polytechnic, an Industrial Training Institute, an MBA College, a Pharmacy College, an Agriculture Institute, and an English Medium residential School. The institution provides quality education in each of these disciplines, receiving various national-level accreditations. This broad spectrum of educational initiatives has brought about a transformative impact on the lives of its alumni, who are now scattered across the globe. The establishment of professional courses has brought about a significant transformation in the lives of students and their families, especially those from Sangamner and Akole tahasil, Ahmednagar and Nashik districts. This initiative has contributed substantially to their educational, economic, and social development. He has also ventured into providing the medical facilities to the poor and needy people and started a well-equipped 100 bedded rural hospital. Now, it has been turned into multi-speciality domain with SMBT Sevabhavi Trust providing medical care and education.

Honorable Dada, recognizing the pivotal role of cooperatives in rural development, founded the Amrut Sahakari Udyog Samuha. This visionary initiative includes the well-managed Sangamner Bhag Sahakar Sakhar Karkhana, now Sahakarmaharshi Bhausaheb Thorat Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana, a distinguished sugar factory offering the highest cane prices to farmers. Posthumously named in his honor, it has received numerous state and national awards. Shri. Thorat's commitment to transparency extended to cooperative institutes, such as Sangamner Taluka Sahakari Dudh Utpadak Sangh, processing nearly 3.0 lac liters of milk daily. This cooperative not only benefits the farming community but also generates self-employment for landless laborers and unemployed youth. In the Distillery of Amrut Sahakari Udyog Samuha, Shri. Thorat, a devoted Gandhian, abstained from producing liquor, reflecting his commitment to Gandhian values and prioritizing community well-being over financial gains.
Shri. Bhausaheb Santuji Thorat recognized the vital role of banking in empowering economically disadvantaged individuals. For 46 years, he served as a director of the Ahmednagar District Central Co-Op. Bank, contributing to rural upliftment. His dedication extended to the Maharashtra State Co-op. Bank, Mumbai, where he served for nearly 34 years and chaired both the District Co-op. Bank and the apex bank. As the founder of Amrutvahini Nagari Sahakari Bank, he played a pivotal role. Beyond banking, Shri. Thorat served as a director of the Industrial Finance Corporation of India for five years, supporting diverse initiatives such as lift irrigation, farming mechanization, and the promotion of dairying, poultry, fishery, horticulture, and floriculture, leaving a lasting impact on rural economic development and sustainability.
Shri Bhausaheb Thorat was a dedicated activist, prioritizing farmers' welfare and sustainable development. He led movements like "Meter Hatao," aimed at reducing interest rates on farmers' loans. Advocating for equitable water allocation from the Bhandardara Dam, he also championed amendments to the Maharashtra Universities Act of 1994.

Shri Bhausaheb Thorat significantly contributed to environmental protection and conservation. His watershed development efforts in Sangamner Taluka involved community participation. In 2006, he initiated the "Dandakaranya Abhiyan," sowing 400 million seeds across 28,000 acres. The program continued, planting over 60 million seeds in 2007 and 2008. Thorat's remarkable work earned him acclaim, including the 'Late Navinbhai Shah Puraskar,' and recognition from the United Nations Environment Programme for the Dandakaranya Abhiyan. His commitment to Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy drove him to translate Gandhiji's vision into tangible environmental development.
Shri Bhausaheb Thorat's exemplary services garnered widespread recognition and respect, earning him several prestigious awards. He received the 'Lokhitwadi Gopal Hari Deshmukh Award' for his autobiography, 'Amrut Manthan,' from Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad. The 'Shri. Saraswati Puraskar' by Shri. Kailash Math Trust celebrated his significant societal contributions. His outstanding role in the cooperative movement within Maharashtra State was honored with the Shri Gulabrao Patil Shakar Gourav Puraskar from Sangali. The 'Anandmayi Samajseva Puraskar' was conferred upon him by the Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan, presented by Smt. Lata Mangeshkar. Other recognitions include the Late 'Kisan Veer Samajikta Puraskar,' 'Late Shri Vishnu Anna Patil Jeevan Gourav Puraskar' from the Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank's Federation, and the 'Jeevan Sadhana Gourav Puraskar' from the University of Pune, honored by Padmabhushan Lasaheb Bharde.