Gulabraoji Raghunathrao Patil (16 September 1921–21 January 1989) was a co-operative Leader, Member of Parliament (MP)-Rajya Sabha India from 1966−1978,Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) of Maharashtra 1983−87 and President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress(I) Committee 1981−82. Patil was regarded as a 'strongman' in Maharashtra politics in the 1970s and 1980s.

After Indian independence, Patil worked on solving agriculture problems in Western Maharashtra. He established a number of Co-operative societies in nearby palaces of Sangli. In 1951,he was first elected as a member of local council, followed by Mayor of Sangli city in 1954-55. As a mayor, he undertook many development initiatives for the city, including the installment of the Hirabagh water pipeline for the entire Sangli city. He was Secretary of District Planning Committee of newly formed Sangli District in 1960.

In the 1960s, Gulabrao got inspired by the work of Vaikunthbhai Mehta & Dhananjayrao Gadgil, both great leaders of Indian Cooperative movement. Patil believed that 'Sahakar' i.e. Cooperative Movement is main source of upliftment for the society & economic growth. Later he dedicated his entire life for strengthening Cooperative Movement in Post Independence era of India. He worked along with leaders such as Barrister G.D.Patil, Vasantdada Patil, Anandrao Chavan, Rajarambapu Patil, Aabasaheb Shinde-Maisalkar, Yashwantrao Mohite, Tataysaheb Kore, V. T. Patil and many more.

Patil was instrumental in establishing & developing Sangli District Central Cooperative Bank (SDCC) where he served as a Chairman & Director for over two decades. During his tenure he took many brave decisions for economical development of farmers. As the SDCC Chairman, he financially supported many Cooperative Sugar Factories in the region. He was first Chairman of SDCC Bank to promote and disburse agricultural loans to farmers for growing Sugarcane & Seedless Grapes in Sangli district. Today, Sangli District is one of the leading Sugarcane & Grapes Producing regions in India. In 1965, he started Sangli District Cooperative Board for basic education & training. Now named Gulabrao Patil Cooperative Training Center,it is located at Sahakar Bhavan, Market Yard, in Sangli city. He made valuable efforts to increase irrigation scheme for agriculture via Co-operative societies in Sangli district. In 1980, Patil was elected as Chairman of Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank, Mumbai-an apex organisation of Co-operative banks in Maharashtra. During his tenure as Chairmanship, MSC Bank was leading Cooperative Bank in the country. Patil also served as Chairman of Maharashtra State Cooperative Union in Pune. He was also General Secretary of National Cooperative Union of India- an apex body of Indian Cooperatives. Made valuable contribution in promoting and strengthening the Co-operative education and training in Maharashtra state.

Also, Patil had set up Cooperative Housing Societies in Pune and Sangli cities known as Gulabnagar Coop Housing Society, Dhanakawadi and Gulab Colony, Near Chandni Chowk Sangli respectively.

Patil was mainly active in Cooperative sector but like most other leaders of Maharashtra during that era, he became active in State and National politics. He served as Member of Indian Parliament for 12 years and was President of Maharashtra Congress. In 1978, he joined the Indira Gandhi led Congress(I), where he was one of the first from Maharashtra to join Congress(I) at that time. Soon in 1981, Indira Gandhi appointed Patil as President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress(I) Committee. In next general election Congress(I) won by big margin in Maharashtra under his leadership.

Patil contested Maharashtra Assembly Election in 1980 from Walva Constituency, Sangli District. Although he lost the election by small margin, he was acclaimed & emerged as strong Congress leader from Sangli-Western Maharashtra. He was elected as President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) in 1981. Later he was elected asMember of the Legislative Council- MLC in 1983-1987 Maharashtra Government for four years.

As a Member of Parliament Patil made a special effort to establish Marathi Film City-Chitranagari in Kolhapur together with his cousin, Marathi film director, Dinkar D. Patil. Also, he put forward the issue of Belgaum border dispute during his term as MP in Rajya Sabha.

In end of 1978 at Bangalore Annual Congress Session, Congress split into two namely; Congress (Indira) and Congress (Urs). Leader who joined Urs Congress were Devaraj Urs, Kasu Brahmananda Reddy, A.K. Antony, Sharad Pawar, and Yashwantrao Chavan. On other side, Indira Gandhi established her own party as Congress (I), where leaders like Shankar Dayal Sharma, Umashankar Dixit, Kamruddin Ali Ahmad, Shri. C. Subramanian, Barrister A.R.Antule nad Patil were pioneer leaders who joined Congress(I). Congress (Urs) disintegrated and Devaraj Urs joined Janata Party. The Congress(Urs) was renamed as Congress (Socialist).In next general election in 1980, Congress (I) won majority in Central Government and came into power,also in Maharashtra, Congress(I) formed its government appointing A.R.Antule as Chief Minister and Patil as Congress chief.

After resignation of Chief Minister A R Antulay in 1982, Patil was the leading candidate of next Chief Minister of Maharashtra at that time as he was President of Maharashtra State Congress and close associate of Indira Gandhi. But at last moment his name was dropped due to internal politics. In next government of Babasaheb Bhosale, Patil was offered a position which was at the lower rank of being a State Minister rather than a full cabinet post. Gulabrao rejected the offer and famously said, Power without Prestige, is a Gun without Bullets. After assassination of Indira Gandhi, Gulabrao Patil supported Rajiv Gandhi at Central Politics. He served as a Cooperative Leader & loyal Congressman until his death on 21 January 1989 at age of 67.

In memory of Patil two social trusts are established in Sangli and Miraj cities. Gulabrao Patil Memorial Trust(GPMT),Sangli-Miraj was established in 1991 and Gulabrao Patil Lokseva Vishvastha Nidhi, Sangli was established in 1981. The main objective of setting up these trusts are to, perpetuate memory of Mr. Patil by acknowledging his rich, outstanding and valuable contribution in cooperative movement and social development of Maharashtra and to undertake social activities and education programmes particularly for the elevation of common man. On behalf of these charitable trusts number of social & cultural activities are undertaken in Sangli & Miraj regions. Also, every year on his birthday, the Gulabrao Patil Sahakar Gaurav Puraskar (Award) is given for outstanding work in Cooperative field. This award was 1st awarded to the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Vilasrao Deshmukh in 2001.

On 21 January 2013,Sangli District Central Co-operative Banks craftsman Late. Patil's full size bronze statue was unveiled by Mr. Chavan, Chief Minister, Maharashtra.

Other statues of Patil are in Maharashtra State Cooperative Union, Pune & Sangli District Cooperative Board, Sangli. A memorial and park is planned to open at Sangli & Miraj cities for promoting cooperatives values at regional levels.

At present, one of his sons Prithviraj Patil, is socially and politically active and expanding the social and educational work of his father. Another son Shivraj Patil, now deceased, was a Director of Sangli District Cooperative Board & Press. His Grandson, Ruturaj Patil is a Certified Government Management Consultant and a social worker. He was elected as University Representative-UR of Willingdon College, Sangli (2003−04).