Chandrashekhar Agashe

Chandrashekhar Govind Agashe (14 February 1888 – 9 June 1956) was an Indian industrialist, lawyer, educator, and philanthropist, best remembered as the founder of the Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd. He served as the managing agent of the company from its inception in 1934 till his death in 1956.

Born to an aristocratic brahmin family in the Indian princely state Bhor State, he was an educator and lawyer in his youth, before going on to serve as the president of the Bhor State Council from 1934 to 1948, having previously been the council's vice president from 1933 to 1934, the council's secretary from 1932 to 1933, and the chief justiciar of the Indian princely state from 1920 to 1932, first under the 10th Raja of Bhor and then the 11th Raja of Bhor.

Throughout his career, Agashe wrote extensively in the Kesari, and was a founding member of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture. His numerous public addresses, written notices, and missives as part of his fundraising activities for the syndicate came to be known as the Agashe pattern, a means of equity crowdfunding, among businesses and press in Maharashtra between 1934 and 1956.

Remembered for his philanthropy towards education in Maharashtra, Agashe donated extensively to the Deccan Education Society, the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, and the Maharashtra Mandal. He also served as one of the co-vice presidents of the Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal from 1953 to 1955, alongside Bhagwant Rao Trimbak, Raja of Aundh and Sadashivrao Ragunathrao, Raja of Bhor, during the presidency of Malojiraje Nimbalkar IV, Raja of Phaltan.

The Chandrashekhar Agashe College of Physical Education, the Chandrashekhar Govind Agashe Business Motivation & Training Centre at the Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, the Chandrashekhar Agashe Museum wing at the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, the Chandrashekhar Agashe Road in Shaniwar Peth, Pune, and the Chandrashekhar Agashe High School in Shreepur, are named after him.