Chavan accepted Congress and captured it for the benefit of masses. This political thought of Maharshi Shinde Chavan brought into practice. Now India is a free nation. Chavan gained control on Maharashtra Congress but he could not exercise the same influence on all provinces. Therefore his inner ambitions to be the 'Prime Minister of India' could not be achieved.
His biographer Shri. Rambhau Joshi called him 'A page of history' (India). But Chavan covered many pages of the History of modern and united Maharashtra which he gained only through the National Congress of Nehru. I don't want to give secondary place to the efforts and influence exercised by the 'Sanyukta Maharashtra Samitee'. Chavan had to digest severe criticism of non-congress parties. But he regained the strength of congress and became the first Chief Minister of new Maharashtra. This was a striking success.
He was above castes and creed from his students life. He admitted the work done for the spread of education by Shahu Maharaj; but he declined to live in the Maratha Boarding started by Shahu Maharaj. Public life of Yashwantrao began when he was a student. He was self made truth seeker.
"Rayat Shikshan Sanstha" of Bhaurao Patil founded in 1918. The birth of this sanstha took place through the Satyashodhak conference held in Chavan's Karad taluka. There were many differences between Chavan and Bhaurao Patil. Chavan forgot all past and he was the President of the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha till his death.
In short, today, there is no personality in Maharashtra which is equal to his.
(Paper presented in the seminar organised by Shivaji
University Kolhapur 1985-86)