Maharshi Karve – The Man Behind Maharashtra’s Many Mighty Reforms
Ideas
Remembering ‘Maharshi’ Karve or ‘Annasaheb’ as he was fondly called, on his birth anniversary.
In my previous article, I had written about Kandukuri Veeresalingam, who pioneered widow remarriage in Andhra Pradesh and also championed women’s education. The late nineteenth century and early twentieth century had seen many reform movements in India, first starting from Bengal, which then began to spread to other states. The Bharat Ratna now has become a bit of a joke, with the considerations being more political, than anything else. But there was a time, when the Bharat Ratna did go to the truly deserving. One among them was Dhondo Keshav Karve, also known affectionately as Annasaheb.
“It is better to light a lamp in the darkness, than curse it” and that is what Karve did. For the 100 odd years of his life on earth, he lit the lamps in the lives of many a child widow, and women, fought for their emancipation. Like a lamp that keeps glowing till the end, giving light to others, Karve lived for others, spread light in their lives and wore himself out slowly.
Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on 18 April 1858 to Keshava Pant and Laxmibai in Ratnagiri district, located in the Konkan. Though an aristocratic, well-off family in the past, they had fallen on hard times, when he was born and were only saddled with debts to pay. Keshava Pant took up a job where he worked for a landlord as a clerk in the small town of Koregaon, in Satara district. Dhondo grew up reading religious works like the Gurucharitre and Shiva Leelamrita in his strictly religious household. Though he grew up amidst poverty and struggle, Dhondo’s mother taught him never to compromise on self-respect. Once, when the Maharaja of Baroda was gifting away cows, along with 10 Rs to every Brahmin, he asked his mother if he could also go and accept. To which his mother replied.
You are not born in a family which seeks
Dhondo Keshav Karve
Indian social reformer (1858–1962)
Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962) (pronunciation), popularly known as Maharshi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. He advocated widow remarriage, and he himself remarried a widow as a widower. Karve was a pioneer in promoting widows' education. He founded the first women's university in India, the SNDT Women's University in 1916. The Government of India awarded him with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year of his 100th birthday. He organized a conference against the practice of devdasi. He started 'Anath balikashram' an orphanage for girls. His intention was to give education to all women and make them stand on their own feet. Through his efforts, the first women university was set up in 20th century.
The appellation Maharshi, which the Indian public often assigned to Karve, means "great sage".
Biography
Early life and education
Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on 18 April 1858, at Sheravali, in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He belonged to a lower middle-class family and his father's name was Keshav Bapunna Karve.
In 1884, he graduated with a degree in mathematics from Elphinstone College.
Career
During 1891–1914, Karve taught mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune, Maharashtra.
In 1929, he visited Europe, America and Japan. During these travels, he met Albert Einstein. During this world tour, he also raised funds for the university.
Autobiographical works
Karve wrote two autobiographical works: Ātmawrutta (1928) in Marathi, and Looking Back (1936) in English.
Depictions in popular culture
The Marathi play Himalayachi Saavli (हिमालयाची सावली) (literal meaning, "The Shadow of the Himalayas". Contextually it means, under the cover of Himalaya) by Vasant Kanetkar, published in 1972, is loosely based on the
Maharshi karve wife
Dhondo Keshav Karve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maharshi
Dhondo Keshav Karve
Karve on a 1958 stamp of India
Born
(1858-04-18)18 April 1858
Dapoli, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died
9 November 1962(1962-11-09) (aged 104)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Occupation
Professor
activist
writer
social worker
Spouse(s)
Radhabai and Godubai
Children
3, including Raghunath Karve
Awards
Bharat Ratna (1958) Padma Vibhushan (1955)
Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962) (), popularly known as Maharshi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. He advocated widow remarriage, and he himself remarried a widow as a widower. Karve was a pioneer in promoting widows' education. He founded the first women's university in India, the SNDT Women's University in 1916. The Government of India awarded him with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year of his 100th birthday. He organized a conference against the practice of devdasi. He started 'Anath balikashram' an orphanage for girls. His intention was to give education to all women and make them stand on their own feet. Through his efforts, the first women university was set up in 20th century.
The appellation Maharshi, which the Indian public often assigned to Karve, means "a great sage".
Biography
Early life and education
Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on 18 April 1858, at Sheravali, in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He belonged to a lower middle-class Chitpavan Brahmin family and his father's name was Keshav Bapunna Karve.
In 1884, he graduated with a degree in mathematics from Elphinstone College.
Career
During 1891–1914, Karve taught mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune, Maharashtra.
In 1929, he visited Europe, America and Japan. During these travels, he met Albert Einstein. During this world tour, he also raised funds for the university.
Autobiographical works
Karve wrote two autobiogra
Maharshi karve photo
Introduction
https://youtu.be/YUYO4fex8e8
Maharshi Karve lived for a hundred and four years. After he completed his education he pledged his life to the service to others. He chose poverty and walked the path strewn with criticism and opposition; he wiped others, tears, he brought education, equality, honor, and joy into the lives of many people.
There was a rich man in a town, He had two sons. The man was very wealthy. He called his sons and gave a rupee.
‘Fill the Room!
“Spend this rupee, just this one rupee -and fill your room with something. Whoever passes this test gets my fortune,”
said the rich man.
The rich man returned home in the evening.
When he entered the room of the First Son, the room was pitch dark. Somehow he groped in the dark. What did he find? Mere hay! The rich man’s first son had tried to fill the room with hay.
The rich man entered the second son’s room.
With the rupee, the second son had brought a mud lamp, some oil, and a wick and had lit the lamp. In a corner of the room, he had lighted a few scented sticks. The room was full of light.
And it was full of the sweet smell. The second son passed the test.
An Ideal Life
God, the Creator, gives every one of us some talent and ability and sends us to the earth. The man who uses the God-given talent and ability and lights up his surroundings and spreads fragrance passes the test of life. His life is successful; it is an ideal life. A man who led such an exemplary life was Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve.
Dhondo Keshav Karve was born and grew up in abject poverty, but throughout a fruitful life of a hundred and four years he kept the lamp of knowledge burning, to remove the darkness of ignorance; like a piece of sandalwood he wore himself out to spread fragrance. He saw people who were leading a miserable life of blind customs; he showed them how to enrich their lives.
Like a father, he brought solace to broken hearts.