Dhondo Keshav Karve
Dhondo Keshav Karve | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 18, 1858 |
| Died | November 9, 1962 (aged 104) |
Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve (Marathi: महर्षी डॉ. धोंडो केशव कर्वे) (April 18, 1858 - November 9, 1962) was a social reformer, who supported the education of women and organized associations to help Hindu widows get remarried. He was fondly called as Anna or Annasaheb.
Early life
He was born on April 18, 1858 at Sheravali, Khed Taluka of Ratnagiri district in present Maharashtra State of India. He was native of Murud of Konkan area. He was born into the Chitpavan Brahmin family. His father's name was Keshav Bapunna Karve.
He attended Wilson College, Mumbai for matriculation [1] and Elphinstone College for his graduate degree of B.A. Mathematics. [2].
First Marriage
Karve was married at the young age of 14, to Radhabai to an 8 year old girl, but his married life started when he reached the age of 20. Radhabhai died at very early age, in 1891, leaving behind a son.
Second Marriage
Looking at the plight of a widow's life in the society of those days, he thought of the idea of widow remarriage. In 1893, he married a 23 year old widow, Godubai Karve, who had been widowed at the age of eight and set an example in the conservative Maharashtrian society of those days[3][4] .
Career in Education
From 1891 to 1914, he taught Mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune.[5]
Social work
He spent his entire life for the upliftment of women in India. He realized the value of education in the upliftment of women, and started a college for them. He initiated the creation of associations for widows to get remarried.
He started a women's shelter and a school for widows and other women in 1896.First widow to join him was his sister in law, Parvtibai Athavale. She got educated with his help and joined him as first lady superintendent of the institution, which was called as Hindu Widows' Home Association and later renamed to Hingane Stree Shikshan Samstha. It is now called as Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha[6].
Setup of S.N.D.T.
He was highly inspired by Japan Women's University in Tokyo, Japan. [4] He firmly believed that education was the way for upliftment of women. In 1916, he established the first University for women in India, with five students at Hingane. An impressed industrialist and philanthropist from Mumbai, Sir Vithaldas Thackersey offered a donation and it was renamed to Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Indian Women’s University or SNDT Women's University.
In 1931, the university established its first college in Mumbai and in 1936 it moved its headquarters to Mumbai itself. In 1949, the Government of India recognized SNDT University as a statutory university.
Awards and Honours
- 1942 - Awarded Doctor of Letters(D. Litt.) by Banaras Hindu University
- 1951 - Awarded D.Litt. by Pune University
- 1955 - Awarded D.Litt. by S.N.D.T. University
- 1955 - Awarded Padma Vibhushan
- 1957 - Awarded LL.D. by University of Mumbai
- 1958 - Awarded the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India.
Death
He died in Pune on November 9, 1962.
References
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Trivia
- Mumbai and Pune have roads/streets named as Maharshi Karve Road.
Book Reviews of two books on Maharshi Karve
As I have mentioned earlier, two other good books pertaining to the life of Maharshi Karve which I have read are:
Maharshi Karve by Ganesh L. Chandavarkar, Popular Prakashan (1958)
And
Maharshi Karve – His 105 years, Hingne Stree Shikshan Samstha (1963).
The biography ‘Maharshi Karve by Ganesh L. Chandavarkar’ was commissioned and published by the Dr. DK Karve Centenary Celebrations Committee on 18th April 1958 the birth-centenary of Dr. DK Karve (Thousands attended the main function on 18th April 1958 at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai which was addressed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister).
The author, GL Chandavarkar, then Principal of Ram Mohan English school, has extensively researched the life of Dr. DK Karve, by personal interaction with the great man himself, reminiscences of his Professors, colleagues and students, and his two writings Looking back and Atma-Vritta.
The author acknowledges with humility: “This is the story of the life of a simple man who has risen to greatness without being aware of it in the least. It is being told by one who can make no claim to being a writer” and then lucidly narrates the story of Maharshi Karve’s life in four parts comprising twenty four chapters in simple narrative style.
Part I, comprising eight chapters, covers the early life of Dhondo Keshav Karve, from his birth to the defining moment in his life - his remarriage to Godubai who was widowed at the age of eight, within three months of her marriage, even before she knew what it was to be a wife. The first chapter vividly depicts the life and culture of Murud and Konkan in a brilliantly picturesque manner and is a fascinating read. The narrative then moves in a systematic manner encompassing the salient aspects of Maharshi Karve’s life till his birth centenary in 1958. The biographer comprehensively cover Maharshi Karve’s marital and work life, but does not throw much light on his relationships with his four illustrious sons, who were well-known in their own respective fields of work.
The author avoids pontification and writes in friendly storytelling style which makes the book very interesting and readable, making it suitable for the young and old alike. I feel an epilogue covering the remaining years of his life would make the biography more complete.
There is a reference index at the end and I found this book to be quite a definitive biography which could serve as a source for knowledge and inspiration to readers interested in the life and work of Maharshi Karve. The 233 page book was published by Popular Book Depot Mumbai in 1958 and I picked up a copy priced at rupees forty at the International Book Service at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune a few years ago.
Maharshi Karve – His 105 Years, published on his 106th birth anniversary, is a pictorial album depicting the life and activities of Maharshi Karve. In today’s parlance it may be called a ‘coffee table’ book, but it is a memorable reference book of lasting souvenir value which is a must for every library. The chronologically arranged sketches, photographs and captions tell Maharshi Karve’s life-story in a seamless manner. There are photographs of historical, heritage and sentimental value highlighting important milestones in his life and work. This book is indeed a ‘collector’s item’ and was priced at a princely sum of rupees ten at the time of publication.