Dhondo Keshav Karve
Dhondo Keshav Karve |
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Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve (Hindi: 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 Taluk ofRatnagiri district in present Maharashtra State of India. He was native of Murud of Konkan area. He was born in 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 widowed at the age of eight and set an example in the convervative Maharashtrian society of those days[3][4] .
Career
From 1891 to 1914, he taught Mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune.
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. It 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[5].
Setup of First Educational Institute
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. 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 at Pune on November 9, 1962.
References
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Trivia
- Mumbai and Pune have roads/streets named as Maharshi Karve Road.