Dhondo Keshav Karve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maharshi
Dhondo Keshav Karve
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Karve on a 1958 stamp of India
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| Born | 18 April 1858 Dapoli, Bombay Presidency, British India
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| Died | 9 November 1962 (aged 104) Pune, Maharashtra, India
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| 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".
Contents
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 autobiographical works: Ātmawrutta (1928) in Marathi, and Looking Back (1936) in English.
Awards and honours
- 1942 – awarded Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Banaras Hindu University
- 1951 – awarded D.Litt. by Pune University
- 1954 – awarded D.Litt. by S.N.D.T. University
- 1955 – awarded Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
- 1957 – awarded LL.D. by University of Mumbai
- 1958 – awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, by the Government of India
In his honour, Karvenagar in Pune was named after him & Queen's Road in Mumbai (Bombay) was renamed to Maharshi Karve Road.
See also
- Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha
- The new Brahmans; five Maharashtrian families. Essays on D.K. Karve by his son and Irawati Karve
