Kaka Kalelkar facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kaka Kalelkar
Kalelkar on a 1985 stamp of India
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office 3 April 1952 – 2 April 1964
Personal details
Born	Dattatreya Balkrishna Kalelkar 1 December 1885 Satara, Maharashtra
Died	21 August 1981 New Delhi
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Fergusson College
Occupation	Social reformer, activist
Profession	Writer

Dattatreya Balkrishna Kalelkar (born December 1, 1885 – died August 21, 1981) was a very important person in India's history. People knew him best as Kaka Kalelkar. He was an activist who worked for India's freedom from British rule. He was also a social reformer, which means he worked to make society better. Kaka Kalelkar was a journalist and a strong follower of Mahatma Gandhi's ideas and ways.

Early Life and Education

Kaka Kalelkar was born in Satara, a city in Maharashtra, on December 1, 1885. His family's village, Kaleli, gave him the surname Kalelkar.

He finished school in 1903. Then, he earned a degree in Philosophy from Fergusson College, Pune in 1907.

Early Career and Travels

In 1908, Kaka Kalelkar started studying law. He also worked for a newspaper called Rashtramat. This newspaper supported India's independence. Later, he became a teacher at Ganganath Vidyalaya in Baroda in 1910.

The British government closed this school in 1912. They did not like its focus on Indian nationalism. After this, Kaka Kalelkar traveled a lot. He walked through the Himalayas and visited Burma (now Myanmar). In 1915, he met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time.

Working for India's Freedom

Meeting Mahatma Gandhi changed Kaka Kalelkar's life. He joined Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram. An ashram is a spiritual community. He taught at the Rashtriya Shala, a school within the ashram.

He also edited a magazine called Sarwodaya. Kaka Kalelkar was put in jail many times. This was because he took part in the Indian independence movement.

Building Educational Institutions

With Gandhi's support, Kaka Kalelkar helped start Gujarat Vidyapith in Ahmedabad. This was a national university. He served as its vice-chancellor (a top leader) from 1928 to 1935. He left Gujarat Vidyapith in 1939.

Mahatma Gandhi admired him greatly. Gandhi even called him Savai Gujarati. This means "a quarter more than a Gujarati," showing how much he valued Kaka Kalelkar's contributions to Gujarat.

Promoting National Language and Social Work

In 1935, Kaka Kalelkar joined the Rashtabhasha Samiti. This group worked to make Hindi-Hindustani the national language of India. He also worked with the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi. This organization kept Gandhi's memory and work alive after 1948.

He was a member of the Rajya Sabha, which is part of India's Parliament. He served there from 1952 to 1964. In 1953, he led the Backward Classes Commission. This group worked to help people from disadvantaged communities. He also led the Gujarati Sahitya Parishad in 1959. This is a big Gujarati literary group.

In 1967, he started another school, Gandhi Vidyapith, in Vedchhi. He was its vice-chancellor too. Kaka Kalelkar passed away on August 21, 1981.

His Writings and Books

Kaka Kalelkar was a talented writer. He wrote many books, especially travel stories. He wrote in Gujarati, Marathi, and Hindi. His books shared his thoughts and experiences.

Some of his well-known works include:

• Jeevan-Vyavastha (Gujarati essays)
• Himalayano Pravas (Gujarati travelogue about the Himalayas)
• Smaran Yatra (Marathi memories)
• Stray Glimpses of Bapu (English, about Mahatma Gandhi)

Awards and Honors

Kaka Kalelkar received many awards for his work. In 1965, he won the Sahitya Akademi Award. This was for his book Jeevan-Vyavastha. This award is one of India's highest literary honors.

In 1971, he received the Sahitya Akademi Fellowship. This honored his great achievements in literature. The Government of India also gave him the Padma Vibhushan in 1964. This is India's second-highest civilian award.

In 1985, India honored him by issuing a special postage stamp with his picture.