6 july 1837 is the birth anniversary of R.G. Bhandarkar who was one of India’s pioneer social reformers and first orientologists. He reconstructed the political history of the Satavahanas of the Deccan and the history of Vaishnavism and other sects. As great social reformer, through his researches he castigated the evils of the caste system and child marriage.
Bhandarkar became a member of paramhanssabha in 1853. Where he was inspired by the lectures of Keshubchandrasen. In the year 1866 in public meeting he took a public pledge to eradicate the social evils of child marriage, caste system and to promote the education of women and widow remarriage. Thus to attain the objectives, RG Bhandarkar along with MG Ranade helped found prarthanasamaj in 1867. As an educationist, he was elected to the Imperial Legislative Council in 1903 as a non-official member. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was another member of the Council.
RG Bhandarkar was also the first Indian Vice-Chancellor of the Bombay University and the first Indian to be awarded an LLD degree by the university in 1904.
Justice Ranade had a great respect for Dr.Bhandarkar. Ranade said, ”Dr.Bhandarkar’s stature is no less than the great leaders of BrahmoSamaj. He is not just an eminent scholar, he is greater than that. He is a guide. He has been an example by himself, and a teacher, from whom we received the best instructions in our life.”
Dr.Bhandarkar left this world on August 24, 1925. We salute the great nationalist.
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