Gopal Hari Deshmukh
British India[1] | |
---|---|
Died | 9 October 1892 | (aged 69)
Other names | Lokhitwadi |
Era | 19th century philosophy |
Main interests | Ethics, religion, humanism |
Early life
Gopal Hari Deshmukh was born into a
Career
Deshmukh started his career as a translator for the government then under British Raj. In 1867, the government appointed him a small cause judge in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He worked as a Diwan also in Ratlam state. The government had commended him with the honorifics 'Justice of Peace' and 'Raobahadur' while he was still working. He retired as a sessions judge. He held many other important positions, including those of the Assistant Inam Commissioner, Joint Judge of Nasik High Court, and Member of the Law Council.[6]
Social activism
Social work in Maharashtra
At age 25, Deshmukh started writing articles aimed at social reform in Maharashtra in the weekly Prabhakar (प्रभाकर) under the pen name Lokhitawadi (लोकहितवादी). In the first two years, he penned 108 articles on social reform. That group of articles has come to be known in Marathi literature as Lokhitawadinchi Shatapatre (लोकहितवादींची शतपत्रे).
He promoted emancipation (liberation) and education of women, and wrote against arranged child marriages, dowry system, and polygamy, all of which were prevalent in India in his times.
He wrote against the evils of the
Deshmukh founded a public library in Pune under the leadership of the then governor of the state of
He took a leadership role in founding Gyan Prakash (ज्ञानप्रकाश),
Lokahitwadi Gopal Hari Deshmukh Trust is now carrying forward his legacy by promoting and assisting social causes such as education of poor children by means of Scholarships, cleanlinesses drives, working with PMC and Police authorities to make roads safer and other social causes.
Social work in Gujarat
While Deshmukh was serving as a judge in Ahmedabad, he organized in that city annual speech conferences on social issues under the sponsorship of Premabhai Institute, and also himself delivered speeches. He established in Ahmedabad a branch of Prarthana Samaj, founded an institute promoting remarriages of widows, and invigorated Gujarat Vernacular Society. He started a weekly Hitechchhu ('हितेच्छु) in both Gujarati and English. He also started " Gujarati Budhhi-Wardhak Sabha".
Books
Deshmukh wrote 35 books on diverse topics, including religious, social, economic, political, historic, and literary matters. He wrote Panipat war, Kalyog, Jatibhed, Lankecha Itihas. He also translated some English works into Marathi. Many books are written on him & his work by famous writers.
His writing includes topics like Panipat, History of Gujarat and History of Lanka.'Lakshmidhnyan' kaliyug, Jatibhed, Gitatatva and more books
References
- ^ Garge, S. M., Editor, Bhartiya Samajvigyan Kosh, Vol. III, Page. No. 321, published by Samajvigyan Mandal, Pune
- ISBN 9788187879541.
- ISBN 9788187879541.
- ^ Vasant Krishnaji Kshire (1977). Lokahitawadi's Thought: A Critical Study. University of Poona. p. 16.
The ' Deshmukh's ' were 'Chittapavan' Brahmins, originally residents of Konkan, known by the surname " Sidhaye ', but Vishwanathpant, father of the great-grand-father of Gopalrao who had the 'Deshmukhi' of twelve villages, earned the name 'Deshmukh', and thereafter, all his descendants began to be known as 'Deshmukh' instead of 'Sidhaye'.
- ISBN 9781400870493.
His[Deshmukh's] family of Chitpawan Brahmans, one of the greatest beneficiaries of the Peshwa regime...
- ISBN 9788178240145.
- ISBN 9788178240145.