Dhondo Keshav Karve

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Dhondo Keshav Karve
Born April 18, 1858
Sheravali, Maharashtra
Died November 9, 1962
Pune, India

Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve (Marathi: 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.

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[edit] Early life

He was born on April 18, 1858 at Sheravali, Khed Taluka of Ratnagiri 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].

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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 been widowed at the age of eight and set an example in the convervative Maharashtrian society of those days[3][4] .

[edit] Career in Education

From 1891 to 1914, he taught Mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune.[5]

[edit] 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.First widow to join him was his sister in law, Parvtibai Athavale. She got educated with his help and joined him as first lady superintendent of the institution, which 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[6].

[edit] Setup of S.N.D.T.

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 at Hingane. 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.

[edit] Awards and Honours

[edit] Death

He died at Pune on November 9, 1962.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Vikram Karve's Notes on his great-grand father. Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
  2. ^ Notes on Asia Times. Retrieved on 2006-08-04.
  3. ^ NCTE - Comparison of Tilak with other reformers including Karve. Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
  4. ^ a b Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha. Retrieved on 2006-08-01.
  5. ^ Fergusson College Department of Mathematics web page. Retrieved on 2006-08-11.
  6. ^ History of Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha, From Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women's website.. Retrieved on 2006-08-01.

[edit] Trivia

  • Mumbai and Pune have roads/streets named as Maharshi Karve Road.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../d/h/o/Dhondo_Keshav_Karve_c864.html"
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