Pandurang Shastri Athavale

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Pandurang Shastri Athavale
Pandurang Shastri Athavale
Born	October 19, 1920 Roha, Maharashtra, India
Died	October 25, 2003 Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Spouse	Nirmala Tai
Parents	Vaijnath Shastri
Children	Jayshree Talwalkar (adopted)

Pandurang Shastri Vaijnath Athavale (Gujarati: પાંડુરંગ શાસ્ત્રી આઠવલે, Marathi: पांडुरंग शास्त्री आठवले) (October 19, 1920 – October 25, 2003), known as dada (Gujarati: દાદા, Marathi: दादा), meaning elder brother in marathi) A philosopher and social reformer who gave discourses upon Srimad Bhagawad Geeta and Upnishads. He motivated his followers to move in society and spread the thoughts of Geeta. He is pioneer of Swadhyay Movement

[edit] Youth

Athavale was born on October 19, 1920 in the village of Roha near Mumbai. His grandfather, Laxman Rao, was a renowned scholar and brahmin in the area and regularly, against the public opinion, visited Dalits to explain the Bhagavad Gita. Athavale, then 5, saw his grandfather taking a bath upon returning from such a trip. Athavale was surprised and posed the question that if in the Bhagavad Gita the Lord exclaims that God exists within all human hearts then how can anyone including the so-called 'untouchables' be considered inferior to anyone else? He became determined to see the God within others and from thenceforth became the proponent of "In-dwelling God."

When Athavale was twelve years old, his grandfather set up an independent course of study for the young boy with individual tuition. Thus, Athavale was taught in a system very similar to that of the Tapovan system of ancient India. In 1942, he started to give discourses at the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Pathshala, a centre set up by his father.

In 1954, he attended the Second World Religions Conference, held in Japan. There, Athavale gave a superb deliverence on the concepts of Vedic ideals and the teachings of the Bhagawad Geeta. However, many people refused his ideas and wanted evidence of such thoughts being practiced in towns across India. But a man named Dr. Wilson Compton was impressed with Athavale's ideas and offered him a post in the USA, where he could spread his ideas. Athavale politely declined, saying that he had work to accomplish if he wanted to show the world a model community peacefully practicing and spreading the divine Vedic thoughts and the message of the Bhagawad Geeta.^[1]]

From then on, he worked to spread the ideas of the Bhagwad Geeta to the masses. His movement was known as Swadhyay; literally "self study". The movement had its main influence not only in the Indian states viz. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, but also all across the world, where Athavale used to frequently visit to spread his work;

"Swadhyayees", as the family members of the Swadhyay Pariwar are called, are not just people of the lower or poor class; they also include those of the upper classes as well. Athavale's idea of "brotherhood under the fatherhood of God" is followed in the many Swadhyay "kendras", or "gathering"; no one is given a distinction and everyone refers to each other as brothers or sisters. Many Swadhyayees also devote their time to go to various places around the country or world to spread the ideas that Athavale once did himself. They are known as "krutisheels" or people of action.

Giving the right direction to the age old traditions which seemed to exist only for the namesake and which seemed to have lost its significance and true meaning, Dadaji brought 'true light' in the lives of lakhs of people. He not only explained the 'tatva - philosophy' behind concepts like 'Mandir(Temple)', 'Ekadashi (11th day of full moon or no moon)', 'Moortipuja (idol worship), 'bhakti (devotion)' but enabled bringing into practise the 'Bhagwat Geeta'. Be it a common fisherman or the person in the most important position, 'bhakti' can be practised in its truest sense by one and all. 'Bhakti is a social force'.

Athavale has had many recognitions by many various dignitaries of the world. In 1996, he was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award, in Manila, Philiphines. This award is given to people who demonstrate community leadership. In 1997, he was awarded the prestigious Templeton Prize in a ceremony at Westminister Abbey in London. The prize money of $100,000 was never claimed to be his own, instead distributing the money among the many communities in which the Swadhyay movement exists. He was also awarded numerous awards in India, gaining recognition from many intellectuals and dignitaries in India. Pandurang Shashtri had declared that the amount of templeton prize will be used for Swadhyay. In 1998, he received Padma Vibhushan award in recognition of his efforts towards social reform.

Athavale passed away on October 25, 2003, in Mumbai, India^[2]. His death deeply affected many of his followers and admirers, many quoting that they had "lost a dear brother". His body was viewed at the institution that he had set up 50 years before, Tatvagyan Vidhyapeeth, in which many of his followers saw their first and only close-up glimpse of Athavale, before he was cremated the evening of October 26. His work is currently being carried on by his adopted daughter, Jayshree Talwalkar.^[3]

Tatvagyan Vidhyapeeth is an institution set up by Athavale 50 years earlier, in which he, himself, often gave discourses to the many youths that studied there. The youths study a broad variety of religious and spiritual subjects and live as they would have in a "tapovan" thousands of years ago. They cook their own food, clean their own clothes and take care of themselves without the many amneties seen in a regular home.