Ganesh Srikrishna Khaparde (27 August 1854 – 1 July 1938) was a renowned Indian lawyer, scholar, political activist and a noted devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba.[1][2][3][4]
Born at Ingroli in Berar, Khaparde studied Sanskrit and English Literature before beginning law. He graduated with an LLB in 1884, which led him to Government service. He served as a Munsiff and an assistant commissioner at Berar between 1885 to 1890. Closely associated with Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he took a keen interest in politics and in 1890 resigned from service to begin his own law practice at Amrawati. Khaparde was the chairman of the reception committee at the Amarawati Congress in 1897.[1][4] He attended, along with Tilak, the Shivaji Festival of the Congress at Calcutta in 1906. He was at this time associated with the "extremist" camp within the Congress, led by Lal-Bal-Pal trio of Lala Lajpat Rai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal.[2] A close ally and one of the most trusted lieutanants of Tilak,[4] Khaparde's strong and singular personal influence in the Central Provinces earned him the epitaph of "the Nawab of Berar".[4] Between 1908 and 1910, Khaparde travelled to England to conduct Tilak's appeal to the Privy Council.[1] Intelligence reports indicate that along with Bipin Chandra Pal, he was at this time associated with the India House.[5]
Later, Khaparde was a founding member of Tilak's Indian Home Rule League in 1916,[2] and was a member of the Congress's deputation to the Viceroy on constitutional reforms.[1] Between May 1919 and January 1920, Khaparde was in England again as a delegate of the Home Rule League's deputation to the Joint Parliamentary committee. During his stay of seven months he made speeches in England. He become popular by way of his wit, humour and mannerisum and hence some news-paper described him as Mark Twain.[6]
Following the inauguration of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, he was selected a member of the Imperial Legislative Council.[1][2] However, in 1920, Khaparde left the Congress anticipating Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement. Between 1920 and 1925, Khaparde elected a member of the Central Legislative Assembly.
G.S. Khaparde was also a noted devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. His first interaction with Sri Sai Baba was in December 1910 when he sought refuge at Shirdi escaping the incarceration and purge of political dissidents in India at the time.[7] Between 1910 and 1918, his Shirdi diary recording visits to Sai Baba shed much light on Baba's life, his routine, and his work.[8]
G.S. Khaparde died on 1 July 1938. He was survived by his son Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde, also a lawyer and leader.
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