Datto Vaman Potdar
Encyclopedia
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n historian, writer, and orator. He was the Vice-Chancellor of University of Pune
University of Pune
The University of Pune , is a university located in northwestern Pune, India. It was founded in 1949. Spread over a campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments...
during 1961 - 1964.
The Government of India had honored Potdar with the title Mahamahopadhyaya (महामहोपाध्याय) in 1946, and Padmabhushan in 1967. Because of his vast knowledge, he was sometimes called as Dr. Johnson of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
or a living encyclopedia.
Potdar was a disciple of Itihasacharya Rajwade, and a trustee of Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal (इतिहास संशोधक मंडळ) in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
. His disciples included Swami Swaroopanand, Setu Madhavrao Pagadi, and R. C. Dhere.
Early life
Born in the SarpotdarSarpotdar
Sarpotdar is a family name found mainly among the Maharashtrian people in India. It is derived from the Mughal title Sarpotdar. The Persian word "pota" which means "treasure": the treasurer in Mughal times was called "Potdar" and the chief treasurer would be "Sarpotdar"...
family in the village of Birwadi in Raigad District
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, Potdar completed his matriculation in 1906 from Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya
Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya
Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya is a school in Pune, Maharashtra, India. The school was founded on 1 January 1883. Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya consists of a high school and a junior college...
in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
, and four years later received a Bachelor’s degree in History and Marathi from Fergusson College
Fergusson College
Fergusson College is a degree college in western India, situated in the city of Pune. It was founded in 1885 by the Deccan Education Society and at that time was the first privately governed college in India. It is named after Sir James Fergusson, the Governor of Bombay, who donated a then...
(University of Pune
University of Pune
The University of Pune , is a university located in northwestern Pune, India. It was founded in 1949. Spread over a campus, the university is home to 46 academic departments...
), also in Pune.
During 1912–1920, he taught at, and later served as the Head Master of Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya. During 1921–1935, he served as a professor at New Poona College (later renamed S. P. College
Sir Parshurambhau College
Sir Parshurambhau College is a college in Pune, Maharashtra, . Established in 1916, it is governed by the Shikshan Prasarak Mandali....
) in Pune.
Potdar had mastered Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
to the extent that he could fluently converse in it.
Scholarly career
In 1910, Sardar Mehendale, V. K. Rajwade, and Potdar founded Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal. Since then, Potdar maintained passionate interest through his life in the growth of the Mandal.He traveled all over India, collecting historical documents pertaining especially to Maratha empire
Maratha Empire
The Maratha Empire or the Maratha Confederacy was an Indian imperial power that existed from 1674 to 1818. At its peak, the empire covered much of South Asia, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km²....
and Marathi literature
Marathi literature
Marathi literature is the body of literature of Marathi, a Sanskrit-derived language spoken mainly in the Indian state of Maharashtra and written in the Devanagari script.-Early Marathi Literature :...
. He ran periodicals, delivered speeches, and organized lecture series, inspiring others to research historical papers.
In 1965, the Government of Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
appointed Potdar to write the biography of Shivaji, but before he could finish the assignment, he died on 6 October 1979 in Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
.
Works
- Vasantik Upadesh in IX parts (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1917 to 1929 - Apale PunePunePune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
(MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1921 - Marathi Gadyacha Ingraji Avtar (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1922 - Thorle Madhavrao (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1928 - Bodhprad Pustika for students in XII parts (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1935 - Marathi Itihas va Itihas Sanshodhan (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1935 - Maharashtra Sahitya Parishadecha Itihas (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1943 - Jaypur Darshan (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1948 - Suman Saptak (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1950 - Maharashtra Deshachya Itihasache Sankshipt Varnan (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1951 - Samaj Shikshan Mala (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1952 - Shrote Ho ! (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1959 - Bharatachi Bhashan Samasya (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1960 - Me Europat kay pahile ? (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1960 - Olakh (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1961 - Inside Maharashtra (EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) – 1964 - Lokmanya Tilakanche Sangati (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
) – 1975
Besides the above, Potdar has to his credit over 600 historical articles in Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
and English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Editorial Works
- Devdas krut Sant Malika – 1913
- Marathe Va Ingraj – 1922
- Dr.Johnson yanche Charitra – 1924
- Sahitya Sopan – 1931
- N.M.V.Smarak Grantha – 1933
- Shivdin Kesari Krut Dnyan Pradeep – 1934
- Vaktrutva : Krushnashastri Chiplunkar – 1936
- Maza PravasMaza Pravas: 1857 cya Bandaci HakikatMaza Pravas: 1857 cya Bandaci Hakikat :This Marathi travelogue was written by Vishnubhat Godse, who travelled on foot from Varsai, a village near Pen , to the central and northern parts of India during 1857-1858, and witnessed several...
– Vishnubhat Godse – 1966 - English East India Company cha Peshwe Darbarshi farsi patravyavahar
- Vad yanchya Athwani : Parvatibai Paranjpe – 1971
Affiliations
Potdar was closely associated with 68 organizations. including the following:- Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak MandalBharat Itihas Sanshodhak MandalBharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, popularly known as Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal or just ‘Mandal’, is an Indian institute providing resources and training for historical researchers. It is located at Pune in Maharashtra state. The institute was founded in 1910 by the veteran Indian historian V.K....
, Pune - Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya
- University of Pune
- University of Bombay
- Deccan Gymkhana
- Pune Marathi Granthalaya
- Shikshan Prasarak Mandali
- Pune Corporation
- Bhandarkar Institute
- Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad
- Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapith
- Shri Chhatrapati Sambhaji Smarak Mandal
- Narvir Tanaji Smarak Mandal
- Sanyukta Maharashtra Parishad
- Peshwe Daftar Committee
- Ved Shastrottejak Sabha
- S.N.D.T.College
Honors
- 1939 – President of All India Marathi Meet at Nagar
- 1945 – President of Maharashtra Rashtra Bhasha Parishad
- 1945 – Vice Chancellor of Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapith
- 1946 – ‘Mahamahopadhyaya’ title by Government of India
- 1956 – Deputy of Bombay Government at Florence, Italy.
- 1960-1962 – First President of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal
- 1961 to 1964 – Vice Chancellor of the University of Pune
- 1962 – Honored as ‘Sanskrut Prachyavidya Pandit’ by Government of India
- 1963 – Leader of the committee of Indian Vice Chancellors for visit to Russia
- 1965 – Honored as ‘Vidya Vachaspati’ in the All India Hindi Meet at Prayag
- 1967 – Received ‘Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
’ from the President of IndiaPresident of IndiaThe President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary... - 1967 – ‘Doctor of Literature’ from Kashi Vidyapith
See also
- Shikshana Prasarak MandaliShikshana Prasarak MandaliThe Shikshan Prasarak Mandali, Pune, is one of the most prestigious private educational societies in Maharashtra. It was established around 1904 to promote education and make it easily accessible to all economic classes in Maharashtra....
- List of Marathi people
- List of Historians
- List of historians by area of study
- Padmabhushan
- Indian Rebellion of 1857Indian Rebellion of 1857The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...