Devdatta Dabholkar ( 23 September 1919 – 17 December 2010) was an India

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 educationist, thinker, a Gandhian and a socialist, he participated in the movements for social change that took place in India

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...

 after it gained independence.

Life

Dabholkar was born on 23 September 1919 at Kolhapur, he was the eldest of ten siblings. He topped the Mumbai University matriculation examination in 1936, he secured his Masters of Arts

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

 degree, from Elphinstone College

Elphinstone College

Elphinstone College is an institution of higher education affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Established in 1856, it is one of the oldest colleges of the University of Mumbai. It was exalted as a prestigious seat of learning during the British Raj and is generally observed for its vibrant alumni...

, Mumbai., he held many important positions in his career. Dabholkar died on 17 December 2010, at Satara

Satara

Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...

 where he lived since 1990. He had a son Prasanna, daughter-in-law Chitra, and daughters Samata and Asmita. He was the brother of Dr. Narendra Dabholkar

Narendra Dabholkar

Narendra Dabholkar is a rationalist from Maharashtra, India and author of several books. He is the founder president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti an organisation set up to eradicate superstition.-Life:...

 a medical doctor and social activist.

Positions held

Dabholkar started his career as a professor in Sangli's Willingdon College in 1944, later he became founder principal Chintamanrao Patwardhan College – Sangli

Sangli

Sangli is a city in the state of Maharashtra of India. Sangli is known as the Turmeric city for its vast production of Turmeric. Sangli is situated on the banks of river Krishna and is the largest market place for Turmeric in Asia and houses many sugar factories, which it is also noted for...

(1960–1968) Among the other positions he held were principal Willingdon College – Sangli, principal 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...

 – 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 ...

, principal Kirti M.Doongursee College

Kirti M.Doongursee College

Kirti M.Doongursee College of Arts,Science and Commerce, commonly known as Kirti College is located in Dadar, Mumbai.-History:Deccan Education started Bombay College in city of Mumbai, as a mark of its Diamond jubilee.The foundation stone of Bombay College was laid by Maharshi Dhndo Keshav Karve...

 – Mumbai

Mumbai

Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...

, Vice Chancellor – 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...

 (1975–1978), Director Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, (1978–1981), member of The task force on educational finance set up by the Department of Education, member of the Educational planning, administration and devaluation committee set up by the Planning Commission of India

Planning commission of India

The Planning Commission is an institution in the Government of India, which formulates India's Five-Year Plans, among other functions.-History:...

, he was a member of Pradnya Pathshala, Wai

Wai

Wai or WAI may refer to:*Wai, Maharashtra, a town in India*Wai, an alternative name for the Nuristani people, speakers of the Waigali language*NO WAI, a phrase that is part of the O RLY? Internet meme.*Wai, a form of Thai greeting...

, and the editor of its journal Navbharat.

Books

Among the books written by him are A pilot survey of Shirur Taluka – Agro-Industrial Balance, Climbing a wall of Glass: Higher education in Indian, Contemporary relevance of Gandhi, Management of productivity and efficiency of education, Socioeconomic survey of the college teachers in the Poona university area, Sardar Sarovar Debate, O Narmada, Democratic Socialism, Equality of Opportunity in education, Problems in economic development, The challenge of the Chinese aggression, Gandhian economics, Economic planning in India.