Dharmananda Damodar Kosambi
Encyclopedia
Acharya Dharmananda Damodar Kosambi (October 9, 1876 – June 24, 1947) was a prominent Buddhist scholar and a Pāli
language expert. He was the father of the illustrious mathematician and prominent Marxist historian, Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi
.
Kosambi was born in the Sankhval village of Goa in 1876. He was married at the age of sixteen. He was passionately interested in knowledge and felt that married life would not allow him to pursure this goal. He thus attempted to leave home several times, but lacked the courage to do so and he returned to his family. However, after the birth of his first daughter, Manik, he did leave his family not returning for nearly four years. Needless to say, his wife, Balabai, suffered during these years, as it was uncommon at the time for a married man to leave his wife and family. Later, Kosambi traveled to Varanasi and Nepal, as he wanted to study Buddhism in its original language, Pāli. However, he was rather disappointed in what he learned there and insteady travelled to Calcutta and then on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he was admitted to Vidyodaya University. He studied there for three years and was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1902. Later, he went to Burma (Myanmar) and undertook comparative study of Buddhist texts in Burmese language
. After spending seven years abroad, Kosambi returned to India.
He started working as a reader at the University of Calcutta
and brought his wife and daughter Manik to Calcutta. His son Damodar
was born in 1907. Later, Dharmananda gave up his university job to work as a research fellow in Baroda. Later, he started lecturing all over Western India, and finally moved to Fergusson College
in Pune. In Bombay, he met Dr. James Woods from Harvard University
, who was seeking a scholar adept in Sanskrit, Ardhamagadhi, and Pāli. Woods invited Kosambi to Harvard, to complete the task of compiling a critical edition of Visuddhimagga
, a book on Buddhist philosophy. At Harvard, Kosambi learned Russian
and became very interested in Marxism. He travelled went to the USSR in 1929 and taught Pāli at Leningrad University.
When the Indian independence movement was at its peak, Kosambi returned to India and taught at Gujarat University
without any remuneration. He also started recruiting volunteers for Salt Satyagraha
. He was imprisoned for six years for participating in the Salt Satyagraha, which certainly took a toll on his health.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar got to know Acharya Kosambi during Indian's fight for independence, and Kosambi's influence on him played a part in Ambedkar's decision to convert to Buddhism when he decided to change his religion.
Besides Buddhist works, Kosambi also studied and translated many Jain works. Later, Kosambi founded Bahujanavihara, a shelter house for Buddhist monks in Bombay, which exists to this day. Under the influence of Jainism, he decided to give up life through sallekhana (voluntary fasting). Gandhiji requested that he move to Wardha for naturopathy and reconsider his decision to fast unto death. He moved to Sevagram, near Wardha, but kept his diet to a spoon of bitter gourd (karela) juice in order to respect Gandhi's wishes. He wanted to die on Buddha Pournima but lived beyond it for a few days. The end came after 30 days of fasting in June 1947.
. Besides Bhagwan Buddha, Kosambi also authored eleven books on Buddhism and Jainism. His autobiography, written in Marathi, is called Nivedan
Páli
- External links :* *...
language expert. He was the father of the illustrious mathematician and prominent Marxist historian, Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi
D. D. Kosambi
Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi was an Indian mathematician, statistician, Marxist historian, and polymath who contributed to genetics by introducing Kosambi's map function. He is well-known for his work in numismatics and for compiling critical editions of ancient Sanskrit texts...
.
Kosambi was born in the Sankhval village of Goa in 1876. He was married at the age of sixteen. He was passionately interested in knowledge and felt that married life would not allow him to pursure this goal. He thus attempted to leave home several times, but lacked the courage to do so and he returned to his family. However, after the birth of his first daughter, Manik, he did leave his family not returning for nearly four years. Needless to say, his wife, Balabai, suffered during these years, as it was uncommon at the time for a married man to leave his wife and family. Later, Kosambi traveled to Varanasi and Nepal, as he wanted to study Buddhism in its original language, Pāli. However, he was rather disappointed in what he learned there and insteady travelled to Calcutta and then on to Ceylon (Sri Lanka), where he was admitted to Vidyodaya University. He studied there for three years and was ordained as a Buddhist monk in 1902. Later, he went to Burma (Myanmar) and undertook comparative study of Buddhist texts in Burmese language
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
. After spending seven years abroad, Kosambi returned to India.
He started working as a reader at the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
and brought his wife and daughter Manik to Calcutta. His son Damodar
D. D. Kosambi
Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi was an Indian mathematician, statistician, Marxist historian, and polymath who contributed to genetics by introducing Kosambi's map function. He is well-known for his work in numismatics and for compiling critical editions of ancient Sanskrit texts...
was born in 1907. Later, Dharmananda gave up his university job to work as a research fellow in Baroda. Later, he started lecturing all over Western India, and finally moved to 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...
in Pune. In Bombay, he met Dr. James Woods from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, who was seeking a scholar adept in Sanskrit, Ardhamagadhi, and Pāli. Woods invited Kosambi to Harvard, to complete the task of compiling a critical edition of Visuddhimagga
Visuddhimagga
The Visuddhimagga , is the 'great treatise' on Theravada Buddhist doctrine written by Buddhaghosa approximately in 430 CE in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive manual condensing the theoretical and practical teaching of the Buddha, it is considered the most important Theravada text outside of the Tipitaka...
, a book on Buddhist philosophy. At Harvard, Kosambi learned Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
and became very interested in Marxism. He travelled went to the USSR in 1929 and taught Pāli at Leningrad University.
When the Indian independence movement was at its peak, Kosambi returned to India and taught at Gujarat University
Gujarat University
The Gujarat University is the statewide institution affiliating many reputed colleges across the state of Gujarat, India. It has been given a B++ ranking by National Assessment and Accreditation Council .-History:...
without any remuneration. He also started recruiting volunteers for Salt Satyagraha
Salt Satyagraha
The Salt March, also known as the Salt Satyagrahah began with the Dandi March on March 12, 1930, and was an important part of the Indian independence movement. It was a campaign of tax resistance and nonviolent protest against the British salt monopoly in colonial India, and triggered the wider...
. He was imprisoned for six years for participating in the Salt Satyagraha, which certainly took a toll on his health.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar got to know Acharya Kosambi during Indian's fight for independence, and Kosambi's influence on him played a part in Ambedkar's decision to convert to Buddhism when he decided to change his religion.
Besides Buddhist works, Kosambi also studied and translated many Jain works. Later, Kosambi founded Bahujanavihara, a shelter house for Buddhist monks in Bombay, which exists to this day. Under the influence of Jainism, he decided to give up life through sallekhana (voluntary fasting). Gandhiji requested that he move to Wardha for naturopathy and reconsider his decision to fast unto death. He moved to Sevagram, near Wardha, but kept his diet to a spoon of bitter gourd (karela) juice in order to respect Gandhi's wishes. He wanted to die on Buddha Pournima but lived beyond it for a few days. The end came after 30 days of fasting in June 1947.
Works
He authored one of the most popular biographies of Buddha, Bhagwan Buddha (1940) in Marathi.. It was later translated in English and in other Indian languages by Central Sahitya AkademiSahitya Akademi
The Sahitya Akademi ', India's National Academy of Letters, is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of literature in the languages of India...
. Besides Bhagwan Buddha, Kosambi also authored eleven books on Buddhism and Jainism. His autobiography, written in Marathi, is called Nivedan
External links
- The making of an Indologist at www.hinduonnet.com