R. P. Paranjpe
Encyclopedia
Sir Raghunath Purushottam Paranjpye (or Paranjpe) (16 February 1876 – 6 May 1966) was the first Indian to achieve the coveted title of Senior Wrangler at the University of Cambridge
, and became a university administrator and Indian ambassador.
in the coastal Ratnagiri district
of Maharashtra
. He was educated at Maratha High, Bombay, Fergusson College
, Pune
and Bombay University before entering St John's College, Cambridge
in 1896. He graduated B.A. as senior wrangler in 1899. Paranjpe was a fellow of St John's College from 1901 to 1907, but returned to India to become a professor of mathematics at Fergusson College in 1902. One of the earliest Indian documentary film makers, H. S. Bhatavdekar
, made silent documentary films, Return of Wrangler Paranjpye (1902) and Delhi Durbar of Lord Curzon (1903), featuring R. P.
In 1907, R. P. became the first librarian of the Indian Mathematical Society at Fergusson College. He became the college's principal, and stayed in that position for two decades, until 1926. Subsequently, he consecutively became the Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University and Lucknow University.
Paranjpe received a British knighthood in 1942. In the three years (1944–1947) preceding India's independence from the British Raj
, the British government appointed him India's High Commissioner to Australia
. In the days of the British Raj, there was some criticism that R. P. had often appeared on the side of British authorities at a time of nationalist ferment in India.
He was the founder of the Indian Rationalist Association in Chennai
(then Madras) in 1949, and remained its President for many years. His autobiography, 84 Not Out, appeared in 1961.
American ambassador to India during Kennedy administration Prof. John Kenneth Galbraith
has described him as a mathematician of most wonderful appearance and vigour in his book Ambassador's Journal.( They met during the function to welcome the ambassador when he visited University of Pune ). He was also a classmate of noted Cambridge economist A.C. Pigou.
Acharya Atre has devoted one full chapter in his autobiography for Wrangler Paranjape and has written about his fame all over the country and how because of him students from outside Maharashtra came to study at Ferguson College.
His younger brother, Hari Purushottam Paranjape was a well known agriculturist of his time. In 1991, the Government of India awarded R. P.'s daughter Shakuntala Paranjpye
a Padma Bhushan
title in recognition of her work in the field of family planning. She was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha
in the 1960s In 2006, the Government of India awarded R. P.'s granddaughter Sai Paranjpye
a Padma Bhushan
title in recognition of her artistic talents. She is a film director and a scriptwriter.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and became a university administrator and Indian ambassador.
Biography
R. P. Paranjpe was born at Murdi near DapoliDapoli
Dapoli is a small town in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in India.-Geography:Dapoli is 215 KM away from Mumbai.It is also called the "Mini Mahabaleshwar" because of its cool climate throughout the year.dapoli is also the city which gave birth to many historic idols like Lokmanya Tilak, Sane...
in the coastal Ratnagiri district
Ratnagiri District
Ratnagiri district is one of the 35 districts of Maharashtra state in western India. Ratnagiri is the district headquarters of the district. The district is 11.33% urban. The district is bounded by the Arabian Sea to the west, Sindhudurg district to the south, Raigad district to the north and...
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...
. He was educated at Maratha High, Bombay, 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 ...
and Bombay University before entering St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1896. He graduated B.A. as senior wrangler in 1899. Paranjpe was a fellow of St John's College from 1901 to 1907, but returned to India to become a professor of mathematics at Fergusson College in 1902. One of the earliest Indian documentary film makers, H. S. Bhatavdekar
H. S. Bhatavdekar
Harishchandra Sakharam Bhatavdekar , also known as Save dada, was the first Indian to make a film in India.-Biography:...
, made silent documentary films, Return of Wrangler Paranjpye (1902) and Delhi Durbar of Lord Curzon (1903), featuring R. P.
In 1907, R. P. became the first librarian of the Indian Mathematical Society at Fergusson College. He became the college's principal, and stayed in that position for two decades, until 1926. Subsequently, he consecutively became the Vice-Chancellor of Bombay University and Lucknow University.
Paranjpe received a British knighthood in 1942. In the three years (1944–1947) preceding India's independence from the British Raj
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
, the British government appointed him India's High Commissioner to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In the days of the British Raj, there was some criticism that R. P. had often appeared on the side of British authorities at a time of nationalist ferment in India.
He was the founder of the Indian Rationalist Association in Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
(then Madras) in 1949, and remained its President for many years. His autobiography, 84 Not Out, appeared in 1961.
American ambassador to India during Kennedy administration Prof. John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth Galbraith
John Kenneth "Ken" Galbraith , OC was a Canadian-American economist. He was a Keynesian and an institutionalist, a leading proponent of 20th-century American liberalism...
has described him as a mathematician of most wonderful appearance and vigour in his book Ambassador's Journal.( They met during the function to welcome the ambassador when he visited University of Pune ). He was also a classmate of noted Cambridge economist A.C. Pigou.
Acharya Atre has devoted one full chapter in his autobiography for Wrangler Paranjape and has written about his fame all over the country and how because of him students from outside Maharashtra came to study at Ferguson College.
His younger brother, Hari Purushottam Paranjape was a well known agriculturist of his time. In 1991, the Government of India awarded R. P.'s daughter Shakuntala Paranjpye
Shakuntala Paranjpye
Shakuntalā Parānjpye was an Indian writer and a prominent social worker. She was a member of Maharashtra Legislative Council during 1958–64, and was a nominated member of Indian Rajya Sabha during 1964–70...
a Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The 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:...
title in recognition of her work in the field of family planning. She was also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha
Rajya Sabha
The Rajya Sabha or Council of States is the upper house of the Parliament of India. Rajya means "state," and Sabha means "assembly hall" in Sanskrit. Membership is limited to 250 members, 12 of whom are chosen by the President of India for their expertise in specific fields of art, literature,...
in the 1960s In 2006, the Government of India awarded R. P.'s granddaughter Sai Paranjpye
Sai Paranjpye
Sai Parānjpye is a movie director and a screenwriter in India. She is the director of award-winning movies, Sparsh, Katha, Chasme Buddoor, and Disha....
a Padma Bhushan
Padma Bhushan
The 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:...
title in recognition of her artistic talents. She is a film director and a scriptwriter.
Works
- Dhondu Keshav Karve: A Sketch, Poona, Arya Bhushan Press, 1915.
- Gopal Krishna Gokhale, The Aryabhushan Press, 1918.
- The Crux of the Indian Problem. Watts, 1931.
- The National Liberal Federation, Presidential address. Allahabad, 1939. Vithal Hari Barve, 1939.
- 84 Not Out, National Book Trust, New Delhi, 1961.
- Rationalism In Practice: The Kamala Lectures, Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2006. ISBN 1-4286-4446-6.