Shankar Dattatraya Javdekar
Encyclopedia
Shankar Dattatraya Javdekar (1894–1955, alternatively Javadekar or Jawadekar), popularly known as Acharya Javdekar, was a Marathi
writer from Maharashtra
, India
.
He was born on 26 September 1894. His schooling was in Kolhapur, and he did his B.A. from Fergusson College
, Pune
, specialising in philosophy.
While studying for his M.A. degree, he set aside his studies to join Mahatma Gandhi
's non-cooperation movement
against the British Raj
. During 1923-26, he operated a dormitory for students belonging to the untouchable
community in the Indian society of his times. This dormitory was located in a village near Islampur
in Maharashtra.
Subsequently, Javdekar served as the editor of the dailies Navashakti (New Power) and Lok Shakti (People's Power). He was the editor of the weekly Sadhana
from 1950 to 1952.
Javdekar was a social democrat in his political thinking, and was influenced by the political and social views of Mahatma Gandhi
. In his 1954 book सर्वोदय आणि समाजवाद (Sarwodaya and Samajwad), he propounded Satyagrahi Samajwad (सत्याग्रही समाजवाद) philosophy, attempting to amalgamate Marxism
and Gandhism
. He also attempted to reconcile the views of Tilak
and Gandhi in his book लो. टिळक व म. गांधी (Lokamnya Tilak Wa Mahatma Gandhi).
In his literary work "आधुनिक भारत" (Adhunik Bharat) (1938), he described the philosophical evolution of India through its struggle for freedom from the British rule.
He presided over Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
in Pune
in 1949. He died in December 1955.
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
writer from 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...
, 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...
.
He was born on 26 September 1894. His schooling was in Kolhapur, and he did his B.A. 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...
, 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 ...
, specialising in philosophy.
While studying for his M.A. degree, he set aside his studies to join Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
's non-cooperation movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
against 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...
. During 1923-26, he operated a dormitory for students belonging to the untouchable
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
community in the Indian society of his times. This dormitory was located in a village near Islampur
Islampur
For the town in Bihar see: Islampur Islampur is a municipality and head quarters of Islampur subdivision in Uttar Dinajpur district in the Indian state of West Bengal.-Geography:Islampur is located at...
in Maharashtra.
Subsequently, Javdekar served as the editor of the dailies Navashakti (New Power) and Lok Shakti (People's Power). He was the editor of the weekly Sadhana
Sadhana (weekly)
Sadhana is a Socialist Marathi weekly publication that was established by Pandurang Sadashiv Sane , a leader of Rashtra Seva Dal, on August 15, 1948. It was edited by Marathi writer Shankar Dattatraya Javdekar from 1950 to 1952. Yadunath Thatte became Sadhanas editor in 1956 and continued to lead...
from 1950 to 1952.
Javdekar was a social democrat in his political thinking, and was influenced by the political and social views of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. In his 1954 book सर्वोदय आणि समाजवाद (Sarwodaya and Samajwad), he propounded Satyagrahi Samajwad (सत्याग्रही समाजवाद) philosophy, attempting to amalgamate Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
and Gandhism
Gandhism
Gandhism is the collection of inspirations, principles, beliefs and philosophy of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , who was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian Independence Movement....
. He also attempted to reconcile the views of Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
and Gandhi in his book लो. टिळक व म. गांधी (Lokamnya Tilak Wa Mahatma Gandhi).
In his literary work "आधुनिक भारत" (Adhunik Bharat) (1938), he described the philosophical evolution of India through its struggle for freedom from the British rule.
He presided over Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
Marathi Sahitya Sammelan
Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan is a conference for literary discussions by Marathi writers. Though the conference has sometimes been held in a town outside the Indian state of Maharashtra, it is typically held annually in one of the towns in Maharashtra where Marathi is the mother tongue...
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 ...
in 1949. He died in December 1955.
Literary work
The following is a partial list of Javdekar's works:- आधुनिक भारत (Adhunik Bharat) (1938)
- गांधीजींचे चरित्र - जीवनरहस्य (Gandhijinche Charitra - Jivan Rahasya)
- राज्यशास्त्रमीमांसा
- आधुनिक राज्यमीमांसा
- विश्वकुटुंबवाद
- शास्त्रीय समाजवाद
- सर्वोदय आणि समाजवाद (Sarwodaya and Samajwad) (1954)
- लोकशाही
- पुरोगामी साहित्य
- गांधीवाद
- लो. टिळक व म. गांधी