Panjabrao Deshmukh
Encyclopedia
Panjabrao Shamrao Deshmukh (December 27, 1898 – April 10, 1965) famously known as Bhausaheb Deshmukh was a social activist and a farmer's leader in India. He was the Minister of Agriculture in the first cabinet of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952.
, Maharashtra
on December 27, 1898. His childhood had gone happily at Papal. His original surname was "Kadam". After completing his primary education at home, he was sent to Songaon at first and then to Karanja Lad. He got his highschool education at Karanja lad up to ninth standard. Then he took admission in Hind Highschool, Amrawati. After that he went to Fergusson College
at Pune
.
from Cambridge University. Despite too much poverty at home, he managed to make money to go to England. He took barrister
degree in 1921. He also took M.A.
honours in Sanskrit
and done Ph.D.
with the subject Origin and development of religion in vedic literature.
.He did satyagraha
for entry to untouchables in Ambabai Temple, Amrawati, which was a very strongly condemned by the upper castes. Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was pro to him in this movement.
Deshmukh knew that prosperity would come only when the weapon of knowledge became available to all. For this purpose he established Shivaji Education Society
. There is an Agricultural university by his name at Akola, i.e. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth. He was a well known educationalist who well cemented the foundation of education in not only in Vidarbha but throughout the Maharashtra region.
, the then president of USSR, Lord and Lady MountBatten
and many others.
He started the process of establishment of Agricultural Universities all across the country and gave fillip to agricultural education and research.
,in which he assisted to Jawaharlal Nehru
.
Birth and childhood
He born at Papal in Amrawati district of VidarbhaVidarbha
Vidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar . It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra...
, 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...
on December 27, 1898. His childhood had gone happily at Papal. His original surname was "Kadam". After completing his primary education at home, he was sent to Songaon at first and then to Karanja Lad. He got his highschool education at Karanja lad up to ninth standard. Then he took admission in Hind Highschool, Amrawati. After that he went 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...
at 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 England
In those times there were no facilities of higher education in India. Many Students used to go to England for further education. So he also wanted to be a BarristerBarrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
from Cambridge University. Despite too much poverty at home, he managed to make money to go to England. He took barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
degree in 1921. He also took M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
honours in 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...
and done Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
with the subject Origin and development of religion in vedic literature.
Social activities
He was attached with Satya Shodhak Samaj of Mahatma PhuleMahatma Jyotirao Phule
Mahatma Jotiba Govindrao Phule , also known as Mahatma Jotiba Phule was an activist, thinker, social reformer, writer, philosopher, theologist, scholar, editor and revolutionary from Maharashtra, India in the nineteenth century. Jotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule were the pioneer of...
.He did satyagraha
Satyagraha
Satyagraha , loosely translated as "insistence on truth satya agraha soul force" or "truth force" is a particular philosophy and practice within the broader overall category generally known as nonviolent resistance or civil resistance. The term "satyagraha" was conceived and developed by Mahatma...
for entry to untouchables in Ambabai Temple, Amrawati, which was a very strongly condemned by the upper castes. Dr.Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was pro to him in this movement.
Educational activist
Shivaji education Society
Shree Shivaji Education Society is the largest Educational society in Vidarbha. It was established by Dr.Panjabrao Deshmukh at Amrawati. Now this society is one of the largest of its kind in India. This society has arts, commerce, Science colleges, along with a medical college at Amrawati and...
. There is an Agricultural university by his name at Akola, i.e. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth. He was a well known educationalist who well cemented the foundation of education in not only in Vidarbha but throughout the Maharashtra region.
Political career
He was elected thrice for the Loksabha. Dr. Deshmukh was selected by Nehru as the first agriculture minister of India. He played an important role in the making of the Indian Constitution. He was a staunch supporter of the mission by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. He was the secretary for Vidarbha region of the Indian Labour Party, established by Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar.Leader of peasants
He dedicated all his talents and energy for formulation and implementation of the policies that would bring prosperity to agriculture and the agriculturist. He established the Bharat Krishak Samaj and launched a campaign called Food for Millions in 1955. He brought in the Japanese method of rice cultivation in 1958 and organized the World Agriculture Fair in 1959, which was inaugrated by Dwight Eisenhower, the then President of the US. The fair was visited by dignitaries across the world some of them being Nikita KhrushchevNikita Khrushchev
Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He served as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964, and as Chairman of the Council of Ministers, or Premier, from 1958 to 1964...
, the then president of USSR, Lord and Lady MountBatten
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
and many others.
He started the process of establishment of Agricultural Universities all across the country and gave fillip to agricultural education and research.
As a lawyer
He appeared many cases in the district court of Amrawati from the side of poor peasants. But the main case was British govt vs. Azad Hind SenaIndian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
,in which he assisted to Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
.