Pralhad Balacharya Gajendragadkar
Encyclopedia
Pralhad Balacharya Gajendragadkar (Prahlad-Acharya) (March 16, 1901 - June 12, 1981) originally from Gajendra-Gad, a historic fort and town in Karnataka
, South India
was Chief Justice of India
from February 1964 to March 1966.
Vidwan (scholar). Prahlad-Acharya, the youngest son of Bal-Acharya spread the fame of the family name Gajendra-Gadkar name. He followed his older brother Ashvathama-Acharys to Mumbai and carried the torch of the Gajendragadkar tradition in Nyaya (Law) to the western world. He passed M.A. from Deccan College (Pune)
in 1924 and LL.B. with honors from the ILS Law College
in 1926 and joined the Bombay Bar on the Appellate side. In the early days, he edited the 'Hindu Law Quarterly. His critical edition of the classic 'Dattaka Mimamsa' earned him a great reputation for scholarship. He became the acknowledged leader of the Bombay Bar, well-known for his forensic skill and legal acumen.
In 1945, he was appointed a Judge of the Bombay High Court. In January 1956, he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench and rose to become the Chief Justice of India in 1964. His contribution to the development of Constitutional and Industrial Law has been hailed as great and unique.
At the request of the Government of India, he headed a number of commissions such as the Central Law Commission, National Commission on Labour and the Bank Award Commission. At the request of Indira Gandhi
, then the Prime Minister of India, he held the honorary office of the Gandhigram Rural Institute in Southern India.
He served twice as the President of Social Reform Conference and organized campaigns for eradicating the evils of casteism, untouchability, superstition and obscurantism to promote national integration and unity.
Prahlad-Acharya also carried forward the GajendraGadkar tradition of Vedanta
and Mimasa
. He served as the General Editor of 'The Ten Classical Upanishads', a series sponsored by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Like his great father, Prahlad-Acharya was also a 'Mukhasta-vidwan'.
award from the Government of India.
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
, South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
was Chief Justice of India
Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India is the highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court of India, and thus holds the highest judicial position in India. As well as presiding in the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice also head its administrative functions....
from February 1964 to March 1966.
Career
Pralhad's father Bal-Acharya (Teacher) was a SanskritSanskrit
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...
Vidwan (scholar). Prahlad-Acharya, the youngest son of Bal-Acharya spread the fame of the family name Gajendra-Gadkar name. He followed his older brother Ashvathama-Acharys to Mumbai and carried the torch of the Gajendragadkar tradition in Nyaya (Law) to the western world. He passed M.A. from Deccan College (Pune)
Deccan College (Pune)
Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute is a post-graduate institute of Archeology and Linguistics in Pune, India.Established October 6, 1821, Deccan College is one of the oldest institutions of modern learning in India...
in 1924 and LL.B. with honors from the ILS Law College
ILS Law College
Indian Law Society's Law College, more commonly known as ILS Law College is a Law schools based in Pune, India. It was established in 1924 and offers a wide range of courses, primarily 3-year and 5-year degrees. It is one of the oldest as well as most reputed legal institutions in India...
in 1926 and joined the Bombay Bar on the Appellate side. In the early days, he edited the 'Hindu Law Quarterly. His critical edition of the classic 'Dattaka Mimamsa' earned him a great reputation for scholarship. He became the acknowledged leader of the Bombay Bar, well-known for his forensic skill and legal acumen.
In 1945, he was appointed a Judge of the Bombay High Court. In January 1956, he was elevated to the Supreme Court Bench and rose to become the Chief Justice of India in 1964. His contribution to the development of Constitutional and Industrial Law has been hailed as great and unique.
At the request of the Government of India, he headed a number of commissions such as the Central Law Commission, National Commission on Labour and the Bank Award Commission. At the request of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
, then the Prime Minister of India, he held the honorary office of the Gandhigram Rural Institute in Southern India.
He served twice as the President of Social Reform Conference and organized campaigns for eradicating the evils of casteism, untouchability, superstition and obscurantism to promote national integration and unity.
Prahlad-Acharya also carried forward the GajendraGadkar tradition of Vedanta
Vedanta
Vedānta was originally a word used in Hindu philosophy as a synonym for that part of the Veda texts known also as the Upanishads. The name is a morphophonological form of Veda-anta = "Veda-end" = "the appendix to the Vedic hymns." It is also speculated that "Vedānta" means "the purpose or goal...
and Mimasa
Mimas (giant)
Mimas was one of the Gigantes of Greek mythology. Like the other giant sons of Gaia, Mimas had serpents for legs and was born fully armoured. Mimas was slain by Hephaestus during the war against the Olympians by a volley of molten iron.-References:...
. He served as the General Editor of 'The Ten Classical Upanishads', a series sponsored by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. Like his great father, Prahlad-Acharya was also a 'Mukhasta-vidwan'.
Education
- Satara High School (1911 to 1918)
- Karnatak College, Dharwar (1918–1920)
- Deccan College (Pune)Deccan College (Pune)Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute is a post-graduate institute of Archeology and Linguistics in Pune, India.Established October 6, 1821, Deccan College is one of the oldest institutions of modern learning in India...
(1920 to 1924) - Dakshina Fellow (1922–24)
- Bhagwandas Purshotamdas Sanskrit Scholar (1922–24)
- ILS Law CollegeILS Law CollegeIndian Law Society's Law College, more commonly known as ILS Law College is a Law schools based in Pune, India. It was established in 1924 and offers a wide range of courses, primarily 3-year and 5-year degrees. It is one of the oldest as well as most reputed legal institutions in India...
(1924–26)
Positions held
- Judge Bombay High Court 1945–57
- Judge, Supreme Court - 1957
- Chief Justice of India from 1 February 1964. Retired on 15 March 1966
- Honorary Vice-Chancellor of the University of MumbaiUniversity of MumbaiThe University of Mumbai , is a state university located in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It was known as the University of Bombay until 1996 when the city of Bombay was renamed as Mumbai. The affiliated colleges of the university are spread throughout the city of Mumbai and four coastal districts in...
(1967)
Awards
In 1972, Gajendragadkar was awarded the Padma VibhushanPadma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
award from the Government of India.