Sudhakar Chaturvedi
Encyclopedia
Sudhakar Chaturvedi (born 20 April 1897) is a Vedic scholar who lives in Jayanagar
, Bangalore
in Karnataka
, India
. The surname Chaturvedi literally means "master of the four Vedas", but in the present time it has become a common surname; however, Sudhakar Chaturvedi is a Chaturvedi in the original sense as he has spent a majority of his life studying the four Vedas. He was given the name "Chaturvedi" for his knowledge of the Vedas. He is a disciple of Swami Shraddhanand
at Gurukul Kangri
in Haridwar
, where he got his Veda Vachaspati degree (equivalent to a postgraduate degree).
, whom he first met when studying the Vedas in a gurukula in northern India. Subsequently, he became an ardent follower of Gandhian methods. He was a witness to many events in the Indian independence movement
, including being an eyewitness to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
. He was known as Gandhiji's Postman, as he took down and delivered letters dictated by Gandhi addressed to to the Viceroys or Governors-General. Gandhi called him 'Karnataki'. He lost the use of his right arm in 1938 while travelling with Gandhi, when the railwayman detached the last three compartments of the train as it was struggling to climb uphill. He was arrested at least 31 times during the freedom struggle, landing in prisons all over the country from Peshawar
to Vellore
.
He was offered the post of minister in the old Mysore state
by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
, which he turned down. He also campaigned for the unification of the state.
He has adopted children (a Harijan
as his son), and he never married:
He was the first teacher of Ravi Shankar.
As of 2007, he continues to give discourses on the Vedas. He has written over 40 books, and, as of 2008, is working on the publication of Vedic texts in 20 volumes. He was also announced in 2002 to be heading a project of the Arya Samaj
to publish a 30000-page treatise in Kannada on Veda Bhashya, and by 2009, three of the four Vedas and six volumes of the Rg Veda were released.
He has been reported in newspapers as the oldest Indian.
He was the moving spirit behind the Bangalore Samaj, which published the Kannada monthly magazine Veda Taranga.
for his contributions to Indology, when it celebrated its centenary in 2003.
The Karnataka Sahitya Anuvada Academy gave him an honorary award for 2007–08.
In 2010 he was given a "Living Legend" Award by IDL at a public function where he pledged to donate his eyes.
He was honoured by his alma mater, Gurukul Kangri university, in 2010.
On Republic Day
in 2010, he was felicitated by the Governor of Karnataka.
Jayanagar
Jayanagar is a residential and commercial neighbourhood of the city of Bangalore in Karnataka, India. It is sub-divided into ten blocks, most of which comprise residential areas. A prominent shopping complex is located in Jayanagar IV Block. Jayanagar IV Block also houses one of Bangalore's...
, Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
in Karnataka
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...
, 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...
. The surname Chaturvedi literally means "master of the four Vedas", but in the present time it has become a common surname; however, Sudhakar Chaturvedi is a Chaturvedi in the original sense as he has spent a majority of his life studying the four Vedas. He was given the name "Chaturvedi" for his knowledge of the Vedas. He is a disciple of Swami Shraddhanand
Swami Shraddhanand
Swami Shraddhanand was an Indian educationist and an Arya Samaj missionary who propagated the teachings of Swami Dayanand. This included the establishment of educational institutions, like the Gurukul Kangri University, and played a key role on the Sangathan and the Shuddhi a Hindu reform...
at Gurukul Kangri
Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya
Gurukul Kangri University or Gurukul Kangri Vishwavidyalaya is a Deemed University located in the city of Haridwar in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.- History :...
in Haridwar
Haridwar
Haridwar is an important pilgrimage city and municipality in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India...
, where he got his Veda Vachaspati degree (equivalent to a postgraduate degree).
Freedom struggle
Chaturvedi was a contemporary of Mahatma GandhiMahatma 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...
, whom he first met when studying the Vedas in a gurukula in northern India. Subsequently, he became an ardent follower of Gandhian methods. He was a witness to many events in the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
, including being an eyewitness to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre
Jallianwala Bagh massacre
The Jallianwala Bagh massacre , also known as the Amritsar massacre, took place in the Jallianwala Bagh public garden in the northern Indian city of Amritsar, and was ordered by Brigadier-General Reginald E.H. Dyer...
. He was known as Gandhiji's Postman, as he took down and delivered letters dictated by Gandhi addressed to to the Viceroys or Governors-General. Gandhi called him 'Karnataki'. He lost the use of his right arm in 1938 while travelling with Gandhi, when the railwayman detached the last three compartments of the train as it was struggling to climb uphill. He was arrested at least 31 times during the freedom struggle, landing in prisons all over the country from Peshawar
Peshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
to Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
.
He was offered the post of minister in the old Mysore state
Mysore State
The Kingdom of Mysore was one of the three largest princely states within the erstwhile British Empire of India. Upon India gaining its independence in 1947, the Maharaja of Mysore merged his realm with the Union of India...
by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
Vallabhbhai Jhaverbhai Patel was an Indian barrister and statesman, one of the leaders of the Indian National Congress and one of the founding fathers of India...
, which he turned down. He also campaigned for the unification of the state.
Life
Sudhakar Chaturvedi was born on Ram Navami day in 1897 in Bangalore (or in Kyatsandra in Tumkur).He has adopted children (a Harijan
Harijan
Harijan was a term used by Gandhi for Dalits. Gandhi said it was wrong to call people 'untouchable', and called them Harijans, which means children of God...
as his son), and he never married:
He was the first teacher of Ravi Shankar.
As of 2007, he continues to give discourses on the Vedas. He has written over 40 books, and, as of 2008, is working on the publication of Vedic texts in 20 volumes. He was also announced in 2002 to be heading a project of the Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj
Arya Samaj is a Hindu reform movement founded by Swami Dayananda on 10 April 1875. He was a sannyasi who believed in the infallible authority of the Vedas. Dayananda emphasized the ideals of brahmacharya...
to publish a 30000-page treatise in Kannada on Veda Bhashya, and by 2009, three of the four Vedas and six volumes of the Rg Veda were released.
He has been reported in newspapers as the oldest Indian.
He was the moving spirit behind the Bangalore Samaj, which published the Kannada monthly magazine Veda Taranga.
Recent awards
He was honoured by Motilal BanarsidassMotilal Banarsidass
Motilal Banarsidass is a leading Indian publishing house on Sanskrit and Indology since 1903, located in Delhi, India. It publishes and distributes serials, monographs, and scholarly publications on Asian religion, philosophy, history, culture, arts, architecture, archaeology, language,...
for his contributions to Indology, when it celebrated its centenary in 2003.
The Karnataka Sahitya Anuvada Academy gave him an honorary award for 2007–08.
In 2010 he was given a "Living Legend" Award by IDL at a public function where he pledged to donate his eyes.
He was honoured by his alma mater, Gurukul Kangri university, in 2010.
On Republic Day
Republic Day (India)
The Republic Day of India commemorates the date on which the Constitution of India came into force replacing the Government of India Act 1935 as the governing document of India on 26 January 1950....
in 2010, he was felicitated by the Governor of Karnataka.
Books in Kannada
- Upakarmada Bhavya Sandesha
- Halavu Nenapugalu (2007) http://pustakshakti.com/halavunenapugalu.htm
- Murtipooje Jignyaase
External links
- Photos of Chaturvedi honoured on 18/07/2008
- Photos in The Hindu
- TOI, felicitated in Raj Bhavan, Jan 27, 2010
- Jallianwala Bagh and Chandrayana Book Release
- Honoured on 28 March 2008