Swami Keshwanand
Encyclopedia
Swami Keshwanand was an India
n freedom fighter and social reformer.
district of present-day Rajasthan in 1883, Swamiji, whose actual name was Birama, was the son of Thakarsi, a penurious camel-driver, and his wife Saran. The family were Hindu
and belonged to the Dhaka
gotra and the Jat
clan
. When Birama was five, his family left Magluna for the nearby town of Ratangarh
. Thakarsi, who used to escort prosperous Seths (Businessman) from Ratangarh
to Delhi
on his camel, died in 1890 when Birama was seven. This put paid to Birama's already slim chances of gaining an education; it is said that for a prolonged period, his mother had perforce to move from place to place in search of shelter and fodder for her animals. Mother and son finally settled at village Kelania in present-day Sri Ganganagar district in 1897. However, this was not the end of their misfortunes: Rajasthan
was then headed for one of its periodic famines. By one account: "There was no vegetation left on the ground. There was no drop of water. All the animals died for want of fodder. People survived on grasses and the bark of "Khejri
" trees. Even that also became scarce. There was nothing like governance. The ruling Samants were least bothered for the poor people....". It was in these circumstances that Birama’s mother Saran died in 1899 at village Kelania.
of 1899 forced the 16-year-old Birama to leave the desert
region and move to Punjab
in search of livelihood. Circumstances had induced in him an ineffable spiritual quest. He approached Mahant Kushaldas of the Udasin sect, to whom he expressed the desire to learn Sanskrit
, in order to be able to study the higher Hindu
scriptures from primary sources. Noting that Birama belonged to the Jat caste, who were customarily precluded from studying the higher scriptures or even the liturgical Sanskrit
language, Mahant Kushaldas advised him to become a sannyasi, or renunciate, which would render him eligible to learn Sanskrit
. Accordingly, Birama became a sannyasi in 1904, was inducted into the Udasin sect, and commenced his education at the Sadhu Ashram Fazilka, a Hindu seminary located in Punjab
. He learned the Hindi
and Sanskrit
languages and the Devanagari
and Gurmukhi scripts at the Ashram. At the Kumbha Mela held at Prayag
in 1905, Mahatma Hiranandji Avadhut conferred on Birama the new name "Swami Keshwanand".
, left Swami Keshawanand profoundly moved. He started attending the meetings of the Indian National Congress
, joined the Indian Independence Movement
under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi
, and participated in the non-cooperation movement, for which was imprisoned for two years (1921-1922) at Ferozepur. In 1930, he was given charge of Congress
activities in Ferozepur district. He was again arrested the same year, but was soon released pursuant to the Gandhi-Irwin
pact.
. The following year, he started a Sanskrit
school at the same place. In 1932, swami Keshwanand was made director of the Jat School, Sangaria, which was at the verge of closure for want of funds. He went from village to village to collect funds, and was successful in averting the closure of the school, which was renamed Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria in 1948. Within the precincts of this school, Swami Keshwanand developed a museum with a valuable collection of rare documents, paintings and antiques, thus initiating the idea of conservation in a profoundly backward area. The students of the school, aided by the local community, undertook a large-scale, successful project to green the precincts of the school, which is located in one of the most arid regions of India
. Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria has become an inspiration for educators far and wide.
language is a must to keep the country united and to educate the public about nationality. Swami’s own mother-tongue was of course Hindi, and he somehow felt that forcing people from other parts of India to learn that language would aid national unity. He started his programme of spreading Hindi by founding, in 1920, a Hindi forum, the ‘Nagari Pracharini Sabha’, at Abohar
in the Ferozepur district of Punjab
. This forum was later renamed “Sahitya Sadan, Abohar”. In 1933, he started a press named “Deepak” at Abohar, which published material in Hindi language that was distributed either free or at a very nominal price. He organized the 30th All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan at Sahitya Sadan, Abohar, in 1941. Swami Keshwanand was a longtime member of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad
. He either himself wrote, or arranged for the translation into Hindi
, of around 100 books. At immense effort over the course of eleven years, he arranged for the publication of the Hindi
edition of the book “History of Sikhs” in 1954. In 1942, he was honoured with the “Sahitya Vachaspati” for his pains in propagating his own mother-tongue to other people.
Swami Keshwanand, born in a Jat Hindu
family of Dhaka
clan, and a renunciate belonging to the Udasi sect which was propagated by Srichandji, son of guru Nanakdevji, the founder of the Sikh faith, was a unique example of communal harmony. He organized celebrations in honour of Sikh
, Bishnoi, Namdhari
and Jain gurus. During the partition of India
in 1947, he got wounded Muslim
s admitted to hospitals and arranged food and shelter for them.
Swami Keshwanand, in sangriya 9 August 1917 started a girl school(gramothan vidyapeath)
he insisted on girl education. He was successful. Now in sangriya many units are working on education.
1 Swami Keshwanand college.
2 Swami Keshwanand memorial public school.(English mediam on C.B.S.E. pattern)
3 gramothan vidyapeath home science women's college.
4 gramothan vidyapeath College of Education. (BSTC, B.Ed.,M.Ed.,Ph.D., C.T.E., IGNOU BED Study Centre, IGNOU Partner Institute in Convergence Scheme)
5 gramothan vidyapeath higher secondary school.
6 gramothan vidyapeath girls higher secondary school
7 gramothan vidyapeath primary girls school. (Free education available)
8 gramothan vidyapeath Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).
9 gramothan vidyapeath Sir Chhotu Ram Museum.
on March 9, 1958. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha
for two consequetive terms, 1952-58 and 1958-64. The department of Posts, Government of India
, issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour on August 15, 1999.
Swami Keshwanand died on September 13, 1972 at Delhi
.
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...
n freedom fighter and social reformer.
Early life
Born at village Magloona in SikarSikar
Sikar is a city located in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan state in India. It is the administrative headquarter of Sikar District. Sikar is a historical city and contains many old Havelis which are a huge tourist attraction. The best way to reach the city is to use road transport from Jaipur...
district of present-day Rajasthan in 1883, Swamiji, whose actual name was Birama, was the son of Thakarsi, a penurious camel-driver, and his wife Saran. The family were Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
and belonged to the Dhaka
Dhaka (clan)
Dhaka is a gotra of Jats found in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states of India.They are mainly found in Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu districts of Rajasthan. Dhaka is the biggest Gotra in Sikar district. Second Largest Gotra of JATs. Juliasar village in Sikar district was...
gotra and the Jat
Jat people
The Jat people are a community of traditionally non-elite tillers and herders in Northern India and Pakistan. Originally pastoralists in the lower Indus river-valley of Sindh, Jats migrated north into the Punjab region in late medieval times, and subsequently into the Delhi Territory,...
clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
. When Birama was five, his family left Magluna for the nearby town of Ratangarh
Ratangarh
Ratangarh is a town in the Churu district in Rajasthan, India. Ratangarh was previously called Kolasar. It is famous for grand havelis with frescoes, which is an architectural speciality of the Shekhawati region...
. Thakarsi, who used to escort prosperous Seths (Businessman) from Ratangarh
Ratangarh
Ratangarh is a town in the Churu district in Rajasthan, India. Ratangarh was previously called Kolasar. It is famous for grand havelis with frescoes, which is an architectural speciality of the Shekhawati region...
to Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
on his camel, died in 1890 when Birama was seven. This put paid to Birama's already slim chances of gaining an education; it is said that for a prolonged period, his mother had perforce to move from place to place in search of shelter and fodder for her animals. Mother and son finally settled at village Kelania in present-day Sri Ganganagar district in 1897. However, this was not the end of their misfortunes: Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
was then headed for one of its periodic famines. By one account: "There was no vegetation left on the ground. There was no drop of water. All the animals died for want of fodder. People survived on grasses and the bark of "Khejri
Prosopis cineraria
Prosopis cineraria is a species of flowering tree in the pea family, Fabaceae, that is native to arid portions of Western and South Asia, such as the Arabian and Thar Deserts...
" trees. Even that also became scarce. There was nothing like governance. The ruling Samants were least bothered for the poor people....". It was in these circumstances that Birama’s mother Saran died in 1899 at village Kelania.
Education
The famineFamine
A famine is a widespread scarcity of food, caused by several factors including crop failure, overpopulation, or government policies. This phenomenon is usually accompanied or followed by regional malnutrition, starvation, epidemic, and increased mortality. Every continent in the world has...
of 1899 forced the 16-year-old Birama to leave the desert
Thar Desert
The Thar Desert |Punjab]] province. The Cholistan Desert adjoins the Thar desert spreading into Pakistani Punjab province.-Location and description:...
region and move to Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
in search of livelihood. Circumstances had induced in him an ineffable spiritual quest. He approached Mahant Kushaldas of the Udasin sect, to whom he expressed the desire to learn 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...
, in order to be able to study the higher Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
scriptures from primary sources. Noting that Birama belonged to the Jat caste, who were customarily precluded from studying the higher scriptures or even the liturgical 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...
language, Mahant Kushaldas advised him to become a sannyasi, or renunciate, which would render him eligible to learn 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...
. Accordingly, Birama became a sannyasi in 1904, was inducted into the Udasin sect, and commenced his education at the Sadhu Ashram Fazilka, a Hindu seminary located in Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. He learned the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and 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...
languages and the Devanagari
Devanagari
Devanagari |deva]]" and "nāgarī" ), also called Nagari , is an abugida alphabet of India and Nepal...
and Gurmukhi scripts at the Ashram. At the Kumbha Mela held at Prayag
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
in 1905, Mahatma Hiranandji Avadhut conferred on Birama the new name "Swami Keshwanand".
Career
Swami Keshwanand lived a life of many facets—as freedom fighter, educator and social reformer.The freedom fighter
The Jalianwalla Bagh Massacre of 1919, which caused a profound impact on the collective psyche of the PunjabPunjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, left Swami Keshawanand profoundly moved. He started attending the meetings of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
, joined 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...
under the leadership 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...
, and participated in the non-cooperation movement, for which was imprisoned for two years (1921-1922) at Ferozepur. In 1930, he was given charge of Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
activities in Ferozepur district. He was again arrested the same year, but was soon released pursuant to the Gandhi-Irwin
Irwin
-Places:United States* Irwin, California* Irwin, Idaho* Irwin, Illinois* Irwin, Iowa* Irwin, Ohio* Irwin, Pennsylvania* Irwin, South Carolina* Irwin County, Georgia* Irwin Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania* Fort Irwin, CaliforniaAustralia...
pact.
The educator
Swami Keshwanand, an orphan, illiterate, nomadic man who never received formal education, was the founder of more than 300 schools, 50 hostels and innumerable libraries, social service centers and museums. In 1911, within a few years of his initiation into the Udasin Dasnami sect as a sanyasi, swami Keshawanand started the “Vedant Pushp Vatika” library within the precincts of the Sadhu Ashram FazilkaFazilka
Fazilka is a city and a municipal council and 22nd newest district in the state of Punjab, India and recently declared as District on July 27, 2011 consisting three subdivisions Fazilka, Jalalabad and Abohar besides three sub-tehsils Arniwala Sheikh Suban, Sito Guno and Khuian Sarwar.- History...
. The following year, he started a 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...
school at the same place. In 1932, swami Keshwanand was made director of the Jat School, Sangaria, which was at the verge of closure for want of funds. He went from village to village to collect funds, and was successful in averting the closure of the school, which was renamed Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria in 1948. Within the precincts of this school, Swami Keshwanand developed a museum with a valuable collection of rare documents, paintings and antiques, thus initiating the idea of conservation in a profoundly backward area. The students of the school, aided by the local community, undertook a large-scale, successful project to green the precincts of the school, which is located in one of the most arid regions of 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...
. Gramothan Vidyapith, Sangaria has become an inspiration for educators far and wide.
Propagation of Hindi
Swami Keshwanand felt that the knowledge of the HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
language is a must to keep the country united and to educate the public about nationality. Swami’s own mother-tongue was of course Hindi, and he somehow felt that forcing people from other parts of India to learn that language would aid national unity. He started his programme of spreading Hindi by founding, in 1920, a Hindi forum, the ‘Nagari Pracharini Sabha’, at Abohar
Abohar
Abohar is a city and a municipal committee in Fazilka district in the state of Punjab, India,) located on the Ganganagar–Delhi railway route, about north of Ganganagar and about south of Fazilka. This city is also known as the "California of Punjab" for its rich soil, good irrigation sources,...
in the Ferozepur district of Punjab
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
. This forum was later renamed “Sahitya Sadan, Abohar”. In 1933, he started a press named “Deepak” at Abohar, which published material in Hindi language that was distributed either free or at a very nominal price. He organized the 30th All India Hindi Sahitya Sammelan at Sahitya Sadan, Abohar, in 1941. Swami Keshwanand was a longtime member of the Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
. He either himself wrote, or arranged for the translation into Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, of around 100 books. At immense effort over the course of eleven years, he arranged for the publication of the Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
edition of the book “History of Sikhs” in 1954. In 1942, he was honoured with the “Sahitya Vachaspati” for his pains in propagating his own mother-tongue to other people.
The social reformer
Swami Keshwanand’s deep understanding of the rural society of the desert region can be gleaned from his book “Maru Bhumi Seva Karya”. In this book, he has explained the peculiarities of the Desert region, identified the problems and suggested appropriate and logical solutions. It was swami Keshwanand’s lifelong endeavour to eradicate social evils like untouchability, illiteracy, child marriage, indebtedness, poverty, backwardness, alcohol abuse, moral dissipation etc.Swami Keshwanand, born in a Jat Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
family of Dhaka
Dhaka (clan)
Dhaka is a gotra of Jats found in Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states of India.They are mainly found in Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu districts of Rajasthan. Dhaka is the biggest Gotra in Sikar district. Second Largest Gotra of JATs. Juliasar village in Sikar district was...
clan, and a renunciate belonging to the Udasi sect which was propagated by Srichandji, son of guru Nanakdevji, the founder of the Sikh faith, was a unique example of communal harmony. He organized celebrations in honour of Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
, Bishnoi, Namdhari
Namdhari
Namdhari are a sect of Sikhism. The main difference between Namdhari Sikhs and mainstream Sikhs is their belief in Jagjit Singh as their living Guru...
and Jain gurus. During the partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947, he got wounded Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s admitted to hospitals and arranged food and shelter for them.
Swami Keshwanand, in sangriya 9 August 1917 started a girl school(gramothan vidyapeath)
he insisted on girl education. He was successful. Now in sangriya many units are working on education.
Sangaria
UNITS:-1 Swami Keshwanand college.
2 Swami Keshwanand memorial public school.(English mediam on C.B.S.E. pattern)
3 gramothan vidyapeath home science women's college.
4 gramothan vidyapeath College of Education. (BSTC, B.Ed.,M.Ed.,Ph.D., C.T.E., IGNOU BED Study Centre, IGNOU Partner Institute in Convergence Scheme)
5 gramothan vidyapeath higher secondary school.
6 gramothan vidyapeath girls higher secondary school
7 gramothan vidyapeath primary girls school. (Free education available)
8 gramothan vidyapeath Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK).
9 gramothan vidyapeath Sir Chhotu Ram Museum.
Honours
Swami Keshwanand was presented the “Abhinandan Granth” by the then chief minister of RajasthanRajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
on March 9, 1958. He was a 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,...
for two consequetive terms, 1952-58 and 1958-64. The department of Posts, Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
, issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour on August 15, 1999.
Swami Keshwanand died on September 13, 1972 at Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
.