Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade
Encyclopedia
Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade (24 June 1863 – 31 December 1926), popularly known as Itihasacharya Rajwade, was an eminent historian, scholar, writer, commentator and orator from Maharashtra
. He is considered to be the first in real sense to undertake an immense research of Maratha
History by visiting hundreds of villages and historical places all over India and gathering thousands of genuine historical papers. He is also known to be the notable commentator on the various aspects of world history. He was the founder member of Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Pune. His disciples include historians like Datto Vaman Potdar
and G.H.Khare.
Eminent Historian, R.S. Sharma
writes of him as, "With his unadulterated passion for research, V.K.Rajwade went from village to village in Maharashtra
in search of Sanskrit
manuscripts and sources of Maratha
history; which were published in twenty-two volumes."
Historian Rajwade should not be confused with 'Ahitagni' Shankar Ramchandra Rajwade; Ahitaagni Rajwade was a vedic scholar.
The Indian History Congress
has constituted Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade Award for life-long service and contribution to Indian history.
. He was Born in the village Varsai situated in Raigad district
of Maharashtra state.
Since his father died in his childhood, he was brought up by his uncle at Vadgaon near Pune. He did his matriculation in January 1882 and graduation in 1890 from Deccan College, Pune. During his graduation he came in close contact of the well known scholar Dr. Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar who was then a professor in Deccan College (Pune)
. Sooner or Later he was also impressed with the works by Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar
, Parshuram Tatya Godbole and Kavyeitihas sangrahakar Sane.
, Aristotle
, Edward Gibbon
and Indian scholars like Shankaracharya
etc. in Marathi. Simultaneously, by writing articles and delivering speeches he also started educating Marathi people on several subjects like history of Marathas, history of world, history of Marathi literature, grammar of Marathi and Sanskrit languages. In 1910, he founded Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal at Pune and kept all his works and historical papers gathered by him in the custody of the Mandal. After his sudden death in 1926, ‘Rajwade Sanshodhak Mandal’ was founded at Dhule
and his works and collection of his later life was kept there. Both the institutions have been contributing in the field of history and culture of India till the date.
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...
. He is considered to be the first in real sense to undertake an immense research of Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
History by visiting hundreds of villages and historical places all over India and gathering thousands of genuine historical papers. He is also known to be the notable commentator on the various aspects of world history. He was the founder member of Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Pune. His disciples include historians like Datto Vaman Potdar
Datto Vaman Potdar
Dattatray Vaman Potdar , better known as Datto Vaman Potdar, was an eminent Indian historian, writer, and orator. He was the Vice-Chancellor of University of Pune during 1961 - 1964....
and G.H.Khare.
Eminent Historian, R.S. Sharma
Ram Sharan Sharma
Ram Sharan Sharma was an eminent historian of Ancient and early Medieval India. He had taught at Patna University, Delhi University and the University of Toronto and was a senior fellow at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; University Grants Commission National Fellow...
writes of him as, "With his unadulterated passion for research, V.K.Rajwade went from village to village in 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...
in search of 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...
manuscripts and sources of Maratha
Maratha
The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;...
history; which were published in twenty-two volumes."
Historian Rajwade should not be confused with 'Ahitagni' Shankar Ramchandra Rajwade; Ahitaagni Rajwade was a vedic scholar.
The Indian History Congress
Indian History Congress
Indian History Congress is the largest professional and academic body of Indian historians with over 10,000 members. It was established in 1935. The name of any new applicant for membership needs to be proposed and seconded by existing Ordinary or Life Members....
has constituted Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade Award for life-long service and contribution to Indian history.
Early life
Rajwade’s grandfather was the Killedar of fort Lohagad in the province of PunePune
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 ...
. He was Born in the village Varsai situated in Raigad district
Raigad district
Raigad District , also known as Raigarh District, is a district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is located in the Konkan region. The district was renamed after Raigad, the fort which was the former capital of the Maratha leader Shivaji, and is located in the interior regions of the district,...
of Maharashtra state.
Since his father died in his childhood, he was brought up by his uncle at Vadgaon near Pune. He did his matriculation in January 1882 and graduation in 1890 from Deccan College, Pune. During his graduation he came in close contact of the well known scholar Dr. Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar who was then a professor in 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...
. Sooner or Later he was also impressed with the works by Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar
Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar
Vishnushastri Chiplunkar was a Marathi writer, whose writings have had a decisive influence on modern Marathi prose style. He was the son of the writer and scholar Krushnashastri Chiplunkar.- Life :...
, Parshuram Tatya Godbole and Kavyeitihas sangrahakar Sane.
Later Life & Contribution
After his graduation Rajwade got married but subsequently lost his wife in early young age. Thereafter he chose to dedicate his life to history and research. In 1895 he started a Marathi magazine called ‘Bhashantar’ (meaning ‘translation’) through which he brought works of western historians and scholars like PlatoPlato
Plato , was a Classical Greek philosopher, mathematician, student of Socrates, writer of philosophical dialogues, and founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Along with his mentor, Socrates, and his student, Aristotle, Plato helped to lay the...
, Aristotle
Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and polymath, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. His writings cover many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric, linguistics, politics, government, ethics, biology, and zoology...
, Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon
Edward Gibbon was an English historian and Member of Parliament...
and Indian scholars like Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya
Shankaracharya, is a commonly used title of heads of mathas in the Advaita Vedanta tradition. The title derives from Adi Shankara, a 9th century CE reformer of Hinduism. He is honored as Jagadguru, a title that was used earlier only to Lord Krishna...
etc. in Marathi. Simultaneously, by writing articles and delivering speeches he also started educating Marathi people on several subjects like history of Marathas, history of world, history of Marathi literature, grammar of Marathi and Sanskrit languages. In 1910, he founded Bharat Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal at Pune and kept all his works and historical papers gathered by him in the custody of the Mandal. After his sudden death in 1926, ‘Rajwade Sanshodhak Mandal’ was founded at Dhule
Dhule
Dhule is a city and a Municipal Corporation in Dhule district in northwestern part of Maharashtra state, India. It is one of the very few well-planned cities of India before Indian Independence.-Geography:Dhule is located at...
and his works and collection of his later life was kept there. Both the institutions have been contributing in the field of history and culture of India till the date.
His works in Marathi as a Researcher / Historian / Editor
- Marathyanchya Itihasachi Sadhane (History of Marathas) – 22 Volumes
- Radha Madhav Vilas Champu (Biography of ShahajiShahajiShahaji Raje Bhosle was an early exponent of guerilla warfare. He was the eldest son of Maloji Bhosale of Verul . He brought the house of Bhosle into prominence. The princely states of Tanjore, Kolhapur and Satara are Bhosle legacies...
) - Aitihasik Prastavana (Historical Prefaces)
- Rajwade Lekhsangraha (Collection of essays) - 3 Volumes
- Bharatiya Vivah Sansthecha Itihas (History of Indian matrimony)
- DnyaneshwariDnyaneshwariThe Dnyaneshwari is the commentary on Bhagavad Gita written by Marathi saint and poet Dnyaneshwar during the 13th century at age 16...
(Editor)
External links
- Historian V K Rajawade's works to hit the stands at www.indianexpress.com
- Commentary on some of Rajwade's work
- Dr.Jyotsna Kamat on V.K. Rajwade
- www.sahyadribooks.org Books of VK Rajwade are available on this web site