Vitthal Ramji Shinde
Encyclopedia
Mahrshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde (April 23, 1873 – January 2, 1944) was one of the most important social and religious reformers in Maharashtra
, India
. He was prominent among the liberal
thinkers and reformists in India, prior to her independence. His greatest contribution was to remove the practice of untouchability
and bring about equality to the depressed classes in Indian society.
of Jamkhandi in Karnataka
, India, a member of a Marathi
-speaking Maharashtrian family. His early childhood was influenced by a liberal family environment. The family friends and acquaintances came from all religions and caste
s. He was brought up to think that religion was not just a matter of a blind faith and meaningless rituals or pujas, but meant getting personally and emotionally involved in the service of God.
He was influenced by the writings of many intellectuals such as Hari Narayan Apte
, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
, John Stuart Mill
, Herbert Spencer
, and Max Müller
.
degree from the Fergusson College
at Pune
, India. He had also studied and passed the first year law and moved to Mumbai (Bombay) for the LL.B. examination; however, he gave up this course to attend to other compelling callings in his life. This same year he joined the Prarthana Samaj
, where he was further inspired and influenced by G.B. Kotkar, Shivrampant Gokhle, Justice Mahadev Govinda Ranade
, Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar
and K.B. Marathe. He became a missionary
for the Prarthana Samaj.
The Prarthana Samaj selected him to go to England
in 1901, to study comparative religion
at Manchester College
, Oxford, which had been founded by the Unitarian Church
. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
, of Baroda, a progressive and reformist, provided some financial help for his travels abroad.
In 1905 he established a night school for the children of untouchables
in Pune, and in 1906 he established the Depressed Classes Mission in Mumbai
(Bombay). In 1922 the mission’s Ahalyashram building was competed at Pune.
In 1917 he succeeded in getting the Indian National Congress
to pass a resolution condemning the practice of untouchability.
From 1918 to 1920, he went on to convening all the India untouchability removal conferences. Some of these conferences were convened under the president-ship of Mahatma Gandhi
and Maharaja Sahyajirao Gaekwad.
His written communications with the Mahatmaji are noteworthy.
In 1919 he gave evidence before the South borough Commission, asking for the special representation for the untouchable castes.
In 1923 he resigned as the executive of the Depressed Classes Mission since some of the members of the untouchable castes wanted its own leaders to manage the mission’s affairs.
His work and association with the Mission continued even though he was disappointed by the separatist attitude of the leaders of the untouchables, especially under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Like the Mahatma Gandhi, he wanted unity amongst the Harijans (untouchables) and the Hindu
caste, and feared that the British rule would take advantage of such divisions within Indian society.
In 1930 he participated in the Civil Disobedience
movement of Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned for six months of hard labor, in the Yerawda prison
near Pune.
In 1933 his book Bhartiya Asprushyatecha Prashna ("India’s untouchability question") was published.
His thoughts and examination of the Hindu religion and social culture were similar to Raja Ram Mohan Roy
and Dayananda Saraswati. In his writings, he rejects the caste system, idol worship, and inequities against woman and depressed classes. He rejected meaningless rituals, the dominance of hereditary priesthood, and the requirement for a priest to mediate between God and his devotees.
Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde died on January 2, 1944.
movement in India
who established the Depressed Classes Mission of India to provide education to the Dalits. He laid the foundation of Depressed Class Mission in order to work against untouchability
on national level.It was established on October 18, 1906. Aims of this mission were:
Many schools and hostels were founded by this mission.
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...
, 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...
. He was prominent among the liberal
Liberalism in India
-1757–1947: The effect of British liberal ideas:The strengthening of British influence in Bengal with the battle of Plassey in 1757 coincided with significant developments of thought in England and in the USA...
thinkers and reformists in India, prior to her independence. His greatest contribution was to remove the practice of untouchability
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
and bring about equality to the depressed classes in Indian society.
Early life
He was born in 1873 in the princely statePrincely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
of Jamkhandi 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, a member of a Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
-speaking Maharashtrian family. His early childhood was influenced by a liberal family environment. The family friends and acquaintances came from all religions and caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
s. He was brought up to think that religion was not just a matter of a blind faith and meaningless rituals or pujas, but meant getting personally and emotionally involved in the service of God.
He was influenced by the writings of many intellectuals such as Hari Narayan Apte
Hari Narayan Apte
Hari Narayan Apte was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.Through his writings, he provided an eminent example to future Marathi fiction writers in respect of writing effective novels and short stories which faithfully reflect different aspects of contemporary society...
, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was a social reformer from Maharashtra, India during the British Raj.-Early life:Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born on 14 July 1856 in Tembhu , a village in Satara district now in Sangli district of Maharashtra. Agarkar had his primary education from Karad...
, John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill
John Stuart Mill was a British philosopher, economist and civil servant. An influential contributor to social theory, political theory, and political economy, his conception of liberty justified the freedom of the individual in opposition to unlimited state control. He was a proponent of...
, Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer
Herbert Spencer was an English philosopher, biologist, sociologist, and prominent classical liberal political theorist of the Victorian era....
, and Max Müller
Max Müller
Friedrich Max Müller , more regularly known as Max Müller, was a German philologist and Orientalist, one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion...
.
Education
In 1898 he obtained a Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the 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 ...
, India. He had also studied and passed the first year law and moved to Mumbai (Bombay) for the LL.B. examination; however, he gave up this course to attend to other compelling callings in his life. This same year he joined the Prarthana Samaj
Prarthana Samaj
Prarthana Samaj, or "Prayer Society" in Sanskrit, was a movement for religious and social reform in Maharashtra based on earlier reform movements and traditions of Maharashtra formed in 1849 by Ram Balkrishna Jaykar and others in Mumbai. It was secret in order to avoid the wrath of the powerful...
, where he was further inspired and influenced by G.B. Kotkar, Shivrampant Gokhle, Justice Mahadev Govinda Ranade
Mahadev Govind Ranade
Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade was a distinguished Indian scholar, social reformer and author. He was a founding member of the Indian National Congress and owned several designations as member of the Bombay legislative council, member of the finance committee at the centre, and the judge of Bombay...
, Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar
Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar
Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar was an Indian scholar, orientalist, and social reformer.-Early life:Bhandarkar was born in Malvan in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. After his early schooling in Ratnagiri, he studied at Elphinstone College in Bombay...
and K.B. Marathe. He became a missionary
Missionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
for the Prarthana Samaj.
The Prarthana Samaj selected him to go to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1901, to study comparative religion
Comparative religion
Comparative religion is a field of religious studies that analyzes the similarities and differences of themes, myths, rituals and concepts among the world's religions...
at Manchester College
Harris Manchester College, Oxford
Harris Manchester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Formerly known as Manchester College, it is listed in the University Statutes as Manchester Academy and Harris College, and at University ceremonies it is called Collegium de Harris et...
, Oxford, which had been founded by the Unitarian Church
General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches
The General Assembly of Unitarian and Free Christian Churches is the umbrella organisation for Unitarian, Free Christian and other liberal religious congregations in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1928, with denominational roots going back to the Great Ejection of 1662...
. Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III
165454565Sayajirao Gaekwad III was the Maharaja of Baroda State from 1875 to 1939, and is notably remembered for reforming much of his state during his rule....
, of Baroda, a progressive and reformist, provided some financial help for his travels abroad.
Life work
After returning from England in 1903, he devoted his life to religious and social reforms. He continued his missionary work for the Prarthana Samaj. His efforts were devoted mainly to the removal of untouchability in India.In 1905 he established a night school for the children of untouchables
Dalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
in Pune, and in 1906 he established the Depressed Classes Mission in Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
(Bombay). In 1922 the mission’s Ahalyashram building was competed at Pune.
In 1917 he succeeded in getting 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...
to pass a resolution condemning the practice of untouchability.
From 1918 to 1920, he went on to convening all the India untouchability removal conferences. Some of these conferences were convened under the president-ship 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 Maharaja Sahyajirao Gaekwad.
His written communications with the Mahatmaji are noteworthy.
In 1919 he gave evidence before the South borough Commission, asking for the special representation for the untouchable castes.
In 1923 he resigned as the executive of the Depressed Classes Mission since some of the members of the untouchable castes wanted its own leaders to manage the mission’s affairs.
His work and association with the Mission continued even though he was disappointed by the separatist attitude of the leaders of the untouchables, especially under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Like the Mahatma Gandhi, he wanted unity amongst the Harijans (untouchables) and the 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...
caste, and feared that the British rule would take advantage of such divisions within Indian society.
In 1930 he participated in the Civil Disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
movement of Mahatma Gandhi and was imprisoned for six months of hard labor, in the Yerawda prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
near Pune.
In 1933 his book Bhartiya Asprushyatecha Prashna ("India’s untouchability question") was published.
His thoughts and examination of the Hindu religion and social culture were similar to Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an Indian religious, social, and educational reformer who challenged traditional Hindu culture and indicated the lines of progress for Indian society under British rule. He is sometimes called the father of modern India...
and Dayananda Saraswati. In his writings, he rejects the caste system, idol worship, and inequities against woman and depressed classes. He rejected meaningless rituals, the dominance of hereditary priesthood, and the requirement for a priest to mediate between God and his devotees.
Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde died on January 2, 1944.
Depressed Class Mission
Shinde was a prominent campaigner on behalf of the DalitDalit
Dalit is a designation for a group of people traditionally regarded as Untouchable. Dalits are a mixed population, consisting of numerous castes from all over South Asia; they speak a variety of languages and practice a multitude of religions...
movement in 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...
who established the Depressed Classes Mission of India to provide education to the Dalits. He laid the foundation of Depressed Class Mission in order to work against untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
on national level.It was established on October 18, 1906. Aims of this mission were:
- To try to get rid of untouchability.
- To provide educational facilities to the untouchables.
- To start schools, hostels, and hospitals for them.
- To solve their social problems.
Many schools and hostels were founded by this mission.
Sources
- Gore, M.S.; Vitthal Ramji Shinde, An Assessment of his Contribution (book in English language), (1989), Tata Institute of Social SciencesTata Institute of Social SciencesTata Institute of Social Sciences is a social sciences institute based in Deonar, Mumbai, India.-History:TISS was established in 1936, as the Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work, the first school of social work in India. In 1944 the school was renamed to its current name...
, Bombay, India. - Pawar, G.M.; Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde, Jeevan wa Karya (book in MarathiMarathi languageMarathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
language), (2004), Mumbai (Bombay), India. ISBN 81-88284-37-8.