2016-04-18 Mon

Dhondo Keshav Karve, also known as Maharishi Karve, was born on 18th April 1858. He was a Social Reformer and an educator who worked tirelessly for the upliftment of women’s right in the society. He was well noted for supporting the education of women and for organizing associations for the remarriage of Hindu widows.

The lower end of the caste system and women suffered a lot due to the rigidity of social system prevalent during the time. The women, no matter which caste they belonged to, were suppressed at the larger scale. Maharishi Karve recognised the main reason behind the ill fate of the women was lack of education.

He broke down the orthodox Hindu opposition to widow remarriage, and he established the Widow Marriage Association in 1893. Moreover, he established an educational institution, Hindu Widows Home, in Poona, to help widows support themselves if they could not remarry. He also established Women’s university in Pune. Apart from that, Maharishi Karve did great in the abolition of the caste system.

This Great Sage (Maharishi) of India lived for 104 years and on his 100th, Birth Anniversary government of India awarded him the highest civilian award – The Bharat Ratna in 1958. Also, a special commemorative stamp worth 15 paise was issued to pay tribute to his work that incorporated a great change in today’s Indian society.

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