2018-09-07 Fri

A great scholar of uncommon erudition, Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj was born on 7th September, 1887 in Dhaka. He was a stalwart in the field of Indological studies, Sanskrit Tantra, and philosopher.

Studying initially, at Dhaka and Jaipur, he later obtained the Master's Degree in Sanskrit from the Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi. Here he studied with scholars Madhusudan Ojha, Shasdhar Tarkchudamani and others.

First he was appointed a librarian, than he became the Principal of Government Sanskrit College, Varanasi. Later, he was also served editor of the Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala.

He will be remembered in the Indological world for his editions of 72 Sanskrit works which he got published through the Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala, Varanasi. Also author of a few books in Bengali and English on Tantra literature and Indian culture, he was conferred with the title of Mahamahopadhyaya by the British Government in the year 1934 and Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India in 1964.

He was also conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Award and Sahitya Akademi Fellowship in 1964 and 1971 respectively. India post has issued a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Pandit Gopinath Kaviraj.

Image Source: Mintage World