Vitthal Ramji Shinde
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Vitthal Ramji Shinde | |
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| Born | Vitthal Ramji Shinde 23 April 1873 |
| Died | 2 January 1944 Bombay Province, British India |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Education | Fergusson College (BA) |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, Researcher |
| Known for | Social Reformer, Missionary |
Vitthal Ramji Shinde (23 April 1873 – 2 January 1944) was an Indian social reformer, writer, and researcher. He is known for his work in advocating against untouchability and promoting religious and social reform during the British Raj.[1] Shinde was associated with the liberal reformist tradition in India and contributed to the early discourse on caste and Dalit rights.[2][3][4][5]
Early life
[edit]Shinde was born on 23 April 1873 in the princely state of Jamkhandi, now part of Karnataka, into a Maratha family.[6] His family practiced liberal religious beliefs and interacted with individuals from various social backgrounds.[citation needed]
His spiritual and intellectual outlook was influenced by religious figures such as Sant Tukaram, Sant Eknath, and Sant Ramdas, as well as thinkers like John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Max Müller, Mahadev Govind Ranade, and R. G. Bhandarkar.[citation needed]
Education
[edit]In 1898, Shinde earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fergusson College, Pune. He began law studies in Mumbai but discontinued them.[citation needed] In that year, he joined the Prarthana Samaj, where he was influenced by figures such as Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade and Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar. In 1901, with the financial support of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda State, he went to Manchester College, Oxford to study comparative religion.
Career
[edit]After returning to India in 1903, Shinde resumed his work with the Prarthana Samaj and became active in efforts to address caste-based discrimination.[7] He focused on education and social welfare initiatives for the Depressed Classes. In 1905, he opened a night school for Dalit children in Pune.[citation needed] The following year, he founded the Depressed Classes Mission in Bombay.
In subsequent years, he established the Murali Pratibandhak Sabha (1910) and convened the Asprushyata Nivaran Parishad (1912).[citation needed] In 1917, Shinde played a role in passing a resolution at the Indian National Congress condemning untouchability.
During the 1920 Bombay Presidency Council elections, which he contested from Pune, he published a Marathi-language article titled Bahujan Paksh in Baroda’s Jagruti Patra.[1] The article served as a political statement and outlined the objectives of the Bahujan Samaj Paksha, a party aimed at representing socially and economically disadvantaged groups in Indian society.[8]
Between 1918 and 1920, he was involved in organizing conferences on untouchability, with some chaired by leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sayajirao Gaekwad III.[citation needed] He also presented evidence before the Southborough Franchise Committee in 1919, advocating for political representation of marginalized castes. In 1923, he resigned from the executive of the Depressed Classes Mission due to internal disagreements but remained associated with its objectives.[citation needed]
In 1930, Shinde participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned for six months in Yerwada Central Jail.[citation needed]
Writings and views
[edit]In 1933, Shinde published Bhartiya Asprushyatecha Prashna ("India's Untouchability Question"), addressing issues such as caste, religious orthodoxy, and social discrimination. He criticized idol worship, ritualism, hereditary priesthood, and practices that, in his view, obstructed social equality.[citation needed] He emphasized a direct relationship between individuals and the divine, without the need for intermediaries.[citation needed]
Depressed Classes Mission
[edit]Shinde established the Depressed Classes Mission to address the educational and social needs of Dalits and to challenge untouchability.[9][3] The Mission aimed to:
- Oppose untouchability.
- Provide education to Dalit communities.
- Establish schools, hostels, and healthcare facilities.
- Address social challenges faced by marginalized groups.[citation needed]
Death
[edit]Vitthal Ramji Shinde died on 2 January 1944.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Its time for a Bahujan rethink". SabrangIndia. 21 December 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ https://divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/mag-hmr-dr-5776229-nor.html
- ^ a b Patnekar, Mrunal (2018), "Relocating caste: The politics of communalism in early twentieth-century Bombay", Re-searching Transitions in Indian History, doi:10.4324/9780429487569-12, S2CID 242029679, retrieved 2 March 2023
- ^ Narayan, Badri (18 April 2014). Kanshiram: Leader of the Dalits. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-93-5118-670-0.
- ^ Ganachari, Aravind (2005). "First World War: Purchasing Indian Loyalties: Imperial Policy of Recruitment and 'Rewards'". Economic and Political Weekly. 40 (8): 779–788. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4416244.
- ^ "Maharshi Shinde and the Peasant Movement". Amritmahotsav. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ "Vitthal Ramji Shinde". veethi.com. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
- ^ "Bahujan Paksh's manifesto – Vitthal Ramji Shinde". The Satyashodhak. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
- ^ Kshīrasāgara, Rāmacandra (1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt (. Ltd. p. 128. ISBN 81-85880-43-3. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
- ^ "Social Work of Vitthal Ramji Shinde: Learn about Legacy and Impact". Testbook. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
- Dr. G.M. Pawar, English translation by Sudhakar Marathe, *The Life and Work of Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde*, Sahitya Akademi, 2013. ISBN 978-81-260-4064-3
- M.S. Gore, *Vitthal Ramji Shinde: An Assessment of His Contribution*, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, 1989.
- G.M. Pawar, *Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde: Jeevan wa Karya* (Marathi), 2004. ISBN 81-88284-37-8
- Katare, *Maharashtra History*, 2013 edition.
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