List of Marathi social reformers

2021-11-04T04:50:32Z

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{{short description|Bharatpedia list article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
This page is a '''list of Marathi social reformers.'''

== Vinoba Bhave ==

[[Vinoba Bhave]] is well known for the [[Bhoodan movement|Bhoodan Movement]]. On 18 April 1951He was a winner at ji Pochampally of nalgonda,<ref>''The Un-Gandhian Gandhi : The Life and Afterlife of Mahatma'' - By Claude Markovits</ref> the Bhoodan Movement. He took donated land from land owner Indians and gave it away to the poor and landless, for them to cultivate. Then after 1954, he started to ask for donations of whole villages in a programme he called Gramdan. He got more than 1000 villages by way of donation. Out of these, he obtained 175 donated villages in Tamil Nadu alone. Noted Gandhian and atheist [[Lavanam]] was the interpreter of Vinoba Bhave during his land reform movement in Andhra Pradesh and parts of Orissa.<ref name="Markshep.com">{{cite web|url = http://www.markshep.com/nonviolence/GT_Vinoba.html|title = The King of Kindness (Vinoba Bhave, Bhoodan, Gramdan, Sarvodaya, Gandhi Movement)|publisher = Markshep.com|date = |accessdate = |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100114025951/http://www.markshep.com/nonviolence/GT_Vinoba.html|archive-date = 2010-01-14|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 1958 Vinoba was '''the first recipient''' of the international [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] for Community Leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyBhaveVin.htm |title=Online biography of Vinoba Bhave |access-date=2015-10-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317172952/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Biography/BiographyBhaveVin.htm |archive-date=2013-03-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was awarded with the highest civilian award of India.the [[Bharat Ratna]] posthumously in 1983.<ref>[http://india.gov.in/myindia/bharatratna_awards_list1.php?start=20 List of Bharat Ratna Awardees recipients]</ref>

== Dhondo Keshav Karve ==
[[File:Dr Dhondo Keshav Karve Cropped.png|thumb|[[Dhondo Keshav Karve]]|237x237px]]

Social reformer and educator, [[Dhondo Keshav Karve]] is widely known for his work related to woman education and remarriage of Hindu widows. He '''established the Widow Marriage Association''' (1883), Hindu Widows Home (1896), and started [[SNDT Women's University|Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University]] in 1916. He was popularly known as Maha-rushi maharshi meaning great sage. The [[Government of India]] awarded him its highest civilian award, the [[Bharat Ratna]], in 1958, the year of his 100th birthday.<ref name="award">{{cite web|title=Padma Awards Directory (1954-2007) |url=http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410024701/http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/PadmaAwards1954-2007.pdf |archivedate=2009-04-10 }}</ref>

The film "DhayasaParva" by [[Amol Palekar]], based on the life of Karve's son Raghunath, also depicts the Karve family, and their social reformation projects.<ref name="Dhyasparva">{{cite web
|title = ''Dhyasparva'' - A film by Amol Palekar|url = https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0331232/}}</ref>

== Babasaheb Ambedkar ==
[[File:Young Ambedkar.gif|thumb|[[B. R. Ambedkar|Babasaheb Ambedkar]]|240x240px]]

[[B. R. Ambedkar]] was a reformer, politician, economist, and scholar, Indian jurist, educationist, philosopher, Buddhist activist, thinker, anthropologist and historian. A [[Social reformer]] who inspired the [[Dalit Buddhist movement|Modern Buddhist Movement]] and campaigned against social discrimination against [[Untouchability|Untouchables]] (''[[Dalit]]s''), while also supporting the rights of women and [[Labour movement|labour]]. He was Independent India's first [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|law minister]] and the principal architect of the [[Constitution of India]].<ref>{{cite news|title = Do we really respect Dr Ambedkar or is it mere lip service?|url = http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/standpoint-do-we-really-respect-dr-ambedkar-or-is-it-mere-lip-service-2040352}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title = Home for Ambedkar 'house'|url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150216/jsp/frontpage/story_3660.jsp#.VPiYR_mUfIo}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Constitution of India: Role of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar |url=http://www.freepressjournal.in/the-constitution-of-india-role-of-dr-b-r-ambedkar/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402153753/http://www.freepressjournal.in/the-constitution-of-india-role-of-dr-b-r-ambedkar/ |archivedate=2015-04-02 }}</ref>

He became involved in campaigning and negotiations for India's independence, publishing journals advocating political rights and social freedom for Dalits, and contributing significantly to the establishment of the state of India.{{fact|date=November 2021}}

In 1990, the [[Bharat Ratna]], India's highest civilian award, was posthumously conferred upon Ambedkar.<ref>{{cite news|title = Bharat Ratna: A brief history of award winners|url = http://www.livemint.com/Politics/7mrZCPMpyVHCp94hhvDHQK/Bharat-Ratna-A-brief-history-of-award-winners.html}}</ref> Ambedkar's legacy includes numerous memorials and depictions in popular culture.{{fact|date=November 2021}}

== Vinayak Damodar Savarkar ==
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was a socialfighter,politician,lawyer,writer,social reformer and formulator.

He advocated dismantling the system of caste in society.Savarkar's social reforms in Ratnagiri were during the period of 1924-1937.In 1931,the Patit Pavan Mandir was established with the financial help from Bhagoji Seth Keer under the leadership of Savarkar which was open to all Hindus and it had trust representation from all castes including those from th ex-untouchable caste. He was first to start the concept of ''saha-bhojan''. On 1 May 1933, Savarkar started a pan hindu cafe for all castes. Savarkar popularised the term ''[[Hindutva]]'', denoting the essence of Hindu, which was originally coined by Chandranath Basu in 1892. Savarkar is considered to be the father of [[Hindu nationalism|Hindu Nationalism]] in India. His tract, ''Essentials of Hindutva'', better known under the later title ''[[Hindutva: Who Is a Hindu?]]'', defined a Hindu as one who regarded India as his fatherland as well as holy land. The three essentials of ''Hindutva'' were said to be the common nation (''rashtra''), common race (''jati'') and common culture/civilisation (''sanskriti'').<ref name="Sharma">{{cite journal |last = Sharma|first = Arvind|title = On Hindu, Hindustan, Hinduism and Hindutva|journal = Numen|volume = 49|pages = 1–36|number = 1|year = 2002|jstor = 3270470|doi = 10.1163/15685270252772759}}</ref>

== Mahatma Jyotiba Phule ==
[[File:Mphule.jpg|thumb|[[Jyotiba Phule]]|235x235px]]

[[Jyotiba Phule]], an Indian activist, thinker, social reformer, writer and theologist from [[Maharashtra]]. He and his wife, [[Savitribai Phule]], were pioneers of women's education in India. His work extended to many fields including education, agriculture, caste system, women and widow upliftment and removal of untouchability. He is most known for his efforts to educate women and the lower castes as well as the masses. After educating his wife, he opened the first school for girls in India in August 1848.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://pd.cpim.org/2014/0112_pd/01122014_mariam.html|title = AIDWA Observes Savitribai Phule Birth Anniversary|accessdate = |author = Mariam Dhawale}}</ref>

In September 1873, Phule, along with his followers, formed the [[Satyashodhak Samaj]] (Society of Seekers of Truth) to attain equal rights for peasants and people from lower castes.

== Nanaji Deshmukh ==

[[Nanaji Deshmukh]] established Chitarkoot Gramodya Vishwavidyalaya in Chitrakoot- India's First Rural University and was its Chancellor.<ref name="TNIE1">[http://newindianexpress.com/nation/article216806.ece Social activist Nanaji Deshmukh dead] [[The New Indian Express]]</ref> Nanaji implemented the philosophy of integral humanism to improve the living standard of more than 150 villages of Bundelkhand.

He was awarded [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1999. India's former President [[A.P.J. Abdul Kalam]] praised Deshmukh for his "single-minded devotion to the uplift of the people".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121023083707/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2001-10-19/lucknow/27225871_1_abdul-kalam-principal-scientific-advisor-human-resources Utilise human resources judiciously: Kalam]</ref>

==Sindhutai Sapkal==

*[[Sindhutai Sapkal]], affectionately known as the "Mother of Orphans", is an Indian social worker and social activist known particularly for her work in raising orphaned children in India.
She has adopted more than 1800orphans .She was conferred a Doctorate in Literature by the DY Patil Institute of Technology and Research in 2016.
*Daughter of a cowherd and abandoned wife of a poor farmer Sindhutai has been through a lot of hardships and even planned to commit suicide until she discovered the goal of her life to devote herself to the orphans.
*She was awarded the [[Nari Shakti Puraskar | Nari Shakti Award]] in 2017 by the President of INDIA which is the highest civilian award for women, [[Mother Teresa Awards]], Ahilyabai Holkar Award, given by the Government of Maharashtra to social workers in the field of woman and child welfare, The National Award for Iconic Mother(first recipient) and many other such national awards from government and organisations. She has been awarded with more than 750 awards worldwide for her work.
*In 2010 her biopic in Marathi was released named [[Mee Sindhutai Sapkal]]
*She also has multiple operating organisations in [[Maharashtra]].

== Baba Amte ==

[[Baba Amte]] was known particularly for his work for the rehabilitation and empowerment of poor people suffering from [[leprosy]].<ref name="stu_brit">{{cite book|title = Students' Britannica India|url = https://books.google.com/?id=Kpd9lLY_0-IC|isbn = 0-85229-760-2|page = 62|author-mask = Indu Ramchandani|publisher = Popular Prakashan|year = 2000}}</ref> Recipient of various accolades, Amte was conferred [[Ramon Magsaysay Award]] in 1985 for public service.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.rmaf.org.ph/newrmaf/main/awardees/awardee/profile/266|title = Amte, Murlidhar Devidas {{!}} CITATION|date = |accessdate = |website = |publisher = |last = |first = }}</ref>

== Anna Hazare ==

[[Anna Hazare]] is an Indian social activist who led movements to promote rural development, increase government transparency, and investigate and punish corruption in public life. In addition to organising and encouraging grassroots movements, Hazare frequently conducted hunger strikes to further his causes.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14540696|first = Alizeh|last = Kohari|title = Hunger strikes: What can they achieve?|agency = BBC News|date = 16 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/world/asia/19hazare.html|title = Unlikely Echo of Gandhi Inspires Indians to Act|work = The New York Times|date = 18 August 2011|first = Jim|last = Yardley|accessdate = 19 August 2011}}</ref>

Hazare also contributed to the development and structuring of [[Ralegan Siddhi]], a village in [[Parner taluka]] of Ahmednagar district, [[Maharashtra]].

Hazare and the youth group decided to take up the issue of [[alcoholism]] to drive a process of reform. At a meeting conducted in the temple, the villagers resolved to close down liquor dens and ban alcohol in the village. Since these resolutions were made in the temple, they became, in a sense, religious commitments. Over thirty liquor brewing units voluntarily closed their establishments. Those who did not succumb to social pressure were forced to close their businesses when the youth group smashed their premises. The owners could not complain as their businesses were illegal.<ref name="Seabrook1993p250">{{cite book|last = Seabrook|first = Jeremy|title = Victims of Development: Resistance and Alternatives|publisher = Verso|year = 1993|page = 250|isbn = 0-86091-385-6|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gb804ulCzSMC&pg=PA260|accessdate = 14 June 2011}}</ref>

Hazare appealed to the government of [[Maharashtra]] to pass a law whereby prohibition would come into force in a village if 25% of the women in the village demanded it. In 2009 the state government amended the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949 to reflect this.<ref name="Anna Hazare, our one, big hope, and why he can do it">{{cite news|url = http://www.moneylife.in/article/anna-hazare-our-one-big-hope-and-why-he-can-do-it/15399.html|title = Anna Hazare, our one, big hope, and why he can do it|last = Deshmukh|first = Vinita|date = 7 April 2011|publisher = Moneylife|accessdate = 8 April 2011}}</ref>

The social barriers and discrimination that existed due to the [[caste system in India]] have been largely eliminated by Ralegan Siddhi villagers. It was Hazare's moral leadership that motivated and inspired the villagers to shun [[Dalit|untouchability]] and caste discrimination. Marriages of [[Dalit]]s are held as part of community marriage program together with those of other castes. The Dalits have become integrated into the social and economic life of the village. The upper caste villagers built houses for the lower caste Dalits by ''shramdaan'' and helped to repay their loans.<ref name="DEVELOPMENT WITH EQUITY">{{cite web|url = http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~venu/ANNA/withequity.html|title = Development with Equity|author = Ramesh Awasthi and Dashrath K. Panmand|publisher = University of Maryland|accessdate = 20 August 2011}}</ref><ref name="Moving the masses Anna's way">{{cite news|url = http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/newmanager/article2040275.ece|title = Moving the masses Anna's way|work = The Hindu Business Line|accessdate = 19 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Globalization, liberalisation, and environmentalism">{{cite book|last = Poddar|first = Ganeshdatta|title = Globalization, liberalization, and environmentalism|publisher = Rawat Publications|year = 2009|pages = 262 pages|isbn = 978-81-316-0109-9|url = http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&tbm=bks&q=Dalits+in+Ralegan+Siddhi&oq=Dalits+in+Ralegan+Siddhi&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=91589l94266l0l95035l5l5l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0|accessdate = 19 July 2011}}</ref>

== Abhay and Rani Bang ==
[[Abhay and Rani Bang|Dr. Abhay Bang]] and [[Abhay and Rani Bang|Dr. Rani Bang]] are social activists, researchers working in the field of community health in [[Gadchiroli]] district of [[Maharashtra]]. They have revolutionized healthcare for the poorest people in [[India]] and have overseen a programme that has substantially reduced [[Infant mortality]] rates in one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the world. The [[World Health Organization|WHO (World Health Organization)]] and [[UNICEF]] have endorsed their approach to treating newborn babies and the programme is currently being rolled out to parts of Africa.<ref name="RPI">http://www {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010426175339/http://www/ |date=2001-04-26 }}. Guardian.co.uk Global development, Infant and child mortality, Elizabeth Day – The Observer, Sunday 20 March 2011 [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/mar/20/dr-abhay-bang-revolutionary-paediatrician Dr Abhay Bang: the revolutionary pediatrician] (Accessed on 28 November 2012)</ref> The Bangs founded [[SEARCH]]<ref>[http://www.searchgadchiroli.org/ Official website of SEARCH] (Archived on 7 November 2012)</ref> (Society For Education, Action and Research in Community Health) – a non-profit organisation, which is involved in rural health service and research. The Bang couple is the winner of the prestigious [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]]. They have many published articles in ''[[The Lancet]]'', one of the world's most prestigious medical journals.<ref>{{cite journal|author1 = Dr Abhay T Bang MD|author2 = Rani A Bang MD|author3 = Sanjay B Baitule DHMS|author4 = M Hanimi Reddy PhD|author5 = Mahesh D Deshmukh MSc|title = Effect of home-based neonatal care and management of sepsis on neonatal mortality: field trial in rural India|journal = The Lancet|date = 4 December 1999|volume = 354|issue = 9194|pages = 1955–1961|url = http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(99)03046-9/fulltext|accessdate = 17 June 2014|doi = 10.1016/s0140-6736(99)03046-9|pmid = 10622298}}</ref>

== Prakash Amte ==
[[Prakash Amte]] is a medical doctor and social worker from [[Maharashtra]]. Son of Magsaysay awardee [[Baba Amte]], he and his wife, Dr. Mandakini Amte were awarded the [[Magsaysay Award]] for 'Community Leadership'<ref name="Magsaysay">[http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationAmtes.html Citation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827114435/http://www.rmaf.org.ph/Awardees/Citation/CitationAmtes.html |date=2008-08-27 }} from the [http://www.rmaf.org.ph/index.php website of Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation]</ref> in 2008 for their [[Philanthropy|philanthropic]] work in the form of the [[Lok Biradari Prakalp]] amongst the [[Madia Gond]]s in [[Gadchiroli]] district of [[Maharashtra]] and the neighbouring states of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

== Other ==
* [[Savitribai Phule]] - founded '''the first women's school''' at Bhide Wada in [[Pune]] in 1848.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://pd.cpim.org/2014/0112_pd/01122014_mariam.html|title = AIDWA Observes Savitribai Phule Birth Anniversary|accessdate = 3 March 2014|author = Mariam Dhawale}}</ref>
* [[Pandurang Sadashiv Sane]] – Sane Guruji – freedom fighter, revolutionary and socialist leader
* [[Nirmala Deshpande]] – joined [[Vinoba Bhave]]'s [[Bhoodan movement]] in 1952. She undertook a 40,000-km journey on foot --''padayatra''—across India to carry Gandhi's message of ''Grām Swarāj'', she also received the Sitara-i-Imtiaz, one of Pakistan's third highest civilian honours, on 13 August 2009
* [[Narendra Dabholkar]] – Activist known for his role in Akhil Bharatiya Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ABANS)
* [[Sindhutai Sapkal]] – founded orphanages for street children.
* [[Gopal Hari Deshmukh]] – Writer and social reformer best known for his ''Lokhitwadinchi Shatapatre''
* [[Vivek Velankar]] – RTI activist from [[Pune]].
* [[Purushottam Kakodkar]] - He took part in the [[Salt March|Civil Disobedience Movement]] launched by Ram Manohar Lohia in Goa in 1946.
* [[Sharad Anantrao Joshi]] - Founder of Swatantra Bharat Paksh party and Shetkari Sanghatana (farmers' Organisation).
*[[Shahu of Kolhapur]] -
King of Kolhapur state credited to many social reforms and establishing many educational institutions.
* [[Shivrampant Damle]] – educationist

== See also ==
* [[List of Marathi people in sports]]
* [[List of Marathi people in literature and journalism]]
* [[List of Marathi people in science, engineering and technology]]
* [[List of Marathi people in the performing arts]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Lists of Marathi people]]
[[Category:Indian social reformers]]

IndianPedia - User contributions [en]

List of Marathi social reformers