Mahadev Govind Ranade | |
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| Born | 18 January 1842 (1842-01-18) |
| Died | 16 January 1901 (1901-01-17) (aged 58) |
| Citizenship | British Indian |
| Alma mater | University of Bombay |
| Occupation(s) | Scholar, social reformer, author |
| Known for | Co-founder ofIndian National Congress |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Ramabai Ranade |
| Honours | Rao Bahadur Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire |
Rao BahadurMahadev Govind RanadeCIE (18 January 1842–16 January 1901), popularly referred to asNyayamurti Ranade (lit. Justice Ranade), was an Indian scholar,social reformer,judge andauthor. He was one of the founding members of theIndian National Congress party[1][2] and held several designations such as Member of theBombay Legislative Council and Member of the Finance Committee at the Centre.[1] He was also a judge of theBombay High Court,Maharashtra.[3]
As a well-known public figure, his personality as a calm and patient optimist influenced his attitude towards dealings with Britain as well as reform in India. During his life, he helped establish thePoona Sarvajanik Sabha,Maharashtra Granthottejak Sabha andPrarthana Samaj. He also edited aBombay Anglo-Marathi daily paper—TheInduprakash, founded on his ideology of social and religious reform.
He was accorded the title ofRao Bahadur.[4]
Mahadev Govind Ranade was born into aChitpavan Brahmin family inNiphad, ataluka town inNashik district.[5] He studied in aMarathi school inKolhapur and later shifted to an English-medium school. At the age of 14, he studied atElphinstone College,Bombay.[6] He belonged to the first batch of students at theUniversity of Bombay. In 1862, he obtained aB.A. degree inhistory &economics, and in 1864 anM.A. in history. Three years later, he obtained hisL.L.B. (law degree) in 1866.[7]
After obtaining hisL.L.B., Ranade became asubordinate judge inPune in 1871. Given his political activities and public popularity, the British colonial authorities delayed his promotion to theBombay High Court until 1895.[8]
Ranade was a progressivesocial activist whose activities were deeply influenced by western culture and the colonial state. His activities ranged from religious reform to public education and reform within the Indian family. In every area, he was prone to see little virtue in Indian customs and traditions and to strive for reforming the subject into the mould of what prevailed in the west. He himself summarised the mission of the Indian Social Reform Movement as being to "Humanise, Equalise and Spiritualise," the implication being that existing Indian society lacked these qualities.[9]
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Ranade joined thePrarthana Samaj, a religious and social reform organisation, in 1867, and the PoonaPrarthana Samaj in 1869. Historians have regarded Ranade as an intellectual leader in the movement.[10][11] Ranade was influenced byBishop Joseph Butler in linking the social justice work of the Prarthama Samaj withChristian metaphysics.[10]
His efforts to "Humanise and Equalise" Indian society found its primary focus in women. He campaigned against the 'purdah system' (keeping women behind the veil). He was a founder of the Social Conference movement, which he supported till his death,[1] directing his social reform efforts againstchild marriage, thetonsure of widows, the heavy cost of weddings and other social functions and the caste restrictions on travelling abroad. He strenuously advocated widow remarriage and female education.[1] In 1861, when he was still a teenager, Ranade co-founded the 'Widow Marriage Association'. It promoted marriage for Hindu widows and acted as native compradors for the colonial government's project of passing a law permitting such marriages.[12] He chose to takeprayaschitta (religious penance) in the Panch-Houd Mission Case rather than insisting on his opinions.[13][14]
In 1885, Ranade along with Vaman Abaji Modak and historian Dr.R. G. Bhandarkar established the Maharashtra Girls Education Society to startHuzurpaga, the oldest girls' high school inIndia.[15][16] The school was established in the former stable yard of theBajirao I Peshwa inNarayan Peth, Pune.
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Ranade was in his 30s when his first wife died. His family wanted him to remarry, especially since he had no children. His reformer friends expected him, who had co-founded the 'Widow Marriage Association' as far back as 1861, to act in accordance with his own sermons and marry a widow. However, Ranade yielded to his family's wishes and conformed with convention to marryRamabai, a girl who was barely eleven years old and twenty years younger to him. Ramabai was born in 1862, nearly a year after Ranade had founded his 'Widow Marriage Association'. He acceded to the marriage because he anticipated that if he married an already wedded woman, the children born to her would be considered illegitimate outcasts by his society. The irony of the affair is that while Ranade faced ridicule and accusations of hypocrisy, his ardent wish remained unfulfilled: his second marriage also remained childless.
The wedding was held in full compliance with tradition and was a happy one. Ramabai was a daughter of the Kurlekar family, which belonged to the same caste and social strata as Ranade.[17] The couple had a completely harmonious and conventional marriage. Ranade ensured that his wife receive education, something that she was not keen about initially. However, like all Indian women of that era, she complied with her husband's wishes and grew into her new life. After Ranade's death, Ramabai Ranade continued the social and educational reform work initiated by him.
A television series onZee Marathi namedUnch Majha Zoka (roughly translated as 'My Swing Flies High') based on Ramabai's and Mahadevrao's life and their development as a 'women's rights' activist was broadcast in March 2012. It was based on a book by Ramabai Ranade titledAmachyaa Aayushyaatil Kaahi Aathavani. In the book, Justice Ranade is called "Madhav" rather than Mahadev. The series had actors Vikram Gaikwad as Mahadev Govind Ranade andSpruha Joshi asRamabai Ranade.[note 1].
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