Pandurang Sadashiv Sane
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Pandurang Sadashiv Sane ( ; 24 December 1899 – 11 June 1950), also known as ''Sane Guruji'' (Guruji meaning "respected teacher") by his students and followers, was a Marathi author, teacher, social activist and freedom fighter from
Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
, India. His literature was aimed at educating children. After Gandhi's assassination, he became very upset. He then died due to overdose of his sleeping pills.


Early life

Sane was born on 24 December 1899 in a Brahmin household of Sadashivrao and Yashodabai Sane in Palgad village near Dapoli town,
Bombay State Bombay State was a large Indian state created in 1950 from the erstwhile Bombay Province, with other regions being added to it in the succeeding years. Bombay Province (in British India roughly equating to the present-day Indian state of Mah ...
in
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(in present-day
Ratnagiri district Ratnagiri district (Marathi pronunciation: ət̪n̪aːɡiɾiː is a district in the state of Maharashtra, India. The administrative headquarter of the district is located in the town of Ratnagiri. The district is 11.34% urban. The district ...
of the
Konkan The Konkan is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, bound by the river Daman Ganga at Damaon in the north, to Anjediva Island next to Karwar town in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau to the eas ...
region of
Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...
state). He was their third child and second son. His father, Sadashivrao, was a revenue collector traditionally referred to as a ''khot'', who evaluated and collected village crops on behalf of the government, and was allowed to keep twenty-five percent of his collections as his own share. The family was relatively well off during Sane's early childhood, but their financial condition later deteriorated, leading to their house being confiscated by government authorities. Unable to face the trauma and hardship, Sane's mother Yashodabai died in 1917. His mother's death due to a lack of medical facilities as well as his inability to meet her at her deathbed would haunt Sane Guruji for the rest of his life.


Education

Sane completed his primary education in the village of Dondaicha, in the Shindkheda
taluka A tehsil (, also known as tahsil, taluk, or taluka () is a local unit of administrative division in India and Pakistan. It is a subdistrict of the area within a district including the designated populated place that serves as its administrative ...
in Dhule district. After his primary education, he was sent to
Pune Pune ( ; , ISO 15919, ISO: ), previously spelled in English as Poona (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name until 1978), is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan plateau in Western ...
to live with his maternal uncle for further education. However, he did not like his stay in Pune and returned to Palgadh to stay at a missionary school in Dapoli, about six miles from Palgad. While at Dapoli, he was quickly recognised as an intelligent student with good command over both the Marathi and
Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
languages. He was also interested in poetry. While in school at Dapoli, the financial condition of his family deteriorated further and he could not afford to continue his education. Like his elder brother, he considered taking up a job to help with the family finances. However, on the recommendation of one of his friends, and with support from his parents, he enrolled at the Aundh Institution, which provided free education and food to poor students. Here at Aundh he suffered many hardships but continued his education. However, an epidemic of
bubonic plague Bubonic plague is one of three types of Plague (disease), plague caused by the Bacteria, bacterium ''Yersinia pestis''. One to seven days after exposure to the bacteria, flu-like symptoms develop. These symptoms include fever, headaches, and ...
in Aundh led to all students being sent home. Back in Palgad, one night he overheard his parents' conversation where his father expressed concern over his son's dedication to education. Enraged and hurt by his father's suspicion, he immediately traveled to Pune and enrolled as a student at the Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya. Life was not easy for Sane in Pune either, and he subsisted on limited meals. However, he continued to excel in academics and obtained his high school matriculation certificate in 1918. After high school, he enrolled for further education in New Poona College (now known as Sir Parshurambhau College). He obtained his B.A. and M.A. degrees there in Marathi and
Sanskrit literature Sanskrit literature is a broad term for all literature composed in Sanskrit. This includes texts composed in the earliest attested descendant of the Proto-Indo-Aryan language known as Vedic Sanskrit, texts in Classical Sanskrit as well as some ...
.


Career

Sane's father Sadashivrao was a supporter of Lokmanya Tilak. However, after being imprisoned for a few days, he preferred to keep away from political matters. However, Sane Guruji's mother proved to be a great influence in his life. He graduated with a degree in Marathi and Sanskrit and earned a master's degree in philosophy, before opting for a teaching profession. Sane worked as the teacher in Pratap High School in Amalner town. He chose to teach in rural schools, forgoing a potentially larger salary he could have earned by teaching wealthier students. He also worked as a hostel warden. Sane was a gifted orator, captivating audiences with his impassioned speeches on civil rights and justice. While in school he published a magazine named ''Vidyarthi'' (; ''vidyārthī'') which became very popular among students. He inculcated moral values in the student community, amongst whom he was very popular. His teaching profession continued only for six years and thereafter he decided to dedicate his life for the
Indian independence struggle The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic movement to ...
.


Participation in Indian independence movement

Sane resigned from his school job to join the
Indian Independence Movement The Indian independence movement was a series of historic events in South Asia with the ultimate aim of ending British Raj, British colonial rule. It lasted until 1947, when the Indian Independence Act 1947 was passed. The first nationalistic ...
when
Mahatma Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalism, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethics, political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful Indian ...
started the Dandi March in 1930. He was imprisoned by the British authorities in the Dhule Jail for more than fifteen months for his work in the Civil Disobedience Movement. In 1932,
Vinoba Bhave Vinayak Narahar Bhave, also known as Vinoba Bhave (; 11 September 1895 – 15 November 1982), was an Indian advocate of nonviolence and human rights. Often called ''Acharya'' (Teacher in Sanskrit), he is best known for the Bhoodan Movement. He ...
was in the same jail as Sane. Bhave delivered a series of lectures on the ''
Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita (; ), often referred to as the Gita (), is a Hindu texts, Hindu scripture, dated to the second or first century BCE, which forms part of the Hindu epic, epic poem Mahabharata. The Gita is a synthesis of various strands of Ind ...
'' each Sunday morning. Bhave's work ''Gītā Pravachane'' () was an outcome of the notes Sane had made while imprisoned. During the period of 1930 to 1947, Sane Guruji participated in different agitations and was arrested on eight occasions and was imprisoned in the jails at Dhule, Trichinapally,
Nasik Nashik, formerly Nasik, is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra situated on the banks of the river Godavari River, Godavari, about northeast of the state capital Mumbai. Nashik is one of the Hindu pilgrimage sit ...
, Yeravada, and
Jalgaon Jalgaon () is a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. The city is located in North Maharashtra in the subregion of Khandesh, and serves as the administrative headquarters of its namesake district, the Jalgaon district. In the subregion of ...
for a total duration of six years and seven months in different jails. He also observed fast on seven occasions. Sane Guruji was imprisoned second time in the Trichnapalli Jail, where he learned
Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
and Bengali. He translated the ancient Tamil moral work of the ''
Kural The ''Tirukkuṟaḷ'' (), or shortly the ''Kural'' (), is a classic Tamil language text on commoner's morality consisting of 1,330 short couplets, or Kural (poetic form), kurals, of seven words each. The text is divided into three books wit ...
'' into Marathi. He recognised the importance of learning Indian languages, particularly in the context of the problem of national integration; and started the ''Antar Bharati'' movement. ''Antarbharati Anuvad Suvidha Kendra'' (; ''Inter-Indian Translation Services Centre'') and the ''Sane Guruji Rashtriya Smarak'' (; Sane Guruji National Memorial) would continue this legacy. Sane played a crucial role in the spread of the
Indian National Congress The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
presence in rural Maharashtra, particularly in Khandesh. He was actively involved in the organisation of the Faizpur Session of the Congress. He also participated in the Election Campaign of the Bombay Provincial Elections of 1936. He participated in the 1942 Quit India Movement and was imprisoned for 15 months for it. During this period he became closely associated with Congress socialists like Madhu Limaye.


Working-class movement

In the late 1930s, Sane was part of a working-class movement in the East Khandesh District. He played a crucial role in organising the textile labour and peasants of Khandesh. During this period he was associated with communists such as S. M. Dange. However the Communist position to support the
Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
made him dissociate himself from the Communists. After independence he joined the Socialist party and he was closer to leaders like Madhu Limaye, N. G. Gore, and S.M. Joshi. Sane was a vehement critic of Hindu nationalist parties such as the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS,, ) is an Indian right-wing politics, right-wing, Hindutva, Hindu nationalist volunteer paramilitary organisation. It is the progenitor and leader of a large body of organisations called the Sangh Parivar ( ...
and their allies.


Eradication of caste

In response to Mahatma Gandhi's promise to
Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (Bhīmrāo Rāmjī Āmbēḍkar; 14 April 1891 – 6 December 1956) was an Indian jurist, economist, social reformer and political leader who chaired the committee that drafted the Constitution of India based on t ...
during Poona Pact that he will spend the rest of his life campaigning for the removal of untouchability, Sane took up the cause as well. To bring awareness on the issue of untouchability, Sane travelled throughout Maharashtra for around four months in 1947. The culmination of this tour was his fast at
Pandharpur Pandharpur City (Pronunciation: Help:IPA/Marathi, əɳɖʱəɾpuːɾ is a popular pilgrimage town, on the banks of Chandrabhaga River, Chandrabhagā River, near Solapur, Solapur city in Solapur district, Solapur District, Maharashtra, Ind ...
to open the Vitthal Temple for untouchables. The fast lasted 11 days from 1 May to 11 May 1947, and the doors of the Vitthal temple were ultimately opened for the untouchables.


Death

In the post-independence period, Sane became increasingly disillusioned over the possibilities of eliminating inequality from Indian society. Moreover the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi deeply affected him. His response to this tragedy was to fast for 21 days. Sane Guruji was upset very much after the independence of the country due to several reasons. He committed suicide on 11 June 1950 by overdosing on sleeping pills.


Legacy

*Antar Bharati, the organization founded by Sane Guruji is also working for his dream of integrated India through several programmes particularly for Children and the youths in the country through a family exchange, National Integration Camps in parts of the country. The organization also publishes a monthly Hindi magazine titled "Antar Bharati". *There is an annual gathering of Guruji's followers on 10 May to commemorate the opening of Pandharpur temple of Vithoba to the
Dalit Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
community. * Sadhana – a Marathi magazine for intellectual thinking process founded and edited by Guruji continues to be publishing even today. It is published from Pune and has a good readership among Marathi speakers.मुख्य पान
/ref> Over the recent years, the magazine has been edited by notable persons like the late Yadunath Thatte, and the recently murdered Dr.
Narendra Dabholkar Narendra Achyut Dabholkar (1 November 1945 – 20 August 2013) was an Indian physician, social activist, rationalist and author from Maharashtra, India. In 1989 he founded and became president of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti ...
. *To commemorate the Birth Centenary of Guruji in 1999, the Sane Guruji Rashtriya Smarak Samiti was formed and it has developed a national memorial in the name of Sane Guruji at Vadghar in Mangaon,
Raigad district Raigad district (), previously Colaba fort, Colaba district, is a district in the Konkan division of Maharashtra, India. The headquarters of the district is Alibag. Other major cities in the district are Panvel, Karjat, Navi Mumbai, Khopoli, Sh ...
in Maharashtra state on Konkan Railway route. The organisations believing in the ideology of Guruji include Rashtra Seva Dal, Antar Bharati, and Akhil Bharatiya Sane Guruji Kathamala. They have contributed to the memorial in their own way. The national memorial consists of a Camping site, Guest accommodation, Library and Reference wing with a provision for translation of the literary work in various Indian languages. It is being developed as a camping ground for students since 2001. * The Indian Postal service issued a commemorative postage stamp in his honour in the year 2001.


Literary works

Guruji wrote around 135 books and about 73 books have been published and almost all these books can be considered literature for children. His most well-known work in Marathi literature include '' Śhyamchi Aai'' which has been translated in almost all the Indian languages as well as in Japanese and English. The others include 'Bhāratiya Saṃskṛti' (; ''Indian Culture'') and Patri- the collection of various songs and poems. One of his books, 'Teen Muley', is a heart warming story of a group of three children and is considered classic and one of the best books written in Marathi. He started a weekly journal named Sadhana (weekly) on 15 August 1948. This journal has been regularly published since then.


See also

* List of translators


References

Notes Bibliography * * * *


External links


SANEGURUJI RASTRIYA SMARAK VADGHAR, MANGAON (Mango Saneguruji National Memorial Vadghar)Most Books of Sane
* *

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sane Guruji 1899 births 1950 deaths 20th-century Indian translators Writers from Maharashtra Marathi-language writers People from Ratnagiri district Indian independence activists from Maharashtra Gandhians 20th-century Indian educational theorists Scholars from Maharashtra Indian children's writers Indian male journalists Indian social reformers Tamil–Marathi translators 20th-century Indian novelists Educators from Maharashtra Translators of the Tirukkural into Marathi Tirukkural translators Brahmins who fought against discrimination