Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
| Gopal Ganesh Agarkar | |
|---|---|
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
|
|
| Born |
14 July 1856 Tembhu, Dist. Satara, Maharashtra, India |
| Died | 17 June 1895 (aged 38) Pune, India |
| Organization | Deccan Education Society |
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (14 July 1856 – 17 June 1895) (Marathi : गोपाळ गणेश आगरकर) was a Chitpavan Brahmin social reformer, educationist, thinker from Maharashtra, India during the British rule. A close associate of Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he was a co-founder of the renowned educational institutes like the New English School, the Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College along with Lokamanya Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Mahadev Ballal Namjoshi, V. S. Apte, V. B. Kelkar, M. S. Gole and N. K. Dharap. He was the first editor of the weekly Kesari and founder and editor of periodical Sudhaarak. He was the second Principal of Fergusson College and served that post from August-1892 till his last breath.
Throughout his short life of just about 39 years, he exemplified impeccably high moral character, utter determination to attain one's goals, sacrifice, great courage and a total lack of greediness. He is considered as a model for any one who wants to be in public service with unflinching devotion to his/her principles and a complete dedication to the work undertaken.
In his public life of just about 15 years, Agarkar made gigantic contributions to the field of social reforms and education and left an indellible mark on the social life of Maharashtra.
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born in a Koknastha Brahman family on 14 July 1856 in Tembhu, a Tembhu village in, Karad Taluka Satara district of Maharashtra.He was friend of Nilkanth Tidke Agarkar had his primary education from Karad (till 10 Standard, English medium). After doing some clerical work in a court at Karad, he went to Ratnagiri but could not get education there. In 1878, he got his B. A. degree followed by later M. A. in 1880.
He was the first editor of [Kesari (newspaper)|Kesari], a prominent Marathi weekly in those days which was started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1880-81. He subsequently left Kesari out of ideological differences with Tilak concerning the primacy of political reform versus social reform; with Agarkar believing that the need for social reform was more immediate. He started his own periodical Sudharak in which he campaigned against the injustices of untouchability and the caste system. Agarkar abhorred blind adherence to and glorification of tradition and the past. He supported widow re-marriage. Though Agarkar championed social reforms he let his wife observe all the old traditions of Hindu faith and never once came in her way.
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