V.K. Rajwade

Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade
Born	1863
Died	1926

Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade (24 June 1863 – 31 December 1926), popularly known as Itihasacharya Rajwade, was a historian, scholar, writer, commentator and orator from Maharashtra, India. He is considered to be the first in real sense to undertake an immense research of Maratha history by visiting hundreds of villages and historical places all over India and gathering thousands of historical papers. He was also a commentator on various aspects of world history. He was the founder member of Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal, Pune. His students include historians like Datto Vaman Potdar, Vasudeo Sitaram Bendrey and G. H. Khare.

The historian, Ram Sharan Sharma says: "With his unadulterated passion for research, V.K.Rajwade went from village to village in Maharashtra in search of Sanskrit manuscripts and sources of Maratha history; which were published in twenty-two volumes."

Rajwade should not be confused with "Ahitagni" Shankar Ramchandra Rajwade, the Vedic scholar.

The Indian History Congress has constituted the Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade Award for lifelong service and contribution to Indian history.

Rajwade’s grandfather was the Killedar of fort Lohagad in the province of Pune. He was born in Varsai village, in Raigad district, Maharashtra. His father died while he was a child and from then he was brought up by his uncle at Vadgaon near Pune. He matriculated in January 1882 and graduated in 1890 from Deccan College, Pune. During his degree course he came into close contact with eminent historian Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, who was then a professor at the college. He was also inspired by the works of Essayist Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar, lexicographer Parshuram Tatya Godbole and Kavyeitihas Sangrahakar Sane.

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