Contribution of Reformers in Education | Maharashtra State PSC (MPSC): Preparation - MPSC (Maharastra) PDF Download

 Page 1


  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
  INRTODUCTION 
Social reformers of 19th and 20th century gave utmost importance to the 
education. They considered it as a key to social change. They established a 
number of schools and colleges at various places for the promotion of 
education for all the sections of society. By putting great efforts, they 
made a significant contribution in the field of education.  
 CONTRIBUTION OF REFORMERS IN 
EDUCATION 
  Jagannath Shankarshet (1803-1865) 
He is rightly called as the Architect of Modem Bombay. He was born on 
10 February 1803 in a wealthy Daivajna family. This family originally 
haled from Murbad. His grandfather Babulsheth was a small trader, and 
his father Shankar Sheth was a trader of diamonds and pearls. Jagannath 
lost his mother during his childhood therefore, he was brought up by his 
father, but even his father died when Jagannath was eighteen. Therefore, 
Jagannath had to take over the responsibility of his family business. He 
was a successful businessman, but whatever money he earned, he largely 
spent on the all-round development of Mumbai. He realized that 
upliftment of the people was impossible without education. He was 
protagonist of the synthesis of oriental and occidental learning. He held 
that Western Education could reach the mass of the people only if it was 
imparted through the vernaculars. He very intensely tried for enrichment 
of Indological studies and female education. Jagannath Shankarsheth 
became an active leader in many arenas of Bombay life. Foreseeing the 
need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the 
School Society and the Native School of Mumbai, the first of its kind in 
Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 
1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of 
Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the 
Elphinstone Educational Institution. He took a lead in founding the 
Elphinstone College in 1834. When the Students' Literary and Scientific 
Society first opened their girls schools, Jagannath Shankarsheth 
contributed much of the necessary funds, and gave his own residence for 
the school despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu 
community. He was one of the founders of the Bombay Association 
established on 26 August 1852. This was the first political organization of 
the Bombay Presidency. Other educational projects started by him include 
the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of 
which are located in Girgaum, South Mumbai. He was also a force 
Page 2


  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
  INRTODUCTION 
Social reformers of 19th and 20th century gave utmost importance to the 
education. They considered it as a key to social change. They established a 
number of schools and colleges at various places for the promotion of 
education for all the sections of society. By putting great efforts, they 
made a significant contribution in the field of education.  
 CONTRIBUTION OF REFORMERS IN 
EDUCATION 
  Jagannath Shankarshet (1803-1865) 
He is rightly called as the Architect of Modem Bombay. He was born on 
10 February 1803 in a wealthy Daivajna family. This family originally 
haled from Murbad. His grandfather Babulsheth was a small trader, and 
his father Shankar Sheth was a trader of diamonds and pearls. Jagannath 
lost his mother during his childhood therefore, he was brought up by his 
father, but even his father died when Jagannath was eighteen. Therefore, 
Jagannath had to take over the responsibility of his family business. He 
was a successful businessman, but whatever money he earned, he largely 
spent on the all-round development of Mumbai. He realized that 
upliftment of the people was impossible without education. He was 
protagonist of the synthesis of oriental and occidental learning. He held 
that Western Education could reach the mass of the people only if it was 
imparted through the vernaculars. He very intensely tried for enrichment 
of Indological studies and female education. Jagannath Shankarsheth 
became an active leader in many arenas of Bombay life. Foreseeing the 
need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the 
School Society and the Native School of Mumbai, the first of its kind in 
Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 
1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of 
Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the 
Elphinstone Educational Institution. He took a lead in founding the 
Elphinstone College in 1834. When the Students' Literary and Scientific 
Society first opened their girls schools, Jagannath Shankarsheth 
contributed much of the necessary funds, and gave his own residence for 
the school despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu 
community. He was one of the founders of the Bombay Association 
established on 26 August 1852. This was the first political organization of 
the Bombay Presidency. Other educational projects started by him include 
the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of 
which are located in Girgaum, South Mumbai. He was also a force 
 
 
 
 
 
responsible for the establishment of the Grant Medical College in 1845 in 
the memory of Robert Grant, the Governor of Bombay. The Government 
Law College, the first of its kind in India. was founded in 1855 on public 
demand under the inspired leadership of Jagannath Shankarshet. It was 
affiliated to the Bombay University in 1860. Shankarsheth and Bhau Daji 
Lad greatly contributed to the establishment of the Bombay University in 
1857. Ever since its inception, Shankarsheth was a member of the Senate 
of the Bombay University and remained on that post till his death in 1865. 
He was also behind the establishment of the J.J. School of Art in 1857. 
Jagannath Shankarsheth made all efforts to promote the Marathi theatre, 
because the theatre was a medium of full manifestation of many arts. He 
became the friend and supporter of Vishnudas Bhave in his efforts. He 
wanted that the Marathi stage must get the same status, which the British 
theatre was getting in England. Jagannath Shankarsheth offered his Wada 
Mansion) to be used as a theatre. He was responsible for the establishment 
of the Victoria Garden and the Prince Albert museum in 1862, and himself 
gave a donation of Rs. 5000 for that purpose. The Government honoured 
him with the post of Justice of Peace. He expired on 31 July 1865 In 1864, 
the citizens of Bombay honoured Nana Shankar Sheth by installing a life-
size statue of him on the premises of the Asiatic Society, the intellectual 
centre of the city. His work was continued to somet extent by his son 
Vinayak Shankarsheth He launched the 'Jagannath Shankarsheth Sanskrit 
Scholarship' in 1866 in the name of his father. 
 Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar 
A valuable service was rendered by Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar to 
spread the education among the people. In 1848, the students of 
Elphinstone College established the Dnyanprasarak Sabha to propagate 
education in the society. Dadoba was the first president of this Sabha. The 
spread of education and increasing social awareness were the chief 
objectives of the Sabha. He also acted as the Director of the Training 
College in Mumbai. According to him, superstition and the social system 
were the chief causes of the miserable condition of the Indian. 
10.2.3 Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) 
He too was a product of the renaissance and one of the inspiring spirits of 
the times. He was a professor in the Elphinstone institution and one of the 
founders of the Bombay University. He made efforts for the education of 
Parsi girls. The Parsis were just beginning to emerge from their mercantile 
mould. He was the founder in India and in England of more than thirty 
institutions. In the teeth of opposition, Dadabhal laid the foundation of 
women's education in Bombay on fourth August 1849. By going door-to-
door, he urged parents to send their daughters to schools, as at that time 
girls were not allowed to go to schools. He volunteered to teach free at the 
first girls' school opened by the society opened in a cottage loaned by 
Jagannath Shankar Sheth, a member of the board of education, and with 
improvements funded by Mr. K. N. Kame. He founded the 'Jnana Prasarak 
Mandal' and in 1851 he started a Gujarati fortnightly journal, Råst Goftar 
(Truth Teller), as the organ of progressive views on social, religious and 
Page 3


  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
  INRTODUCTION 
Social reformers of 19th and 20th century gave utmost importance to the 
education. They considered it as a key to social change. They established a 
number of schools and colleges at various places for the promotion of 
education for all the sections of society. By putting great efforts, they 
made a significant contribution in the field of education.  
 CONTRIBUTION OF REFORMERS IN 
EDUCATION 
  Jagannath Shankarshet (1803-1865) 
He is rightly called as the Architect of Modem Bombay. He was born on 
10 February 1803 in a wealthy Daivajna family. This family originally 
haled from Murbad. His grandfather Babulsheth was a small trader, and 
his father Shankar Sheth was a trader of diamonds and pearls. Jagannath 
lost his mother during his childhood therefore, he was brought up by his 
father, but even his father died when Jagannath was eighteen. Therefore, 
Jagannath had to take over the responsibility of his family business. He 
was a successful businessman, but whatever money he earned, he largely 
spent on the all-round development of Mumbai. He realized that 
upliftment of the people was impossible without education. He was 
protagonist of the synthesis of oriental and occidental learning. He held 
that Western Education could reach the mass of the people only if it was 
imparted through the vernaculars. He very intensely tried for enrichment 
of Indological studies and female education. Jagannath Shankarsheth 
became an active leader in many arenas of Bombay life. Foreseeing the 
need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the 
School Society and the Native School of Mumbai, the first of its kind in 
Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 
1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of 
Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the 
Elphinstone Educational Institution. He took a lead in founding the 
Elphinstone College in 1834. When the Students' Literary and Scientific 
Society first opened their girls schools, Jagannath Shankarsheth 
contributed much of the necessary funds, and gave his own residence for 
the school despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu 
community. He was one of the founders of the Bombay Association 
established on 26 August 1852. This was the first political organization of 
the Bombay Presidency. Other educational projects started by him include 
the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of 
which are located in Girgaum, South Mumbai. He was also a force 
 
 
 
 
 
responsible for the establishment of the Grant Medical College in 1845 in 
the memory of Robert Grant, the Governor of Bombay. The Government 
Law College, the first of its kind in India. was founded in 1855 on public 
demand under the inspired leadership of Jagannath Shankarshet. It was 
affiliated to the Bombay University in 1860. Shankarsheth and Bhau Daji 
Lad greatly contributed to the establishment of the Bombay University in 
1857. Ever since its inception, Shankarsheth was a member of the Senate 
of the Bombay University and remained on that post till his death in 1865. 
He was also behind the establishment of the J.J. School of Art in 1857. 
Jagannath Shankarsheth made all efforts to promote the Marathi theatre, 
because the theatre was a medium of full manifestation of many arts. He 
became the friend and supporter of Vishnudas Bhave in his efforts. He 
wanted that the Marathi stage must get the same status, which the British 
theatre was getting in England. Jagannath Shankarsheth offered his Wada 
Mansion) to be used as a theatre. He was responsible for the establishment 
of the Victoria Garden and the Prince Albert museum in 1862, and himself 
gave a donation of Rs. 5000 for that purpose. The Government honoured 
him with the post of Justice of Peace. He expired on 31 July 1865 In 1864, 
the citizens of Bombay honoured Nana Shankar Sheth by installing a life-
size statue of him on the premises of the Asiatic Society, the intellectual 
centre of the city. His work was continued to somet extent by his son 
Vinayak Shankarsheth He launched the 'Jagannath Shankarsheth Sanskrit 
Scholarship' in 1866 in the name of his father. 
 Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar 
A valuable service was rendered by Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar to 
spread the education among the people. In 1848, the students of 
Elphinstone College established the Dnyanprasarak Sabha to propagate 
education in the society. Dadoba was the first president of this Sabha. The 
spread of education and increasing social awareness were the chief 
objectives of the Sabha. He also acted as the Director of the Training 
College in Mumbai. According to him, superstition and the social system 
were the chief causes of the miserable condition of the Indian. 
10.2.3 Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) 
He too was a product of the renaissance and one of the inspiring spirits of 
the times. He was a professor in the Elphinstone institution and one of the 
founders of the Bombay University. He made efforts for the education of 
Parsi girls. The Parsis were just beginning to emerge from their mercantile 
mould. He was the founder in India and in England of more than thirty 
institutions. In the teeth of opposition, Dadabhal laid the foundation of 
women's education in Bombay on fourth August 1849. By going door-to-
door, he urged parents to send their daughters to schools, as at that time 
girls were not allowed to go to schools. He volunteered to teach free at the 
first girls' school opened by the society opened in a cottage loaned by 
Jagannath Shankar Sheth, a member of the board of education, and with 
improvements funded by Mr. K. N. Kame. He founded the 'Jnana Prasarak 
Mandal' and in 1851 he started a Gujarati fortnightly journal, Råst Goftar 
(Truth Teller), as the organ of progressive views on social, religious and 
  
 
                       
 
 
educational reforms. Dadabhai, being an Athoman (ordained priest), 
founded the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha (Guides on the Mazdayasne 
Path) on 1st August 1851. The ethos of the Rahnumae at its inception was 
to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its original purity and simplicity. The 
society is still in operation in Bombay. He was an active member of the 
'Bombay Association founded in 1852. Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, 
Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, Naoroji Furdunji and Sorabji Shapurji Bengali 
emerged on the scene and enriched the elite in Bombay under the inspiring 
spirit of Dadabhai Naoroji. 
The first four illustrious graduates of the Bombay University - Mahadev 
Govind Ranade, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, Bal Mangesh Wagle and 
Vaman Abaji Modak, all contributed to the development of education in 
their own capacity. They were followed by youths of great initiative 
Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, Kashinath Tryambak Telang and 
Rahimtulla Muhammad Sayani. These leaders of the Intelligentsia became 
the leaders of public opinion, and they devoted themselves to the 
renaissance in Indian society. That period is indeed worth recalling and 
introspecting upon even now. Learned men like Balshastri Jambhekar. 
Naoro Furdunji and Dadabhai Naoroji were disseminating learning from 
the Dias of professorship in the Elphinstone College. 
   Mahadev Govind Ranade  
Mahadev Govind Ranade joined the Elphinstone College a Professor of 
English literature, history and economics. Ranade believed that s 
reformation would be impossible without the spread of education. 
Therefore, in September 1882 he founded the Sarasbagh girls' high school 
in Pune. Along with Tilak, Agarkar, Gokhale and Chiplunkar, he founded 
the Deccan Education Society at Pune in 1884. This Society established 
the Fergusson College at Pune in 1885 and the Willingdon College at 
Sangli in 1919. Ranade strongly believed that the medium of education 
must be mother tongue. He made constant efforts to include Marathi as a 
subject in the curriculum, and finally, his efforts were successful in 1898.   
 Dr. Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, (1837-1925) 
Born in Malvan on 6th July 1837, he was a great orientalist, an linguist, a 
historian and a social reformer. His original surname was Patki, but since 
his ancestors worked in the treasury department, they were called 
Bhandarkar. He was teaching oriental languages first in the Elphinstone 
College and then in the Deccan College. He was also a distinguished Vice-
Chancellor of the Bombay University (1893-95). He was a syndic of the 
University from 1873 to 1882. He was a member of the Legislative 
Council of Bombay Presidency and also of Government of India. He was 
keenly interested in the improvement of curricula, and was a great 
protagonist of general education as well as research. He participated in 
international conferences on Oriental Studies held in London (1874) and 
Vienna (1886), making invaluable contributions. He reconstructed the 
political history of the Deccan, wrote the history of the Satavahanas and 
the history of Vaishnavism and other sects. Dr. Bhandarkar's works 
Page 4


  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
  INRTODUCTION 
Social reformers of 19th and 20th century gave utmost importance to the 
education. They considered it as a key to social change. They established a 
number of schools and colleges at various places for the promotion of 
education for all the sections of society. By putting great efforts, they 
made a significant contribution in the field of education.  
 CONTRIBUTION OF REFORMERS IN 
EDUCATION 
  Jagannath Shankarshet (1803-1865) 
He is rightly called as the Architect of Modem Bombay. He was born on 
10 February 1803 in a wealthy Daivajna family. This family originally 
haled from Murbad. His grandfather Babulsheth was a small trader, and 
his father Shankar Sheth was a trader of diamonds and pearls. Jagannath 
lost his mother during his childhood therefore, he was brought up by his 
father, but even his father died when Jagannath was eighteen. Therefore, 
Jagannath had to take over the responsibility of his family business. He 
was a successful businessman, but whatever money he earned, he largely 
spent on the all-round development of Mumbai. He realized that 
upliftment of the people was impossible without education. He was 
protagonist of the synthesis of oriental and occidental learning. He held 
that Western Education could reach the mass of the people only if it was 
imparted through the vernaculars. He very intensely tried for enrichment 
of Indological studies and female education. Jagannath Shankarsheth 
became an active leader in many arenas of Bombay life. Foreseeing the 
need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the 
School Society and the Native School of Mumbai, the first of its kind in 
Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 
1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of 
Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the 
Elphinstone Educational Institution. He took a lead in founding the 
Elphinstone College in 1834. When the Students' Literary and Scientific 
Society first opened their girls schools, Jagannath Shankarsheth 
contributed much of the necessary funds, and gave his own residence for 
the school despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu 
community. He was one of the founders of the Bombay Association 
established on 26 August 1852. This was the first political organization of 
the Bombay Presidency. Other educational projects started by him include 
the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of 
which are located in Girgaum, South Mumbai. He was also a force 
 
 
 
 
 
responsible for the establishment of the Grant Medical College in 1845 in 
the memory of Robert Grant, the Governor of Bombay. The Government 
Law College, the first of its kind in India. was founded in 1855 on public 
demand under the inspired leadership of Jagannath Shankarshet. It was 
affiliated to the Bombay University in 1860. Shankarsheth and Bhau Daji 
Lad greatly contributed to the establishment of the Bombay University in 
1857. Ever since its inception, Shankarsheth was a member of the Senate 
of the Bombay University and remained on that post till his death in 1865. 
He was also behind the establishment of the J.J. School of Art in 1857. 
Jagannath Shankarsheth made all efforts to promote the Marathi theatre, 
because the theatre was a medium of full manifestation of many arts. He 
became the friend and supporter of Vishnudas Bhave in his efforts. He 
wanted that the Marathi stage must get the same status, which the British 
theatre was getting in England. Jagannath Shankarsheth offered his Wada 
Mansion) to be used as a theatre. He was responsible for the establishment 
of the Victoria Garden and the Prince Albert museum in 1862, and himself 
gave a donation of Rs. 5000 for that purpose. The Government honoured 
him with the post of Justice of Peace. He expired on 31 July 1865 In 1864, 
the citizens of Bombay honoured Nana Shankar Sheth by installing a life-
size statue of him on the premises of the Asiatic Society, the intellectual 
centre of the city. His work was continued to somet extent by his son 
Vinayak Shankarsheth He launched the 'Jagannath Shankarsheth Sanskrit 
Scholarship' in 1866 in the name of his father. 
 Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar 
A valuable service was rendered by Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar to 
spread the education among the people. In 1848, the students of 
Elphinstone College established the Dnyanprasarak Sabha to propagate 
education in the society. Dadoba was the first president of this Sabha. The 
spread of education and increasing social awareness were the chief 
objectives of the Sabha. He also acted as the Director of the Training 
College in Mumbai. According to him, superstition and the social system 
were the chief causes of the miserable condition of the Indian. 
10.2.3 Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) 
He too was a product of the renaissance and one of the inspiring spirits of 
the times. He was a professor in the Elphinstone institution and one of the 
founders of the Bombay University. He made efforts for the education of 
Parsi girls. The Parsis were just beginning to emerge from their mercantile 
mould. He was the founder in India and in England of more than thirty 
institutions. In the teeth of opposition, Dadabhal laid the foundation of 
women's education in Bombay on fourth August 1849. By going door-to-
door, he urged parents to send their daughters to schools, as at that time 
girls were not allowed to go to schools. He volunteered to teach free at the 
first girls' school opened by the society opened in a cottage loaned by 
Jagannath Shankar Sheth, a member of the board of education, and with 
improvements funded by Mr. K. N. Kame. He founded the 'Jnana Prasarak 
Mandal' and in 1851 he started a Gujarati fortnightly journal, Råst Goftar 
(Truth Teller), as the organ of progressive views on social, religious and 
  
 
                       
 
 
educational reforms. Dadabhai, being an Athoman (ordained priest), 
founded the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha (Guides on the Mazdayasne 
Path) on 1st August 1851. The ethos of the Rahnumae at its inception was 
to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its original purity and simplicity. The 
society is still in operation in Bombay. He was an active member of the 
'Bombay Association founded in 1852. Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, 
Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, Naoroji Furdunji and Sorabji Shapurji Bengali 
emerged on the scene and enriched the elite in Bombay under the inspiring 
spirit of Dadabhai Naoroji. 
The first four illustrious graduates of the Bombay University - Mahadev 
Govind Ranade, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, Bal Mangesh Wagle and 
Vaman Abaji Modak, all contributed to the development of education in 
their own capacity. They were followed by youths of great initiative 
Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, Kashinath Tryambak Telang and 
Rahimtulla Muhammad Sayani. These leaders of the Intelligentsia became 
the leaders of public opinion, and they devoted themselves to the 
renaissance in Indian society. That period is indeed worth recalling and 
introspecting upon even now. Learned men like Balshastri Jambhekar. 
Naoro Furdunji and Dadabhai Naoroji were disseminating learning from 
the Dias of professorship in the Elphinstone College. 
   Mahadev Govind Ranade  
Mahadev Govind Ranade joined the Elphinstone College a Professor of 
English literature, history and economics. Ranade believed that s 
reformation would be impossible without the spread of education. 
Therefore, in September 1882 he founded the Sarasbagh girls' high school 
in Pune. Along with Tilak, Agarkar, Gokhale and Chiplunkar, he founded 
the Deccan Education Society at Pune in 1884. This Society established 
the Fergusson College at Pune in 1885 and the Willingdon College at 
Sangli in 1919. Ranade strongly believed that the medium of education 
must be mother tongue. He made constant efforts to include Marathi as a 
subject in the curriculum, and finally, his efforts were successful in 1898.   
 Dr. Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, (1837-1925) 
Born in Malvan on 6th July 1837, he was a great orientalist, an linguist, a 
historian and a social reformer. His original surname was Patki, but since 
his ancestors worked in the treasury department, they were called 
Bhandarkar. He was teaching oriental languages first in the Elphinstone 
College and then in the Deccan College. He was also a distinguished Vice-
Chancellor of the Bombay University (1893-95). He was a syndic of the 
University from 1873 to 1882. He was a member of the Legislative 
Council of Bombay Presidency and also of Government of India. He was 
keenly interested in the improvement of curricula, and was a great 
protagonist of general education as well as research. He participated in 
international conferences on Oriental Studies held in London (1874) and 
Vienna (1886), making invaluable contributions. He reconstructed the 
political history of the Deccan, wrote the history of the Satavahanas and 
the history of Vaishnavism and other sects. Dr. Bhandarkar's works 
 
 
 
 
 
included treatises on Sanskrit grammar, critical editions of Sanskrit texts, 
reports on Sanskrit manuscripts and contributions to proceedings of 
learned societies and journals. His book Ancient History of the Deccan has 
been acclaimed as the most authoritative work on the subject. A strong 
adherent of the critical and historical school of Philology, and unrivalled 
in the accuracy and thoroughness of his scholarship and literary criticism, 
Dr. Bhandarkar soon attained a world-wide reputation for oriental 
learning. In 1904, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, an extremely 
rare honour, was bestowed upon him. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research 
Institute was founded at Pune by his disciples and admirers as a temple of 
learning. It was formally Inaugurated by Lord Willingdon, the Governor 
of Bombay, on 6 July 1917. Bhandarkar was not only a scholar but also a 
reformist and humanitarian. He was associated with the Paramahamsa 
Sabha and then the Prarthana Samaj. He worked for the cause of 
Depressed Classes and women. He strongly opposed social evils like child 
marriage, castism and alcoholism. He stood for women's education and 
remarriages of widows. He got his widowed daughter remarried. By 
quoting references from ancient Sanskrit scriptures, he ardently dealt with 
women's education, prohibition of child marriage and advocacy of widow 
remarriage. Dr. Bhandarkar died on 24 August 1925. His son Devadatta 
Ramakrishna Bhandarkar was also a great Indologist. 
Bal Mangesh Wagle adored the professorship in the Poona College (now 
Deccan College and Post Graduate Research Institute). Jambhekar, the 
pioneer of Marathi Journalism, and V.N. Mandlik were enlightening the 
reading public through modem newspapers like the 'Native Opinion'. 
Tilak, Agarkar, Chiplunkar and Ranade first founded the New English 
School and then the Deccan Education Society at Puna in 1884. Tilak, 
Karve and Gokhale taught in the Ferguson College, and Gokhale was its 
Principal as well. 
The endeavours of these enlightened Indians received not merely a good 
response but an encouragement from some of the Westermers such as 
Elphinstone, Sir Alexander Grant, Dr. John Wilson (who became one of 
the greatest Sanskrit Scholars), Dr. Dugald Mackichan, Prof. William 
Wordsworth, Justice James Gibbs, Sir Raymond West, every one of whom 
was a lover of English literature and a thinker. 
Several colleges were established out of the donations given by rich 
philanthropists. For example, The Ismail Yusuf College, established in 
1929-30, owes its origin to the generosity of Sir Mahomed Yusuf who had 
donated eight lakh rupees for higher education of Muslims, way back in 
1914. It has, however, been a cosmopolitan institution. The Shikshan 
Prasarak Mandali of Pune, who expanded Western education after the 
Deccan Education Society, established two colleges in Bombay, viz., 
Ramnarain Ruia College in 1937 and R. A. Poddar College of Commerce 
and Economics in 1941. The first one received a donation of 2 lakhs from 
the house of Ruias and the second one, 1.46 lakhs from the house of 
Poddars. both of whom have many textile mills and other business to their 
credit in Bombay. The Khalsa College was established in 1937 out of the 
funds collected by the members of the Sikh Community. The Puna 
Page 5


  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
 
  INRTODUCTION 
Social reformers of 19th and 20th century gave utmost importance to the 
education. They considered it as a key to social change. They established a 
number of schools and colleges at various places for the promotion of 
education for all the sections of society. By putting great efforts, they 
made a significant contribution in the field of education.  
 CONTRIBUTION OF REFORMERS IN 
EDUCATION 
  Jagannath Shankarshet (1803-1865) 
He is rightly called as the Architect of Modem Bombay. He was born on 
10 February 1803 in a wealthy Daivajna family. This family originally 
haled from Murbad. His grandfather Babulsheth was a small trader, and 
his father Shankar Sheth was a trader of diamonds and pearls. Jagannath 
lost his mother during his childhood therefore, he was brought up by his 
father, but even his father died when Jagannath was eighteen. Therefore, 
Jagannath had to take over the responsibility of his family business. He 
was a successful businessman, but whatever money he earned, he largely 
spent on the all-round development of Mumbai. He realized that 
upliftment of the people was impossible without education. He was 
protagonist of the synthesis of oriental and occidental learning. He held 
that Western Education could reach the mass of the people only if it was 
imparted through the vernaculars. He very intensely tried for enrichment 
of Indological studies and female education. Jagannath Shankarsheth 
became an active leader in many arenas of Bombay life. Foreseeing the 
need for improvements in education, he became one of the founders of the 
School Society and the Native School of Mumbai, the first of its kind in 
Western India. The school went through a series of name changes: in 
1824, it became the Bombay Native Institution, in 1840, the Board of 
Education, and in 1856 the name which continues to this day, the 
Elphinstone Educational Institution. He took a lead in founding the 
Elphinstone College in 1834. When the Students' Literary and Scientific 
Society first opened their girls schools, Jagannath Shankarsheth 
contributed much of the necessary funds, and gave his own residence for 
the school despite strong opposition of some members of the Hindu 
community. He was one of the founders of the Bombay Association 
established on 26 August 1852. This was the first political organization of 
the Bombay Presidency. Other educational projects started by him include 
the English School, the Sanskrit Seminary, and the Sanskrit Library, all of 
which are located in Girgaum, South Mumbai. He was also a force 
 
 
 
 
 
responsible for the establishment of the Grant Medical College in 1845 in 
the memory of Robert Grant, the Governor of Bombay. The Government 
Law College, the first of its kind in India. was founded in 1855 on public 
demand under the inspired leadership of Jagannath Shankarshet. It was 
affiliated to the Bombay University in 1860. Shankarsheth and Bhau Daji 
Lad greatly contributed to the establishment of the Bombay University in 
1857. Ever since its inception, Shankarsheth was a member of the Senate 
of the Bombay University and remained on that post till his death in 1865. 
He was also behind the establishment of the J.J. School of Art in 1857. 
Jagannath Shankarsheth made all efforts to promote the Marathi theatre, 
because the theatre was a medium of full manifestation of many arts. He 
became the friend and supporter of Vishnudas Bhave in his efforts. He 
wanted that the Marathi stage must get the same status, which the British 
theatre was getting in England. Jagannath Shankarsheth offered his Wada 
Mansion) to be used as a theatre. He was responsible for the establishment 
of the Victoria Garden and the Prince Albert museum in 1862, and himself 
gave a donation of Rs. 5000 for that purpose. The Government honoured 
him with the post of Justice of Peace. He expired on 31 July 1865 In 1864, 
the citizens of Bombay honoured Nana Shankar Sheth by installing a life-
size statue of him on the premises of the Asiatic Society, the intellectual 
centre of the city. His work was continued to somet extent by his son 
Vinayak Shankarsheth He launched the 'Jagannath Shankarsheth Sanskrit 
Scholarship' in 1866 in the name of his father. 
 Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar 
A valuable service was rendered by Dadoba Pandurang Tarkhadkar to 
spread the education among the people. In 1848, the students of 
Elphinstone College established the Dnyanprasarak Sabha to propagate 
education in the society. Dadoba was the first president of this Sabha. The 
spread of education and increasing social awareness were the chief 
objectives of the Sabha. He also acted as the Director of the Training 
College in Mumbai. According to him, superstition and the social system 
were the chief causes of the miserable condition of the Indian. 
10.2.3 Dadabhai Naoroji (1825-1917) 
He too was a product of the renaissance and one of the inspiring spirits of 
the times. He was a professor in the Elphinstone institution and one of the 
founders of the Bombay University. He made efforts for the education of 
Parsi girls. The Parsis were just beginning to emerge from their mercantile 
mould. He was the founder in India and in England of more than thirty 
institutions. In the teeth of opposition, Dadabhal laid the foundation of 
women's education in Bombay on fourth August 1849. By going door-to-
door, he urged parents to send their daughters to schools, as at that time 
girls were not allowed to go to schools. He volunteered to teach free at the 
first girls' school opened by the society opened in a cottage loaned by 
Jagannath Shankar Sheth, a member of the board of education, and with 
improvements funded by Mr. K. N. Kame. He founded the 'Jnana Prasarak 
Mandal' and in 1851 he started a Gujarati fortnightly journal, Råst Goftar 
(Truth Teller), as the organ of progressive views on social, religious and 
  
 
                       
 
 
educational reforms. Dadabhai, being an Athoman (ordained priest), 
founded the Rahnumae Mazdayasne Sabha (Guides on the Mazdayasne 
Path) on 1st August 1851. The ethos of the Rahnumae at its inception was 
to restore the Zoroastrian religion to its original purity and simplicity. The 
society is still in operation in Bombay. He was an active member of the 
'Bombay Association founded in 1852. Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, 
Dinshaw Edulji Wacha, Naoroji Furdunji and Sorabji Shapurji Bengali 
emerged on the scene and enriched the elite in Bombay under the inspiring 
spirit of Dadabhai Naoroji. 
The first four illustrious graduates of the Bombay University - Mahadev 
Govind Ranade, Ramkrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, Bal Mangesh Wagle and 
Vaman Abaji Modak, all contributed to the development of education in 
their own capacity. They were followed by youths of great initiative 
Pherozeshah Mervanji Mehta, Kashinath Tryambak Telang and 
Rahimtulla Muhammad Sayani. These leaders of the Intelligentsia became 
the leaders of public opinion, and they devoted themselves to the 
renaissance in Indian society. That period is indeed worth recalling and 
introspecting upon even now. Learned men like Balshastri Jambhekar. 
Naoro Furdunji and Dadabhai Naoroji were disseminating learning from 
the Dias of professorship in the Elphinstone College. 
   Mahadev Govind Ranade  
Mahadev Govind Ranade joined the Elphinstone College a Professor of 
English literature, history and economics. Ranade believed that s 
reformation would be impossible without the spread of education. 
Therefore, in September 1882 he founded the Sarasbagh girls' high school 
in Pune. Along with Tilak, Agarkar, Gokhale and Chiplunkar, he founded 
the Deccan Education Society at Pune in 1884. This Society established 
the Fergusson College at Pune in 1885 and the Willingdon College at 
Sangli in 1919. Ranade strongly believed that the medium of education 
must be mother tongue. He made constant efforts to include Marathi as a 
subject in the curriculum, and finally, his efforts were successful in 1898.   
 Dr. Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar, (1837-1925) 
Born in Malvan on 6th July 1837, he was a great orientalist, an linguist, a 
historian and a social reformer. His original surname was Patki, but since 
his ancestors worked in the treasury department, they were called 
Bhandarkar. He was teaching oriental languages first in the Elphinstone 
College and then in the Deccan College. He was also a distinguished Vice-
Chancellor of the Bombay University (1893-95). He was a syndic of the 
University from 1873 to 1882. He was a member of the Legislative 
Council of Bombay Presidency and also of Government of India. He was 
keenly interested in the improvement of curricula, and was a great 
protagonist of general education as well as research. He participated in 
international conferences on Oriental Studies held in London (1874) and 
Vienna (1886), making invaluable contributions. He reconstructed the 
political history of the Deccan, wrote the history of the Satavahanas and 
the history of Vaishnavism and other sects. Dr. Bhandarkar's works 
 
 
 
 
 
included treatises on Sanskrit grammar, critical editions of Sanskrit texts, 
reports on Sanskrit manuscripts and contributions to proceedings of 
learned societies and journals. His book Ancient History of the Deccan has 
been acclaimed as the most authoritative work on the subject. A strong 
adherent of the critical and historical school of Philology, and unrivalled 
in the accuracy and thoroughness of his scholarship and literary criticism, 
Dr. Bhandarkar soon attained a world-wide reputation for oriental 
learning. In 1904, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, an extremely 
rare honour, was bestowed upon him. The Bhandarkar Oriental Research 
Institute was founded at Pune by his disciples and admirers as a temple of 
learning. It was formally Inaugurated by Lord Willingdon, the Governor 
of Bombay, on 6 July 1917. Bhandarkar was not only a scholar but also a 
reformist and humanitarian. He was associated with the Paramahamsa 
Sabha and then the Prarthana Samaj. He worked for the cause of 
Depressed Classes and women. He strongly opposed social evils like child 
marriage, castism and alcoholism. He stood for women's education and 
remarriages of widows. He got his widowed daughter remarried. By 
quoting references from ancient Sanskrit scriptures, he ardently dealt with 
women's education, prohibition of child marriage and advocacy of widow 
remarriage. Dr. Bhandarkar died on 24 August 1925. His son Devadatta 
Ramakrishna Bhandarkar was also a great Indologist. 
Bal Mangesh Wagle adored the professorship in the Poona College (now 
Deccan College and Post Graduate Research Institute). Jambhekar, the 
pioneer of Marathi Journalism, and V.N. Mandlik were enlightening the 
reading public through modem newspapers like the 'Native Opinion'. 
Tilak, Agarkar, Chiplunkar and Ranade first founded the New English 
School and then the Deccan Education Society at Puna in 1884. Tilak, 
Karve and Gokhale taught in the Ferguson College, and Gokhale was its 
Principal as well. 
The endeavours of these enlightened Indians received not merely a good 
response but an encouragement from some of the Westermers such as 
Elphinstone, Sir Alexander Grant, Dr. John Wilson (who became one of 
the greatest Sanskrit Scholars), Dr. Dugald Mackichan, Prof. William 
Wordsworth, Justice James Gibbs, Sir Raymond West, every one of whom 
was a lover of English literature and a thinker. 
Several colleges were established out of the donations given by rich 
philanthropists. For example, The Ismail Yusuf College, established in 
1929-30, owes its origin to the generosity of Sir Mahomed Yusuf who had 
donated eight lakh rupees for higher education of Muslims, way back in 
1914. It has, however, been a cosmopolitan institution. The Shikshan 
Prasarak Mandali of Pune, who expanded Western education after the 
Deccan Education Society, established two colleges in Bombay, viz., 
Ramnarain Ruia College in 1937 and R. A. Poddar College of Commerce 
and Economics in 1941. The first one received a donation of 2 lakhs from 
the house of Ruias and the second one, 1.46 lakhs from the house of 
Poddars. both of whom have many textile mills and other business to their 
credit in Bombay. The Khalsa College was established in 1937 out of the 
funds collected by the members of the Sikh Community. The Puna 
  
 
                    
 
 
University was founded in 1948. Bal Gangadhar Kher, the first Chief 
Minister of Bombay was instrumental in the establishment of this 
University. After the partition of India, the Sindhis displaced from 
Pakistan sought refuge in India and many of them settled in Mumbai and 
the neighbouring areas and made every possible effort to bring about all 
round development of this region. The Jai Hind College and Basantsing 
Institute of Science was founded in June 1948 by the migrant professors 
from Karachi. The National College, Bandra was inaugurated in June 
1949. The K. C. College was established in 1954.  
 Mahatma Jotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule  
Mahatma Jotiba Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule were the pioneers of 
women's education in Maharashtra. Phule is most known for his efforts to 
educate women and the lower castes as well as the masses. He believed 
that education was power and the real progress of the country was 
impossible without imparting education to women and the lower castes. 
Phule believed that education had no alternative for the liberation of the 
masses from psychological and economic servitude. Phule believed that 
the Depressed Classes fell a pray to exploitation because of their 
ignorance. The Brahmins used to consider the "untouchables' as "unfit" for 
education. He held that the Depressed Class persons should be given 
vocational training so that they would take to different vocations and 
thereby would not turn to criminal activities. Phule believed that if 
education was given to a male person, it educated only one man, but if 
education was given to a woman, it educated a whole family. Phule began 
his mission early in life by opening the first school for girls in India in the 
Bhidewada of Budhwar Peth of Pune in August 1848. But, owing to social 
opposition and lack of supporters, he had to close down this school. He re-
established this school in Budhwar Peth in 1851. As no lady teacher was 
available, he trained his wife, Savitribai Phule to teach in the school. In 
all, he opened six schools -three exclusively for girls and three jointly for 
'untouchable' girls and boys. In 1853 he established the 'Society for the 
teaching of knowledge to Mahars, Mangs and other people'. He opened a 
Night School in the same year. He advocated equal opportunities of 
education and intermingling of low caste students with those of the upper 
castes. He started a weekdy journal called 'Deenbandhu' for untouchables. 
Krishnarao Bhalekar was its editor. Later on, Narayan Meghaji Lokhande 
started its publication from Bombay. He had been a member of the Puna 
Municipality between 1874 and 1883. When he learned about the plan of 
the Municipality to establish a market at Pune, he strongly opposed it and 
insisted that the same amount of lakhs of rupees should be spent on 
educational work. In 1882, Phule even appeared before the Hunter 
Commission, where he argued that the Goverment collected revenue from 
the farmers but spent it on the education of higher classes. Phule 
demanded that the Government should promote education of the masses 
and suggested that all the children below the age of 12 should be given 
free and compulsory education. His educational work served as a model 
before Chhatrapati Shahu, Dr. Ambedkar, Maharshi Vitthal Ramji Shinde 
and Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil.