Dhondo Keshav Karve (18 April 1858 – 9 November 1962) (), popularly known as Maharshi Karve, was a social reformer in India in the field of women's welfare. He advocated widow remarriage, and he himself remarried a widow as a widower. Karve was a pioneer in promoting widows' education. He founded the first women's university in India, the SNDT Women's University in 1916. The Government of India awarded him with the highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna, in 1958, the year of his 100th birthday. He organized a conference against the practice of devdasi. He started 'Anath balikashram' an orphanage for girls. His intention was to give education to all women and make them stand on their own feet. Through his efforts, the first women university was set up in 20th century. In addition to his work in women's education, he actively campaigned against the caste system and played a key role in founding societies aimed at advancing primary education in rural areas.
The appellation Maharshi, which the Indian public often assigned to Karve, means "great sage".
Biography
Early life and education
Dhondo Keshav Karve was born on 18 April 1858, at Sheravali, in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. He belonged to a lower middle-class Chitpavan Brahmin family and his father's name was Keshav Bapunna Karve.
In 1884, he graduated with a degree in mathematics from Elphinstone College.
Career
During 1891–1914, Karve taught mathematics at Fergusson College in Pune, Maharashtra.
In 1929, he visited Europe, America and Japan. During these travels, he met Albert Einstein. During this world tour, he also raised funds for the university.
The 2001 film Dhyaas Parva (ध्यास पर्व) by Amol Palekar, based on the life of Karve's son Raghunath, also depicts the Karve family, and their social reformation projects. Taluka Dapoli, a research based initiative, made a documentary on life of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve in 2017.
Organizations
Widow Marriage Restriction Prevention Society
Balika Anathashram
In 1896, he established an orphanage for widowed women at Hingne (now Karve Nagar) near Pune. At the same location, he founded a women’s school in 1907. His 20-year-old widowed sister-in-law, Parvatibai Athavale, became the first student of this school.
SNDT Women's University
In 1916 he established the SNDT Women’s University, with the mission of empowering women through education.
Awards and honours
- thumb|Dhondo Keshav Karve on a 1958 stamp of India1942 – awarded Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by Banaras Hindu University
- 1951 – awarded D.Litt. by Pune University
- 1954 – awarded D.Litt. by S.N.D.T. University
- 1955 – awarded Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
- 1957 – awarded LL.D. by University of Mumbai
- 1958 – awarded Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, by the Government of India