Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar

Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar (July 6, 1837–August 24, 1925) was an Indian scholar, orientalist, and social reformer.

Early life

Bhandarkar was born in Malvan in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. After his early schooling in Ratnagiri, he studied at Elphinstone College in Bombay. Along with Mahadev Govind Ranade, Bhandarkar was among the first graduates in 1862 from Bombay University. He obtained his Master’s degree the following year, and was awarded a Ph.D. from University of Göttingen in 1885. .

Scholarly career

Bhandarkar taught at Elphinstone College and Deccan College during his distinguished teaching career. He was involved in research and writing throughout his life. He retired in 1894 as the Vice Chancellor of Bombay University. He participated in international conferences on Oriental Studies held in London (1874) and Vienna (1886), making invaluable contributions. Historian R. S. Sharma wrote of him: "He reconstructed the political history of the Deccan of the Satavahanas and the history of Vaishnavism and other sects. A great social reformer, through his researches he advocated widow marriages and castigated the evils of the caste system and child marriage."

As a educationist, he was was elected to the Council of India in 1903 as a non-official member. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was another member to the Council.

Social Reformer

In 1853, while a student, Bhandarkar...
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