Shikshan Maharshi Bapuji Salunkhe - Life and Mission
Bapuji was born in Rampur village
situated in Patan Taluka of Satara District. Deprived of both of his parents in
his early boyhood, Bapuji had to acquire his education in the face of
adversity. He took his B.A. Degree in 1945; and passed his B.T. in 1949.
Endowed with powerful eloquence, Bapuji was interested in Sanskrit, Marathi
and Mathematics.
The starting point of Bapuji’s
educational career was when he was appointed as ‘Rajguru' in the princely
state of Sondur in 1940. But soon the career came to an end as the
electrified patriot plunged himself head long into the vortex of “Quit India
Movement" headed by Mahatma Gandhi . Later, during his tenure as the
chairman of Satara District Students Congress, in 1947, Bapuji proved
instrumental in collecting funds (1 Lac Rupees) in honour of
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, the founder of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. This great
mission was recognized by no smaller personality than Mahatma Gandhi, in 1948.
Bapuji wrote a short story of freedom fighters in Satara district based on his
personal interviews with the activists.
Bapuji served in Rayat Shikshan
Sanstha for a decade-from 1945 to 1955; for the first four years in the
capacity of a teacher and then as the headmaster of Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalaya,
Rukadi which he developed with his missionary zeal and indefatigable work.
Bapuji left the Rayat Shikshan Sanstha in 1955, along with some of his
colleagues.
The life and mission of
Shikshanmaharshi Dr. Bapuji Salulnkhe will be marked as the golden era in the
educational history of Maharashtra. Bapuji’s original name was Gavindrao
Dnyanojirao Salunkhe. It was because of the great influence
Mahatma Gandhi exerted on his life that his kith and kin started calling
him Bapuji’ and the same nomenclature caught on in his
later life.
Bapuji was born in Rampur village
situated in Patan Taluka of Satara District. Deprived of both of his parents in
his early boyhood, Bapuji had to acquire his education in the face of
adversity. He took his B.A. Degree in 1945; and passed his B.T. in 1949.
Endowed with powerful eloquence, Bapuji was interested in Sanskrit , Marathi
and Mathematics.
The starting point of Bapuji’s
educational career was when he was appointed as ‘Rajguru' in the princely
state of Sondur in 1940. But soon the career came to an end as the
electrified patriot plunged himself head long into the vortex of “Quit India
Movement" headed by Mahatma Gandhi . Later, during his tenure as the
chairman of Satara District Students Congress, in 1947, Bapuji proved
instrumental in collecting funds (1 Lac Rupees) in honour of
Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil, the founder of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha. This great
mission was recognized by no smaller personality than Mahatma Gandhi, in 1948.
Bapuji wrote a short story of freedom fighters in Satara district based on his
personal interviews with the activists.
Bapuji served in Rayat Shikshan Sanstha
for a decade-from 1945 to 1955; for the first four years in the capacity of a
teacher and then as the headmaster of Mahatma Gandhi Vidyalaya, Rukadi which he
developed with his missionary zeal and indefatigable work. Bapuji left the
Rayat Shikshan Sanstha in 1955, along with some of his colleagues.