154. Raja Ram Mohan Rai
Raja Ram Mohan was born of a distinguished Brahmin family in Bengal. He was born in a village called Ramanagar, in the district of Murshidabad in Bengal, on the 22nd of May 1772. His father, Ramakanto Roy was an orthodox Brahmin. Ram Mohan’s parents were devoted to God and strictly performed the duties set by their religion. He himself was devoted to lord Vishnu. He wanted to become a monk in his 14th year but his mother, Tarini opposed his desire. He was married to three wives by the age of nine which was the custom of the day.
Young Ram Mohan was reputed for having a tenacious memory and was intelligent even at an early age. Ram Mohan was educated in Sanskrit, Bengali, Arabic and Persian in his own village. He started to learn English when he was 24 years old. It was in Patna, where he came across the translations of Aristotle and Euclid when to went to study Arabic. He read their books in Arabic. By studying their books, he developed the ability to think for himself.
His wide education and his exposure to different cultures led to many comparative religious questions. He condemned idol-worshiping and he opposed his parents who were doing so. He admired the spirit of freedom as advocated in the Vedas and the Upanishads. He proclaimed that simple living and high thinking should be a man’s motto in life and he lived accordingly.
Ram Mohan joined the service in the Revenue Department of the East India Company. He worked as an assistant to Mr. John Digby, an English officer. Ram Mohan was introduced to western culture and literature shortly following his employment, through Digby. As a lover of knowledge Ram Mohan studied Jainism with the help of Jain scholars, learnt Sufism from Muslim scholars. He translated the Upanishads and other sacred books into English and Bengali.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
153. Rajagopalachari
Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, better known as Rajaji, was the second Governor General of independent India. Later he became the chief minister of Madras Presidency. Rajaji was born in Thorapalli village of Salem district on 10th of December 1878. His father Chakravarthi Venkataraya Iyengar was from Tamilnadu, and his mother Singaramma hailed from Kuppam in Chittor, Andhra Pradesh. Rajaji completed his schooling in Hosur and did his higher education in Central college of Banglore, Karnataka.
He obtained his Law degree in Madras and began his practice in Salem. He became famous pretty soon through brilliance of knowledge of Law and speech. Even as a student he developed great love for literature and later became renowned as a writer in Tamil and English. Rajaji married at an early age and his wife passed away giving birth to three sons and two daughters. He entered into politics as he had a great zeal for social reforms.
He became Chairman of Municipal Council of Salem and fought against the caste system and drinking of liquor. He was opposed strongly and his reforms were oppressed. But he was successful in introducing civic reforms. He participated in the freedom movement and at one time considered as Mahatma Gandhi’s heir. He became the chief minister for Madras twice in 1937 and in 1952 and he had an impeccable record in administration which is free of corruption.
In 1906, he attended Indian National Congress held at Surat. Rajaji joined the Extremists group by 1918 and worked for Tilak and Dr. Annie Besant. In the pre-independence years, as one of the top five leaders of congress, Rajaji, Nehru and Patel were called the “head, heart, and hands” of Gandhiji, in whose shadows they remained till his death. Later he differed with Nehru on policies of nation and started a new party called “Swatantra Party”. It advocated private enterprise as against to government run mega projects favored by Nehru.
Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari, better known as Rajaji, was the second Governor General of independent India. Later he became the chief minister of Madras Presidency. Rajaji was born in Thorapalli village of Salem district on 10th of December 1878. His father Chakravarthi Venkataraya Iyengar was from Tamilnadu, and his mother Singaramma hailed from Kuppam in Chittor, Andhra Pradesh. Rajaji completed his schooling in Hosur and did his higher education in Central college of Banglore, Karnataka.
He obtained his Law degree in Madras and began his practice in Salem. He became famous pretty soon through brilliance of knowledge of Law and speech. Even as a student he developed great love for literature and later became renowned as a writer in Tamil and English. Rajaji married at an early age and his wife passed away giving birth to three sons and two daughters. He entered into politics as he had a great zeal for social reforms.
He became Chairman of Municipal Council of Salem and fought against the caste system and drinking of liquor. He was opposed strongly and his reforms were oppressed. But he was successful in introducing civic reforms. He participated in the freedom movement and at one time considered as Mahatma Gandhi’s heir. He became the chief minister for Madras twice in 1937 and in 1952 and he had an impeccable record in administration which is free of corruption.
In 1906, he attended Indian National Congress held at Surat. Rajaji joined the Extremists group by 1918 and worked for Tilak and Dr. Annie Besant. In the pre-independence years, as one of the top five leaders of congress, Rajaji, Nehru and Patel were called the “head, heart, and hands” of Gandhiji, in whose shadows they remained till his death. Later he differed with Nehru on policies of nation and started a new party called “Swatantra Party”. It advocated private enterprise as against to government run mega projects favored by Nehru.
152. Annie Besant
Annie Besant, the daughter of William Wood and Emily Morris, was born in 1847 at Clapham, London. Annie’s father, who was a doctor, died when she was only five years old. Therefore she had an unhappy childhood. Mrs. Wood unable to take care of Annie persuaded her friend Ellen Marryat to take responsibility for her upbringing. Later in 1866, at the age of nineteen, Annie married Mr. Frank Besant, who became a vicar in Lincolnshire. They had two children.
Annie was deeply unhappy because her independent spirit clashed with the traditional views of her husband. This resulted in their separation in 1873. After leaving her husband Annie completely rejected Christianity and in 1874 joined the Secular Society. It preached ‘free thought’. During the same period she edited the weekly, ‘National Reformer’ along with Charles Bradlaugh, which advocated advanced for the time on the topics such as trade unions, national education, women’s right to vote and birth control.
In the 1890s Annie became a supporter of Theosophy, a religious movement founded by Madame Blavatsky in 1875. Theosophy was based on Hindu ideas of Karma and reincarnation with nirvana as the eventual aim. She came under the influence of Theosophical Society which was against discrimination of race, color, gender and preached universal brotherhood. To serve humanity at large was its supreme goal. It is as a member of Theosophical Society of India that she arrived in India in 1893.
Her long interest in education resulted in founding of Central Hindu College at Benaras in 1898. Through a network of schools and colleges she tried to instill patriotism and contemporary spirit in the youth of India. She introduced inter-dining in hostels and allowed free transactions between British Indian scholars. The syllabus was a happy blend of Western and Indian philosophy, literature, history, and religious thought.
Annie Besant, the daughter of William Wood and Emily Morris, was born in 1847 at Clapham, London. Annie’s father, who was a doctor, died when she was only five years old. Therefore she had an unhappy childhood. Mrs. Wood unable to take care of Annie persuaded her friend Ellen Marryat to take responsibility for her upbringing. Later in 1866, at the age of nineteen, Annie married Mr. Frank Besant, who became a vicar in Lincolnshire. They had two children.
Annie was deeply unhappy because her independent spirit clashed with the traditional views of her husband. This resulted in their separation in 1873. After leaving her husband Annie completely rejected Christianity and in 1874 joined the Secular Society. It preached ‘free thought’. During the same period she edited the weekly, ‘National Reformer’ along with Charles Bradlaugh, which advocated advanced for the time on the topics such as trade unions, national education, women’s right to vote and birth control.
In the 1890s Annie became a supporter of Theosophy, a religious movement founded by Madame Blavatsky in 1875. Theosophy was based on Hindu ideas of Karma and reincarnation with nirvana as the eventual aim. She came under the influence of Theosophical Society which was against discrimination of race, color, gender and preached universal brotherhood. To serve humanity at large was its supreme goal. It is as a member of Theosophical Society of India that she arrived in India in 1893.
Her long interest in education resulted in founding of Central Hindu College at Benaras in 1898. Through a network of schools and colleges she tried to instill patriotism and contemporary spirit in the youth of India. She introduced inter-dining in hostels and allowed free transactions between British Indian scholars. The syllabus was a happy blend of Western and Indian philosophy, literature, history, and religious thought.
151. Sarojini Naidu
Sarojini Naidu was born as the eldest daughter of a scientist-philosopher father, Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, and mother Varasundari, who was a Bengali Poetess, on 13 February, 1879. Her father was a pioneer in education, a linguist and an original thinker. He established the Nizam’s college in Hyderabad in 1878, pioneering English and women’s education. She was bought up in a house of intellectuals, poets, philosophers and revolutionaries. She claims that she was bought up in a home of Indians, not Hindus or Brahmins.
She passed Matriculation at the age of 12, and came out first in Madras Presidency. Young Sarojini was a very bright girl. Her father wanted her to become a mathematician or a scientist. But she loved poetry from a very early age. With her father’s support, she wrote a play called “Maher Muneer” in the Persian language. The Nawab of Hyderabad reading a copy of it sent by Sarojini’s father was impressed by the beautiful play written by the young girl. The college gave her a scholarship to study abroad. At the age of 16, she got admitted to King’s College of England.
At the age of 15, she met Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu and fell in love with him. He was from South India. After finishing her studies at the age of 19, she married him during the time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed. Her marriage was a very happy one. They were married by the Brahmo Marriage Act (1872), in Madras in 1898. They had four children. Their house in Hyderabad is the renowned Golden Threshold.
In 1916, she met Mahatma Gandhi and from then on she totally contributed herself to the fight for freedom. The independence of India became the heart and soul of her work.
She was responsible for awakening the women of India. She re-established self-esteem within the women of India. In Hyderabad she was awarded the Kaiser-I-Hind Gold Medal for her outstanding work during the plague epidemic. In 1925, she became the Chairperson to the summit of congress in Kanpur. She went to USA in 1928 with the message of the non-violence. In 1929 she presided over the East Africa Indian Congress in Mombassa, and gave lectures all over South East Africa. In 1942, she was arrested during the “Quit India” protest and stayed in jail for 21 months with Gandhiji.
Sarojini Naidu was born as the eldest daughter of a scientist-philosopher father, Aghornath Chattopadhyaya, and mother Varasundari, who was a Bengali Poetess, on 13 February, 1879. Her father was a pioneer in education, a linguist and an original thinker. He established the Nizam’s college in Hyderabad in 1878, pioneering English and women’s education. She was bought up in a house of intellectuals, poets, philosophers and revolutionaries. She claims that she was bought up in a home of Indians, not Hindus or Brahmins.
She passed Matriculation at the age of 12, and came out first in Madras Presidency. Young Sarojini was a very bright girl. Her father wanted her to become a mathematician or a scientist. But she loved poetry from a very early age. With her father’s support, she wrote a play called “Maher Muneer” in the Persian language. The Nawab of Hyderabad reading a copy of it sent by Sarojini’s father was impressed by the beautiful play written by the young girl. The college gave her a scholarship to study abroad. At the age of 16, she got admitted to King’s College of England.
At the age of 15, she met Dr. Govindarajulu Naidu and fell in love with him. He was from South India. After finishing her studies at the age of 19, she married him during the time when inter-caste marriages were not allowed. Her marriage was a very happy one. They were married by the Brahmo Marriage Act (1872), in Madras in 1898. They had four children. Their house in Hyderabad is the renowned Golden Threshold.
In 1916, she met Mahatma Gandhi and from then on she totally contributed herself to the fight for freedom. The independence of India became the heart and soul of her work.
She was responsible for awakening the women of India. She re-established self-esteem within the women of India. In Hyderabad she was awarded the Kaiser-I-Hind Gold Medal for her outstanding work during the plague epidemic. In 1925, she became the Chairperson to the summit of congress in Kanpur. She went to USA in 1928 with the message of the non-violence. In 1929 she presided over the East Africa Indian Congress in Mombassa, and gave lectures all over South East Africa. In 1942, she was arrested during the “Quit India” protest and stayed in jail for 21 months with Gandhiji.
150. Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi entered politics only after the death of his brother, Sanjay Gandhi, in 1980. Rajiv Gandhi had not shown much interest in politics till then. He attended college at Cambridge, England; married an Italian, Sonia Gandhi; and worked as a pilot for the Indian Airlines. Rajiv's mother, Indira Gandhi, was active in India's national politics as she had by then served as the Prime Minister of India. Rajiv Gandhi's brother was an aide to their mother in politics. So when Sanjay Gandhi died, it is said that Indira Gandhi convinced Rajiv Gandhi to enter politics. But Rajiv Gandhi was not new to politics as he was born into a family of politicians.
His grandfather, Nehru, was the first Prime Minister of India. His mother, father and brother too were politically very active. Rajiv Gandhi won his first parliamentary elections to the Lok Sabha in 1981. At that time, Indira Gandhi was re-elected as the Prime Minister and Rajiv Gandhi became her unofficial political advisor. But in 1984, Indira Gandhi's bodyguards assassinated her and Rajiv Gandhi took over as the head of the Congress party and was sworn in as the Prime Minister.
His government encouraged foreign investment, and industry boomed with the loosening of business controls. He sought to increase Indian investments in modern technology. He removed many restrictions on imports and encouraged foreign investment. His critics claim that he was indecisive as he changed his cabinet members frequently. He fired his mother's aides and instead appointed his friends and technocrats.
In 1987, he committed the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in an endeavor to help the government there eradicate militants agitating for a separate Tamil homeland. Though one of the campaign promises of the Congress party was to eliminate corruption in politics, Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister was marred by allegations of corruption. He was accused of receiving "kick-backs" from a Swedish company manufacturing Bofors machine-guns.
Rajiv Gandhi entered politics only after the death of his brother, Sanjay Gandhi, in 1980. Rajiv Gandhi had not shown much interest in politics till then. He attended college at Cambridge, England; married an Italian, Sonia Gandhi; and worked as a pilot for the Indian Airlines. Rajiv's mother, Indira Gandhi, was active in India's national politics as she had by then served as the Prime Minister of India. Rajiv Gandhi's brother was an aide to their mother in politics. So when Sanjay Gandhi died, it is said that Indira Gandhi convinced Rajiv Gandhi to enter politics. But Rajiv Gandhi was not new to politics as he was born into a family of politicians.
His grandfather, Nehru, was the first Prime Minister of India. His mother, father and brother too were politically very active. Rajiv Gandhi won his first parliamentary elections to the Lok Sabha in 1981. At that time, Indira Gandhi was re-elected as the Prime Minister and Rajiv Gandhi became her unofficial political advisor. But in 1984, Indira Gandhi's bodyguards assassinated her and Rajiv Gandhi took over as the head of the Congress party and was sworn in as the Prime Minister.
His government encouraged foreign investment, and industry boomed with the loosening of business controls. He sought to increase Indian investments in modern technology. He removed many restrictions on imports and encouraged foreign investment. His critics claim that he was indecisive as he changed his cabinet members frequently. He fired his mother's aides and instead appointed his friends and technocrats.
In 1987, he committed the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to Sri Lanka in an endeavor to help the government there eradicate militants agitating for a separate Tamil homeland. Though one of the campaign promises of the Congress party was to eliminate corruption in politics, Rajiv Gandhi's tenure as Prime Minister was marred by allegations of corruption. He was accused of receiving "kick-backs" from a Swedish company manufacturing Bofors machine-guns.
149. Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore, recipient of the 1913 Noble prize for Literature, was born into a Brahmin family in Calcutta, India on May 7th 1861. His father was Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and his mother was Sarada Devi. His father was a leader of Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal. This samaj attempted for the revival of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was mainly educated at home and at the age of seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling.
In 1883 Tagore married Mrinalini Devi Raichauduri, with whom he had two sons and three daughters.
He began to write poetry as a child and his first book appeared when he was seventeen years old. After a brief stay in England to study Law, he returned to India, where he rapidly became the most important and popular author of the colonial era. He composed several hundred popular songs and in 1929 he also began painting.
He also started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. He participated in the Indian national movement from time to time in his own visionary way and Gandhi was his devoted friend. Tagore and Gandhi were great admirers of each other, despite their differences in matter of politics, nationalism, and social reform. It was Tagore who called Gandhi “The Mahatma in a peasant’s garb”, and Gandhi, in turn called Tagore, “The Great Sentinel”.
Tagore objected the burning of foreign cloth because it was foreign. Gandhi stressed the need for Indian self-sufficiency in every sphere of life. Tagore believed that India had a message for the world, but he thought that India must also incorporate others’ messages into her own cultural repertoire. Like Gandhi, Tagore believed that inner Swaraj and cultivation of the self was vital.
Rabindranath Tagore, recipient of the 1913 Noble prize for Literature, was born into a Brahmin family in Calcutta, India on May 7th 1861. His father was Maharshi Debendranath Tagore and his mother was Sarada Devi. His father was a leader of Brahmo Samaj, which was a new religious sect in nineteenth-century Bengal. This samaj attempted for the revival of Hinduism as laid down in the Upanishads. He was mainly educated at home and at the age of seventeen he was sent to England for formal schooling.
In 1883 Tagore married Mrinalini Devi Raichauduri, with whom he had two sons and three daughters.
He began to write poetry as a child and his first book appeared when he was seventeen years old. After a brief stay in England to study Law, he returned to India, where he rapidly became the most important and popular author of the colonial era. He composed several hundred popular songs and in 1929 he also began painting.
He also started an experimental school at Shantiniketan where he tried his Upanishadic ideals of education. He participated in the Indian national movement from time to time in his own visionary way and Gandhi was his devoted friend. Tagore and Gandhi were great admirers of each other, despite their differences in matter of politics, nationalism, and social reform. It was Tagore who called Gandhi “The Mahatma in a peasant’s garb”, and Gandhi, in turn called Tagore, “The Great Sentinel”.
Tagore objected the burning of foreign cloth because it was foreign. Gandhi stressed the need for Indian self-sufficiency in every sphere of life. Tagore believed that India had a message for the world, but he thought that India must also incorporate others’ messages into her own cultural repertoire. Like Gandhi, Tagore believed that inner Swaraj and cultivation of the self was vital.
148. Lal Bahadur Shastri
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born in Moghalsarai, which is also spelt as Mughalsarai, on October 2, 1904. His parents were Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari Devi. Though his parents were Srivatsavas, Shastri dropped his caste identity in his early years. His father died when he was only a year old. His mother with the help of her father took care of the children. Lal Bahadur acquired virtues like boldness, love of adventure, patience, self-control, courtesy, and selflessness in his childhood.
His abandoned his studies to take part in the non-cooperation movement started by Gandhi in 1921. He was given the title ‘Shastri’ at Kashi Vidya Peetha in 1926. During his four years’ stay there, he was very much influenced by the lectures of Dr. Bhagawandas on philosophy. In his later life, Shastri displayed poise in the midst of conflict and confusion which he learnt from his teacher, Bhagawandas.
After coming out from Kashi Vidya Peeth, he became the life-member of The Servants of the People Society which was started by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1921.
The aim of the society was to train youth who were prepared to dedicate their lives to the service of the country. Shastri earned the love and affection of Lajpat Rai by his earnestness and hard work. Later he became the President of the society. In 1927, Shastri married Lalitha Devi who was from Mirzalyur. Lal Bahadur Shastri took a leading role in ‘Salt Satyagraha’ which was intensified by 1930. He also advised people not to pay land revenue and taxes to the British government. He was sent to prison for two and half years for doing so. From this time onwards prison became his second home.
He was sent to prison seven times and was forced to spend nine long years in various prisons on different occasions. Going to prison became a blessing in disguise for him. He spent time reading number of books. He became familiar with the works of western philosophers, revolutionaries, and social reformers. He translated the autobiography of Madam Curie, a French scientist who discovered Radium, into Hindi. He was a ideal prisoner. The greatness of Shastri was that he maintained his self-respect even in prison.
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born in Moghalsarai, which is also spelt as Mughalsarai, on October 2, 1904. His parents were Sharada Prasad and Ramdulari Devi. Though his parents were Srivatsavas, Shastri dropped his caste identity in his early years. His father died when he was only a year old. His mother with the help of her father took care of the children. Lal Bahadur acquired virtues like boldness, love of adventure, patience, self-control, courtesy, and selflessness in his childhood.
His abandoned his studies to take part in the non-cooperation movement started by Gandhi in 1921. He was given the title ‘Shastri’ at Kashi Vidya Peetha in 1926. During his four years’ stay there, he was very much influenced by the lectures of Dr. Bhagawandas on philosophy. In his later life, Shastri displayed poise in the midst of conflict and confusion which he learnt from his teacher, Bhagawandas.
After coming out from Kashi Vidya Peeth, he became the life-member of The Servants of the People Society which was started by Lala Lajpat Rai in 1921.
The aim of the society was to train youth who were prepared to dedicate their lives to the service of the country. Shastri earned the love and affection of Lajpat Rai by his earnestness and hard work. Later he became the President of the society. In 1927, Shastri married Lalitha Devi who was from Mirzalyur. Lal Bahadur Shastri took a leading role in ‘Salt Satyagraha’ which was intensified by 1930. He also advised people not to pay land revenue and taxes to the British government. He was sent to prison for two and half years for doing so. From this time onwards prison became his second home.
He was sent to prison seven times and was forced to spend nine long years in various prisons on different occasions. Going to prison became a blessing in disguise for him. He spent time reading number of books. He became familiar with the works of western philosophers, revolutionaries, and social reformers. He translated the autobiography of Madam Curie, a French scientist who discovered Radium, into Hindi. He was a ideal prisoner. The greatness of Shastri was that he maintained his self-respect even in prison.
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