Vishnu Bhikaji Gokhale (1825–1871), popularly known as Vishnubawa Brahmachari and as Brahmachari Bawa,[1] was a 19th-century Marathi Hindu revivalist. An ascetic defender of the Hindu dharma, he was known for his religious polemics, chiefly against Christianity. He was known for his "witty repartee and vigorous argument" confronting Christian missionaries and, occasionally, other Hindus. His 1857 debates in Bombay were widely publicized in English and Marathi in at least nine books. He has been described variously as "the first great revivalist of modern Maharashtra," "predecessor of the two great swamis of modern times, Dayananda and Vivekananda," and "a queer bird."[2]
Vishnubawa Brahmachari | |
|---|---|
| Born | Vishnu Bhikaji Gokhale 20 July 1825 |
| Died | 18 February 1871 (aged 48–49) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Other names | Brahmachari Bawa |
| Occupation | Hindu missionary |
| Known for | Hindu revivalist |
| Title | Bawa |
Biography
editBrahmachari was born Vishnu Bhikaji Gokhale on 20 July 1825 in the village of Shirvali (Taluka - Mangaon, District - Raigad) as the tenth child of a Chitpavan Brahman family.[2] Educated in a village school for a few years, he also studied the Vedas.[2] He arrived in Bombay in September 1856.[2] He was the author of "The Marathi avatar of The Communist Manifesto."[2] He died on a Mahashivarathri day in the Viththal Mandir in Bombay on 18 February 1871.[3]
Vishnubawa had established Shri Dattaguru paduka at Shirvali. The Vishnubuva Brahmachari Samajik Kendra has been formed to propagate the thoughts and life mission of Vishnubawa.
See also
editCitations
edit- ^ Kulkarni and Wagle, 1999, p. 158.
- ^ a b c d e Jones and Husdon, 1992, p. 9.
- ^ Jones and Husdon, 1992, p. 23.
References
edit- Jones, Kenneth W.; Hudson, D. Dennis (1992). Religious controversy in British India: Dialogues in South Asian languages. SUNY. ISBN 0-7914-0828-0.
- Kulkarni, A. R.; Wagle, N. K. (1999). Region, Nationality and Religion. Mumbai: Popular Prakashan. ISBN 81-7154-835-0.