Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet

Front cover of the Vol. I of the magnum opus

Introduction - 1

Introduction - 2

Author presenting the work to the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi

The three-volume set of the magnum opus

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What they said ..........

It will be of great use to the researchers, scholars and educational institutions all over.
....Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Former President of India


It is monumental work. I must congratulate Dr. Shirodkar. The work will make impact in the literary field in the world.
....Hon.Sharad Pawar, Hon. Union Minister for Agriculture



This book plays important role to highlight the remarkable aspects of life of Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet.

It would no doubt guide the young generation on their path as a source of inspiration. The foundation stone of social revolution in India had been ladi by him.

I am very much thankful for sending me this precious book.
....Ashok Chavan - Hon. Chief Minister of Maharashtra

..............it appears it is a very great contribution to the history of Bombay and the freedom movement of India.
....Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Former Minister for Human Resources


If great historians of the world like Sir Toynbee, Ranke, Father of Modern History and Sir John Acton were alive today, they would have certainly saluted Dr. Shirodkar for his gigantic and monumental work of history.
....Prof. J.V.Naik, Former President of the Indian History Congress(2007)


It is truly indicative of our attitude that few know of the pioneering role he (Nana) had played in our country’s early evolution into our independent and democratic society and polity.
....Jaswant Singh, Former Minister for External Affairs


This work of Dr. Shirodkar is amazing indeed!
....The late Col. Manohar Malgaonkar, Renowned writer


This encyclopaedic tome of Dr. Shirodkar will serve as a beacon to researchers in the centuries to come.
....The late Dr. M.M.Joshi, Former Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India


The remarkable work of Dr. Shirodkar reflects the erudition and profound scholarship. It will be of immense use to the scholars and researchers of today and tomorrow.
....Mahaswami Sri Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Sharada Peeth

Like Vyasa and Valmiki Rishis of ancient India, Dr. Shirodkar has produced this monumental work, for which posterity will be indebted to him.
....Prof. Shivkumar, Director, Latin American Centre, Goa University

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Exemplary Life of a 19th Century Stalwart:
Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet popularly known all over as Nana Shankarshet was the central figure in the life of Bombay and the Bombay Presidency. He was born on 10th February 1803 in Girgaum in an extremely affluent family. His father, Shankarshet Babulshet Murkute, one of the most prominent bankers and traders of the time had such a reputation then that the very word Shankarshet stuck to the family as the surname. Shankarshet family originally hailed from Murbad town near Kalyan. Nana’s ancestor, Narayanshet Murkute was the enterprising trader in pearls and had the business links with the jewel merchants in Porbunder and Surat during Shivaji’s times. His son, Uddhavshet inherited his business successfully. Manikshet, son of Uddhavshet had been granted the Sanad of Potdar of Murbad by the Government of Bombay in 1714 A.D. He was quite a prominent Government officer in Murbad during his lifetime.

Gerald Aungier had turned out then to be the best Governor of Bombay which around 1672 was the graveyard of the Englishmen and it had practically decimated the newly acquired colony. Aungier who was a man of vision wanted it to be populated by the migrant Natives. He therefore issued a Notification on 22 March 1677 with a stipulation, which stated that “none who profess their religion, of whatever age, sex or condition he might be, should be compelled to embrace Christianity.” This was a great relief and reassurance to the Parsis, Banias and other communities, which had the strong reservations to go and settle down in Bombay. The call for freedom of conscience and to pursue their own religious rites and traditions to the people in the adjoining territories if they decided to immigrate to Bombay though it was known then as the “ Cemetery of the Europeans” was a blessing in disguise for the Natives around the island. Some of those who were residing in the territories, which were under the Portuguese opted for the migration to Bombay, rather than face the conversion and live in the fear of oppression of the missionaries and the Portuguese who had already succeeded in converting a large number of Hindus of all classes in Bassein, Chaul, Bandora and adjacent areas. Under such a grave situation and circumstances , the trading communities around Bombay were leading a very traumatic life.
The aforesaid stipulation relieved them of the fear of similar maltreatment in Bombay. So many Parsi and Bania families now turned their attention to the island of Bombay. Among them was the family of Gunbashet Murkute, son of Manikshet, Potdar of Murbad. He settled in Bombay around 1730 or even might be earlier and established his money-lending set-up in the Fort area. He was one of the most respected Sawkar then so much so that the extensive street from where he traded was named after him as Gunbow Street.. In the earliest English records of Bombay under the British, he was the first Hindu to be honoured with street name. Unfortunately, strange are the ways of the Civic authorities of Mumbai. Presuming the street name as a strange English name Gun and bow, they replaced it by the name of Boman Behram, who was a prominent Municipal Councillor ! What a travesty of truth ! Thus, the name of one of the most prominent Hindu traders of early 18th century was buried deep in the dark vault of the past!
Gunbashet’s son, Babulshet was very successful in shipping trade. He had diversified his business and trade interests . He was the owner of a few ships of Shibbar type of about 100 tons, biggest in size then, and they plied on the Western coast with a varied types of merchandize. Like his renowned father, he too had attained a prominent position among the Sarafs and merchants of Bombay. He was also the most prominent in selling the goods from Malabar coast to the Muslims engaged in coastal trade. Some of his petitions submitted to Mayor’s Court are still found preserved.

His son, Sunkersett (Shankarshet ) pursued further his business and rose to a very high position in Bombay’s trading circle as a veteran merchant and a leading shroff. Gadadhar Vedak, in his small biography of Nana in English published in 1937 writes:“His (Babulshet’s) son Shankarshet was the only heir to his wealth and estate. Like his father, Shankarshet also had acquired all the qualities of a great businessman so that within a short time after the death of Babulshet he established a high position for himself among the commercial magnates of Bombay. Shankarshet had a fair knowledge of English , a rare qualification in those days. He was clever and smart which accounts for his success as a jewel merchant .He did not limit his commercial activities to India alone. Being bold and adventurous, he started trading with other countries in partnership with a Bengali gentleman. The result was huge profits.” He had established ties with the traders from China, Iran and Arab world and had purchased some trading vessels as well and with their help he succeeded in establishing his own network of operations with the Indian and foreign countries.

It is unimaginable, how he must have faced all odds to attain success. He had amassed then lakhs of rupees from business ventures, despite the Bania pre-dominance in the banking business and the upper hand of Gujaratis, Muslims, especially Bohras in the shipowning business. As a dealer in pearls, he earned a large fortune. He constructed now a magnificent palatial bungalow at Palav, the then Breach Candy Road in Girgaum where Jagannath alias Nana was born on 10th February 1803.This majestic bungalow being in the dilapidated condition was demolished to make way for the high rise building, Shankarshet Smruti in 1960s.

To digress a bit, Nana Fadnavis, the greatest civilian of the Maratha Empire died in 1800 leading to the chaos in Poona Court and Bajirao II had to flee to Bassein in panic to seek the protection of the British who took the undue advantage of signing the well-known Treaty of Bassein on 31st December 1802 under which he was to get the British aid for his restoration as Peshva. For the sake of security, Bajirao II had lost his independence, betrayed his trust and sold himself and his people into subjugation thus offering the British to have their hold in the Maratha Empire. This event turned out to be the precursor to the ultimate fall of the Maratha Empire on 3rd June 1818. After the surrender, the Governor-General, Marquis Wellesley abolished Peshvaship and the Maratha territory under him was put directly under the British administration and thus it formed the part of the British dominion in India.

The year 1803 marked with two major contradictory events in February in the history of Bombay. One was a benedictory happening ---- the birth of a celebrated Samaritan, Jagannath Shankarshet who was destined to be the Maker of Modern Bombay and play the unique and remarkable role in the life of the nation. And the other was a bizarre incident of the most devastating fire, which destroyed three-fourth of Bazaar, military barracks, Custom house and a very great number of buildings of the town. It had consumed main part of Bombay and had destroyed 472 principal houses. The Great Fire created several problems to the dwellers in the town. Prior to this catastrophe, Bombay was already reeling under one of the worst famines, which had been continuing since 1802. Of critical importance in our story of the period is that Bombay administration itself was tottering on account of financial crisis for couple of years.

Nana grew up under such a lamentable environment . In his childhood, Nana lost his mother and elderly Shankarshet had the dual role to bring him up. He used to pin a great hope on Nana and therefore used to keep very close watch on his conduct and activities during the day. Nana was brilliant, receptive and was eager to learn more and more right from his childhood days. Shankarshet, therefore was very anxious and solicitous of his education. He was of the firm opinion that without proper education his son would not progress. This opinion was totally against the views prevailing in the Hindu society then. Thus in the absence of the schools and other organized institutions for the Natives, Nana’s education was to be pursued privately. Shankarshet, a man of great vision and foresight arranged to teach him Marathi, Gujarati and Sanskrit by appointing well known Pandits. Among them Jagannath Shastri Kramavant used to teach Sanskrit to Nana, who derived much benefits from his teachings. Since his young days Nana could speak Sanskrit with great fluency.

Shankarshet also engaged two topmost English masters in the town—Captain W.B. Mainwaring and Mr. Robert Xavier Murphy who imbibed in Nana interest in horticulture, gardening, art and craft. Nana learnt from these dedicated teachers pure English language, literature, English history, their administration, mathematics, judicial administration, education system, their traditions and customs, ethics, morals and natural sciences. Probably, Mr. Murphy sowed the seeds of Horticultural Society and future Victoria Garden and Museum in his mind from the childhood days. Nana’s command over English language was marked with proficiency. He used to talk English in the British style with their rhythm, accent and intonation. He wrote pure English, which can be discerned from the correspondence in his own handwriting cited and quoted by me in my work on him. Perhaps the urge for imparting knowledge to the masses took the roots in these formative years. As for the knowledge of Vernaculars, his contemporary, Dr. John Wilson had commented : “To his Vernacular languages and especially to Marathi , his mother tongue he gave much attention. Sanskrit even was not neglected by him and his progress in it was such that he was accustomed to pursue intelligently some of the older classics of the country.”

Shankarshet who knew the immense importance of education had left no stone unturned to acquire for Nana whatever books and literature in the form of manuscripts available in the countryside and England. All local newspapers in English from Bombay, Calcutta and England were procured for the sake of Nana. This practice was continued throughout his life. Nana had built up his own library. Thus he was well- read, intelligent boy who used his own observations.
Prof. A.K. Priolkar’s comments on Nana’s knowledge of English are worth noting. He had stated: “I have read carefully several notes and letters in Nana’s hand- writing . His language is pure and the resolute determination of independent thinking and pretension of self-respect are clearly discernible from them. In the absence of schools and college , during his time, it is not known how and from where he acquired such a vast knowledge of English languag . He was not a stranger to Sanskrit also.”

Thus, Nana had turned a youth with a cultural bent of mind comparatively earlier than expected. He was far advanced of his time, was studious and very inquisitive by nature. He was diligent, meticulous and conscious of time right from his childhood days. That sort of training he had obtained from his two English masters. So he was always prompt in doing anything he took up at the set time. Regularity in getting up, devoting time to studies, reading business dealings at a particular time and going to sleep at the set hour was so methodical and meticulous that everyone used to get astonished. At a very young age, he came in contact with the British gentry and he tried to adopt their good manners, habits, etiquette and conduct. In fact, his masters were rather amazed to watch young Nana rising from pupilage with great speed.

Before plunging himself into public life, Nana had cultivated several healthy habits. On several occasions, his father used to take Nana alongwith him to well-known friends well-versed in trade and introduce Nana to them. Nana used to learn a lot from them during such meetings with British, Parsi, Gujarati merchants. He used to keenly observe their manners, conduct and their ways of thinking and behaviour. In this manner , he built up his own character. From early, he displayed a rare genius of leadership. He was bold and dashing young man. He used to get up at dawn and used to religiously chant slokas paying obeisance to his family deity. Though he was brought up in a distinguished family, he was always inclined to follow the mundane as well as spiritual conduct. He was of a deeply religious cast of mind.. At a very young age he had learnt swimming as well as horse- riding .He had stuck up to certain daily routine, which he continued throughout his life. He was bestowed with a fine, natural healthy constitution. and possessed fullest vigour. His integrity and moral character were always held in the highest esteem. Unquestionable obedience accorded to him by the Natives from the young age brought him fame of almost legendary nature in future. Whatever work he took up, he used to labour with wholehearted zeal and fearlessly pursued his well-formed decisions.

In the words of Dadabhai Naoroji, “Such is the debt we natives owe to Mr. Jagannath Sankarseth who was among the first, that first sowed the seeds of education and watched and nursed it to its present growth.These services alone would entitle him to our great gratitude. But these are not all.”

Nana’s debut in public life almost coincided with the beginning of the growth of education, first among the Natives in the town of Bombay and subsequently in Western India. Nana was born with a gift of leadership .If the glorious career, the unique work and the remarkable role of this great personage of the 19th century is scanned thoroughly, one comes to the conclusion that he was a born leader with unimaginable foresight and unfathomable vision. He had the intelligent faculty to evaluate the state of degradation his countrymen had reached primarily on account of the lack of education.

Governor Mount Stuart Elphinstone(1815-1827) was attracted towards bright and proactive Nana whose qualities of leadership he had closely watched. One day, he called Nana and asked him in what way the lot of the Natives in the country could be improved. The young Nana answered: “Educate them”. This was the beginning of the turn of events on the front of education in the Bombay Presidency.

In 1820, when Nana was just 17-year –old , the meeting of the Bombay Education Society was held at St.Thomas Church hall. Among the wealthy and influential Natives was Jagannath Shankarshet. At this meeting, a Special Committee was selected to collect the funds for education, under the Presidentship of the Governor Mount Stuart Elphinstone .It was called the “The Native School and School Book Committee” which soon was reformed as Native School and School Book Society on 21 August 1822. It was popularly known as “Haind Shalla Pustak Mandalli”. Jagannath Shankarshet was one of the Directors of this Society He was also one of the members of the Sub-Committee for the General Affairs of the Society. This was the institution in which Jagannath Shankarshet had put his heart right from its inception. Mount Stuart Elphinstone desired to promote the education indirectly through this Society and its direct promotion by the Government .In 1824, he had expressed his views in the context of the urgent need for encouraging Indian culture thus: “ We have dried up the fountains of the native talent---The actual learning of the native is likely to be lost and the production of former genius to be forgotten. Something should surely be done to remove this reproach”. In the years to come, Nana strived hard to achieve this goal by remaining at the centre-stage of socio-political, economic, industrial, civic and cultural life of Bombay and the Bombay Presidency. Dadabhai Naoroji is more eloquent on the role played by Nana in the Bombay Native School Book and School Society. He had expressed :”The Bombay Native School Book and School Society which sowed the first seeds of education in this Town was founded in 1822. In the foundation of this Society , Mr. Jagannath Shankarshet is one of the foremost.” Sadashiv Kashinath Chhatre assisted Nana in this task and he sought the advice of the elderly and eminent personalities of the time like Framji Cowasji, Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy and Mohammed Ibrahim Muckba.

Gradually, the Society grew up as the Bombay Native Education Society and the people derived a lot of benefits from it. The credit for the prosperity of this Society and the School was attributed to the enthusiasm of its Founders. Jagannath Shankarshet being the main pillar of this Society, rendered a great financial aid for its stability. He was always anxious to contribute to any cause of public welfare and he would donate with immense pleasure the amount more than expected. His feelings towards the poor and the downtrodden were such, though there were several business magnates much richer than him, that his contribution many a times was much higher than theirs or the highest. This was solely on account of his strong desire that the countrymen should be educated and enlightened. Observing the fast development and the prosperity of the Bombay Native Education Society, many prominent personalities in the Bombay Presidency opened several schools in the towns and villages.

While Nana had already plunged himself into educational and social activities, in 1822 there was a move in England by the British MP, called Mr. Pim to submit the representation to Parliament to enact a law to end the Sati system in India .But he was advised by his friends and colleagues to obtain first two representative signatures from India to strengthen his case. The representation was duly sent to India. The first to append the signature on this petition was Nana who was just 19-year- old then and the second was the signature of the elderly Raja Ram Mohan Roy, who had been campaigning against the Sati system in Bengal. It is generally believed that Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the sole and most vocal critic of the Sati system in the country. But it is proved beyond doubt that Jagannath Shankarshet was equally fighting against it in Western India.

Rev. Dr.Wilson reveals about this contribution of Nana very convincingly. He had stated: “In regard to philanthropy again, it was worthy of remembrance that Mr. Sankarsett and those like minded with himself been of signal service to the government and native community at the end of 1829 and commencement of 1830, when Lord Bentinck in Bengal and Sir John Malcolm in Bombay, resolved to put an end to the ancient but horrid rite of Sati, with all its awful atrocities , so that occasion memorable in the History, even Calcutta, the foremost city in education and enlightenment was to the folly of sending a lawyer (a Mr. Batho) to England, to protest in its name against the measure and to move the King in Council to rescind the benevolent ordinance, so as to allow the youth bereft of his father to burn to death his surviving mother with the body of the departed that is to make himself an orphan in a noble sense and murder in the highest ! Such was the influence, the philanthropic influence of Mr. Jagannath and the other parties associated with him, that no such folly was perpetrated in Bombay, though so near to Konkan religiously governed by Brahmins of great power, and a province in which forty to sixty Suttees are supposed annually to have occurred and that no popular disaffection with the benevolent measure of the British administration was here permitted to appear. Since that time, Mr. Jagannath had often been a wide and kind interpreter to the natives, of measures which, however excellent in themselves have been distasteful to fastidious prejudice and older customs.”

Here, I would like to draw your kind attention to the difficulties faced by Lord Bentinck in implementing the Act of Abolition of Sati in West Bengal and elsewhere. When he approached Raja Ram Mohan Roy for his views, the latter advised him to restrict it to Bengal alone. Whereas Nana in Bombay had recommended its implementation throughout the regions coming under British rule by giving the guarantee that he and his group would see to it that nothing untoward would occur in Western India, which proved to be true.

One of the most significant milestones in the path of the growth of education was the establishment of the Elphinstone Fund, which culminated into the Elphinstone School, Elphinstone Institute, Elphinstone College and ultimately the University of Bombay. Young Jagannath Shankarshet was rather instrumental in initiating the idea of the Elphinstone Fund. In the words of Dr. M. Stovell : “In the commemoration of Mr. Elphinstone, and in the dedication to the cause of Education, through public professorship of the large pecuniary testimonial which was forthcoming on that occasion , he (Mr. Jagannath Shankarshet ) took a most active and advantageous part, and to the day of his death, he was one of the trustees of the Elphinstone Fund.” According to The Times of India , he was the Chairman of the Elphinstone Fund as well for a period of time. Sir D.E.Wacha , recounting the earlier days of the Elphinstone Institution states: “Mr. Juggonath Sunkersett was a member and a most active and indefatigable one of the Society’s Committee. He willingly leased an extensive plot on which the institution was built on a very well laid out plan.” According to him, from 1840 to 1855 the Board of Education did excellent work and on it was Mr. Juggonath Sunkersett, a most prominent gentleman. Though the powers of formulating the educational policy and overall supervision of the network of schools in the entire Presidency rested with the Director of Public Instruction since 1856, the Government always looked towards the intelligent and prodigious mind, i.e. Jagannath Shankarshet who had guided the Board of Education for 16 years, for his valuable advice at the crucial juncture.

Jagannath Shankarshet while carrying out his activities in the educational and other fields led a unique struggle in the country for the right of the Natives to be the Justices of Peace. Sir Richard Andrew Scoble, while paying his rich tributes to the memory of Nana at the Majesty’s Bench of Justices as Chairman had said: “His (of Jagannath Sunkersett ) first effort was to obtain for the native gentlemen in Bombay, admission to the Grand Jury. His labours to accomplish this object were long continued and strenuous and in 1835 they were crowned with success. In seeking this reform for the native gentry of Bombay, he asked not for personal advantage, but he sought to prove that they were fit to do the work of Grand Jurors.---he was one of the first Justices of Peace and when first appointed to take his turn at presiding at Petty Sessions, he discharged the duties of his office in a highly satisfactory manner. When the term of office expired, he was again nominated.”

Nana who had carried out this struggle for reform for nearly eight years was the first to sit in the Court of Petty Sessions. Bal Gangadhar Shastri Jambhekar in his The Bombay Durpun (11-4-1834) had expressed that it was “ a just measure which has conferred on them the proud distinction of being the first inhabitants of India invested with the new dignities.” Giving the first hand information of Nana presiding over the Sessions Court, he commented: “We had, accordingly the satisfaction yesterday, of seeing him ---the first native in that honourable station --- sitting in that court, and taking part in its business as one of its members.” In this connection, The Bombay Gazette(1-8-!865) had revealed one of the most significant aspects of his character thus: “The real secret of his influence was that he never abandoned his nationality. Though professing a warm attachment to the English, he always during a public career that lasted from 1820 to 1865 used every opportunity that offered itself to him to improve the political position and enlarge the privilege of his countrymen.” Since this was the first ever privilege bestowed on the Natives, Jagannath Shankarshet had turned out to be the first who sowed the seeds of municipality of Bombay, which later on metamorphosed into Bombay Municipal Corporation, one of the largest civic corporations in the world.

It will not be an exaggeration if Jagannath Shankarshet, the Orientalist is considered the greatest votary of Vernaculars in the country. When the serious controversy in the Board of Education on the subject of relative merits of the English and Vernacular languages as a medium of disseminating knowledge to the Natives of India took a very serious turn in 1847, it was Nana‘s separate dissenting Minute (1-5-1847) backed by Col. Jervis weighed in favour of the survival of the Vernaculars in the country. In it, he had observed:” If our object is to diffuse knowledge and improve the minds of the Natives of India as a people, it is my opinion that it must be done by imparting that knowledge to them in their own language. By what other channel we can ever hope to extend the advantages of education generally to our females ? I respect I am far from wishing to discourage the study of English but I believe it to be beyond the reach of the masses of people------- it seems to be hopeless that we can ever change the language of a whole country.”

Thus it can be discerned that Nana played a pivotal role in shaping the educational policy of the country for the young Natives. Justice Henry Newton had appropriately described his contribution in this respect: “ When the Board of Education was formed , he (Mr. Juggonath Sunkersett) was appointed one of its members and he remained in it while it continued, constantly taking a most active part in its business, and aiding it by his sound judgement and wise counsels.”

We have just observed in his Minute of Dissent of the year 1847 how Nana was keenly sensitive and eager about imparting education to the females. But he was the foremost promoter of female education in the Bombay Presidency, since 1831-32 much before anyone including Mahatma Jyotiba Phule exerted for the emancipation of females. Rev. Dr. John Wilson throws a spotlight on this aspect of Nana’s mind on 10th August 1865 when he revealed: “Long before the formation of the Student’s Literary and Scientific Society indeed upwards of thirty years ago, he (Nana Sankarsett) had given him (Dr. Wilson) a room for a female school on easy terms on the premises contiguous to his mansion. His own daughters he had taught to read and write their vernacular with fluency and accuracy.”

This bold gesture of Nana was exemplary and commendable specially when the Hindu society was totally hostile towards educating the girls. As revealed by G,N, Madgaonkar, there was a belief among the Hindus then that women should not be taught to read and write. Hence there was stiff opposition to Nana not only from his own community but also from the entire Hindu society. Even Parsis in general with exceptionally very few gentlemen were reluctant to send their female children to schools. Despite this unimaginable resistance on this score from the Hindu society, Nana never gave to despair and remained firm in his convictions. Dadabhai Naoroji corroborated this fact when he had stated: “When the Students’ Literary and Scientific Society opened their Girls’ schools under strong opposition from the mass of the community, Mr. Jagannath Sankarsett was one of the first who gave the Society a helping hand and cheered them on and one of these schools is entirely supported by him.” This reconstructed school of Nana still stands today in Girgaum with pride.

Even by mid-nineteenth century there was no facility of whatever type to impart education in the subject of law in Bombay or elsewhere in the country. It was Jagannath Shankarshet who visualized the establishment of the legal education at the meeting to give send-off to Justice Sir Erskine Perry. Nana himself had to shoulder the mantle of the Presidentship of the Committee of Management of the Perry Testimonial, which ran the law classes, and he strived hard to impart legal education to the Natives. The entire legal community in the country now and before is indebted to Nana for introducing the study of law for the benefit of the countrymen.

So was the case of the medical education in the Bombay Presidency. Dr. P.M. Joshi had commented that Nana was instrumental in the founding of the Grant Medical College and was responsible for promoting medical education in Marathi in his times. At the meeting to condole the untimely death of the Governor, Sir Robert Grant, Nana proposed the establishment of the medical college in his memory in order to educate the Natives in the field of medicine. He had also played a very crucial part in the foundation of the Bombay Native Dispensary and of Sir J.J.Hospital. To help the poor and middle class patients, he himself had opened Sunkersett Charitable Dispensary in memory of his illustrious father. Nearly 300 patients used to take benefit of free medical aid daily in this Dispensary at Tardeo.

The English rulers were wary about the trade and business in India and other ports and they were pursuing the same old crafty policy of discriminating and not giving too much credence to the India traders and businessmen. Hence the ship owners in Bombay in order to register their protest against such ill-treatment forwarded a memorandum to the H. M.’s Government in London in 1840. Nana Shankarshet was the first signatory to it. But such protests were ignored and nothing is known about any suitable action on this memorandum. Jagannath Shankarshet, intrepid fighter and reformer was very sensitive to such a type of injustice in any field. He always confronted the Government and the authorities for justness and fairness and did not mince words to unmask any type of indiscrimination. He was fully conscious of upgrading the communications with foreign countries. He had a strong desire also to widen the internal network of communications in the country itself with the help of steamships for the easier intercourse between the Native traders of different regions. In keeping with this view in mind , Jagannath Shankarshet , Dadabhoy Rustomjee and Jeejeebjoy Dadabhoy with collaboration of some British companies formed the Bombay Steam Navigation Company in September 1845 and it went into operation in 1848. This Company ran for 65 years continuously. It was the first navigation company on the Western coast of India. Its survival in the metamorphosed form for almost a century is one of the most glorious pages in the history of Indian navigation.

Nana was a lover of art and drama too. S.K.Patil, former Union Railway Minister had expressed: “Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet was the ‘Doyen of Pioneers’, a great nationalist and patriot who adorned whatever aspect of public life --- art , education, literature, drama ---- which he undertook it for the love of the countrymen.” It is not a matter of surprise that Nana was the founder of the first theatre for all the Natives in the country. In order to achieve this, he agreed to donate a portion of his property at Grant Road unconditionally for the construction of a new theatre. Later on in 1841, when he found the theatre in a lamentable condition under the Theatrical Committee, he himself purchased the building of the Theatre, which was known initially as Grant Road Theatre and later on earned the name and reputation as Badshahi Theatre. The foundation of Gujarati stage as well as that of Hindi stage was laid in this memorable Badshahi Theatre.

Today India boasts of one of the largest railway networks in the world, the governance of which equals any medium sized nation State. If we try to tap the source of this remarkable miracle of our country, we come across the names of the visionaries like Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet, Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy, Framji Cowasji, Cowasjee Maneckjee, J.P.Willoughby, Sir Erskine Perry, Sir Bartle Frere, R. Oliver, H.H.Glass and Lt. Col. P.M. Melvill. But among all of them Nana fills the topmost niche . This is clearly discernible from the speech of the Governor, Sir Henry Bartle Edward Frere on 21st April 1863 at the inaugural function at Khandala while declaring Bhor Ghat railway track open. He had expressed: “ …………After some months of private discussion, the undertaking was formally brought before the Government in a letter dated 13th July 1844 and signed by Sir Erskine Perry and seven other gentlemen among whom you will find the name of our respectable friend the Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet, then as now, foremost in anything connected with the improvement of Bombay; and another of your present Directors, Sir Jamsetji Jejeebhoy who has been connected with the undertaking from the beginning.” What other proof is needed for any authority to take cognizance of Nana’s initiative in establishing the railway in Bombay, which was first railway in the country and Asia’s first railway. When he noticed the poor response of the people to the railway, he allowed the Railway to open their office in his own premises at Girgaum.He was the first Native Director of the Railway Committee holding Gold Pass. The medallion bust of Nana fixed on the façade of the CST Railway Station itself reflects the immense gratitude shown by the Indian Railway after his death for his unique and unrivalled contribution to it. His name was indeed the most deserving one for renaming the old V.T. Station with all due respect and veneration to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj !

Nana was very much connected with the Royal Asiatic Society, Bombay branch. He was its Fourth Residential Member. But prior to it, he was already the Member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, London. Nana though was not a scholar, he had tremendous command over English language, was well read and he used to take active part in the discussions and deliberations of the Society. His love for Natural History had prompted him to donate Rs. 5000/- to the Society to arrange the collection of books on the subject.

Nana’s love for Sanskrit was extraordinary. He held the firm views on its retention and was proud of its ancient and traditional heritage and importance. The visionary words of his, “But for the sake of nationality which still lingers in the breasts of Hindus , I humbly advocate the continuation of Sanskrit” reflect his mind and hence ultimately he turned out to be the saviour of Sanskrit in the country. In Bengal while Raja Ram Mohan Roy was resolute in his convictions and though he had a great respect for the Oriental learning, he strongly believed that the education if imparted solely on Oriental pattern would pose dangers in the future. Hence he strongly advocated the English system for education, which he could not see implemented during his lifetime. The Sanskrit College at Poona headed by Major Candy had helped the cultivation and preservation of Sanskrit language. When the Government tried to close it down, Nana gave relentless fight for it. . Later on, in order to give a boost to the language, he had expressed the wish prior to his death to the University of Bombay to endow a sum of Rs. 30000/- for granting scholarships to the meritorious Sanskrit scholars at the matriculation level. These scholarships, first in the University, still continue till date, thereby proving the forecast made by the Guardian in London that “Sanskrit will live long enough; it has, we suspect a better likelihood to longevity than British sway in India.” After Independence, the people started realizing the importance of Sanskrit. Some wise leaders like Dr.Kailasnath Katju, Loknayak Ane, Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyyar, Dr. K.M.Munshi were proposing it as a national language.

Nana gave a prolonged fight for secular education to the Natives . For the children of the poor and downtrodden in his vicinity he on his own opened a school – Jagannath Sunkersett School in Girgaum.To help the wayward boy , he rendered continuous help to establish the reformatory institute which was known later on as David Sassoon Industrial and Reformatory Institution. Similarly, he along with Sir Jamsetji Jeejeeebhoy (First Baronet) was instrumental in giving birth to the School of Art in Bombay in 1857 which is known today as Sir J.J.School of Art .It has played the most significant role in the history of the art world producing the galaxy of artists and painters of repute in the world. It is the most renowned institute of art in entire Asia. Both Nana and Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy had contributed much to the World Exhibition held at the crystal Palace in London in 1851 as the members of the Central Committee in the Presidency to select the objects of art for it. This Exhibition had created a lot of euphoria in London and Bombay too. Both of them were very eager to start a school of art in Bombay for the sons of the artisan classes, which had migrated to Bombay for living since long. Sir Jamsetji Jeejeebhoy had even expressed the wish to donate a substantial amount for it. Nana encouraged him and considering his advanced age, himself pursued not only the plan but also contributed much in its curriculum and management with great concern and ardour. In 1855, Nana had exerted much for the Paris Exhibition too. Likewise, he had helped the Government to set up in Bombay the Central Government Museum.

Nana was a pioneer in banking in India .He had been the founding Director of seven major banks, which had a large networks. One noteworthy aspect of his contribution in this field, is that the Oriental Bank of which he was the prominent founder had issued the currency notes for the first time in the country.

Jagannth Shankarshet had the lion’s share in the growth of the Bombay Municipal corporation. This ‘Uncrowned King of Bombay’ was in the civic affairs for about 35 years since early 1830s and had played a pivotal part in passing the Bombay Municipal Act in the Legislative Council. Sir D.E.Wacha had described him as the most prominent and progressive legislator, which can be made out from his well studied speeches in the Legislative Council, which reflect erudition. His work for the retention of Sonapur crematorium at the existing place, shaping up of the Municipality over the decades, modernization of the City, arrangement of the supply of water from the Vihar Lake is so vast that the Bombay Municipal Corporation is so much indebted to him that his name is nobly united with it forever.

The development of Victoria Gardens and Museum was strongly tied up with the Agri-Horticultural Society of Western India. Rather the former owes its existence to the latter without which it would have been difficult for the Victoria Gardens and Museum to come up sooner than expected. In this transformation, Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet had to play a crucial role as the Chairman of both the organizations. Even the historic meeting to found the Victoria Gardens and Museum was presided over by him at the Town Hall on 15th December 1858. And Nana guided the destiny of it till end with great sagacity and progressive approach. Today, this Museum is named after Dr. Bhau Daji Lad who was the Secretary of the Committee headed by Nana.

Nana was one of the first native Members of the Governor’s Legislative Council, which was formed in 1862. His influence on the administration was such that his advice was consistently and continuously taken by the successive Governors from the time of Mount Stuart Elphinstone(1815-1827). Whenever any Governor would return home, among the suggestions he would make to his successor, one would be to seek the advice and opinion of Jagannath Shankarshet in the complicated issues. His speeches were taken very seriously by the Government. It will not be an exaggeration that he was comparatively the premier parliamentarian in the country. In the words of the Governor , Sir Bartle Frere , “………And such discriminating criticism contained in the remarks of the Honorable Jagannath Sunkersett would be considered most useful by the Council of the Governor-General, and as such a question would be received with attention and respect as expressing the views of those who practically knew the wants of commercial metropolis of Western India.” This proves that his views and opinions were respected by the Central Government in Bengal in view of his rich background in public life in the country. His speeches in the Legislative Council reflected the condition of the people, knowledge of legal intricacies, in-depth thinking, unusual persuasive skill, undaunted conduct with which he disarmed the criticism of the opponents in his usual poise, vigour and intelligence. The role and contribution of Nana in the Legislative Council is so memorable that the Mumbaikars owe him debt, which cannot be repaid even by the future generations.

Because of this enviable position in the entire Bombay Presidency, the Princes in Western India and Central Provinces looked towards him for advice. While in Bombay, Nana would unfailingly be their host. His socio-religious deeds are too many to be recounted. He had associated himself with 85 institutions in Bombay as a founder, director, chairman, advisor or trustee. He was loved by the countrymen so much that they had voted a statue for him during his lifetime, a rare gesture during one’s lifetime. Hon’ble A.R. Scoble had aptly spoken about him thus; “For I might say without exaggeration that the life of Mr. Jagannath Sunkarsett was a history of native advancement in Bombay.”

To take an overview, the unique and enviable role of Nana hailed as the ‘Pioneer of Pioneers’ is rightly described by Rao Bahaddur D.G.Padhey. He had written that “he lived in those critical times of an interregnum type, when the Mogal and the Maratha empires had been broken to piece, and British power, rising triumphant alike over European and Asiatic rivals , was steadily consolidating itself. The East had to be welded with the West. Both Government and people required help and guidance . Times of this kind require men of clear vision and sharp insight, and also the social and political influence, which high aims and character, more than riches and business capacity, can alone secure. The late Jagannath Shankarshet had all these in high measure and we cannot admire too much how he more than initiated and nurtured those movements, programmes and policies, on which modern India is progressing. A friend of Government, he was yet a patron of the poor and the oppressed, even a champion of Civic Rights, and what is to be noted most a religious man and yet a social reformer and a full-blooded economist.”

Nana’s initiative for constitutionalism in the country and the enlightenment of the countrymen by all means speaks volumes of his majestic personality. Prof. K.R. Potdar, a well-known intellectual of 1930s had stated: “……the activities of Jagannath Shankarshet were infused with the very spirit of True Nationalism…..It would appear that philanthropy in its most liberal sense was the very soul of the life work of the late Jagannath Shankarshet, and his life , if properly studied would provide an ideal example of public spirited activity. Interest of a limited group or a community—even his own--- did not find a place in his magnanimous heart, which was occupied with the thought of happiness of his countrymen in general. This aspect of the late Nana’s character deserves keen attention of all persons interested in public activities and intend on doing away with the evil of communalism as this life provides a lesson which speaks for itself.”

Gadadhar Vedak in his small biography of Nana in English had commented; : “The greatest service one can render to humanity is to give relief to the poor, the needy and the afflicted. And in this sense, Mr. Jagannath Shankarshet was one of the greatest philanthropists India has ever produced. He had stated further : “ Indeed it is also a matter of great credit to him that he was the originator of many other organized forms of legitimate public activities in the Bombay Presidency. Among such organized bodies, the Bombay Association was the first and the foremost ….. It gave expression to Indian opinion and thought . There was hardly any political institution, which did not take the Bombay Association as its model and looked to it for inspiration. It was, therefore practically the ancestor of the present Indian National Congress. The Association had to its credit many praiseworthy achievements such as calling the first session of the Indian National Congress.,….His(Nana’s )services to his motherland were so vast and of such a diverse character that the illustrious memory of the departed , whose influence moulded the past and served as a beacon -light to the next generations, will ever remain fresh and green in the mind of every son of India.”

It is a matter of great surprise that more than hundred years before we attained freedom, way back in 1849, Nana was using the language of independence of the country. In his another dissenting Minute in the meeting of the Board of Education he had expressed:” I am not so ignorant of the rapid strides which have been made in knowledge by the inhabitants of the West as not to fully understand that as a country which has for centuries lost its independence, and had been debarred by political circumstances from making those advances in Science and the mode of attaining it which a free and independent nation professes , must be at this day far behind in the race of intellect…….”

After the demise of Nana, the Bombay Gazette had commented that he rose to an exalted position for he had not left his “self”. The remarks of M.R.Palande on Nana’s role in seeking political reforms are worth quoting here. He had expressed : “The fact that as early as in 1853 an elaborate petition embodying suggestions about political reforms for the country should have been submitted to the British Parliament by an Association specially formed by responsible and respectable citizens of Bombay for the purpose of giving organized expression to public opinion on matters of national interest and importance testifies to the high degree of political consciousness developed by the intelligence of those in Western India.”

While Governor Sir Bartle Frere considered Jagannth Shankarshet as “ one of the earliest, ablest and most consistent promoters of native education in the Presidency,” Dhananjay Keer remarked that Nana’s position as the earliest social reformer, full-blooded educationist and the earliest Native Votary of Education thus: ;”These were the leaders of new thought (Bal Shastri Jambhekar, Bhau Daji, Dadoba Pandurang ). But all of them were helped forward in one way or other by the protecting hand of Nana Shankarshet(1803-1865) who was one of India’s eminent men of his time. He was a leading business magnate. His liberalism, his personal magnanimity and his noble patriotism actively supported various educational, social and cultural activities in Bombay.”

Acharya P.K.Atre is more explicit on the evaluation of the character of the personage. He had remarked : “Indeed the name of Nana Shankarshet should be included undoubtedly in the list of those foremost who founded modern India. And today’s Bombay owes its origin to him. His real monuments are scattered everywhere --- from Grant Medical College to Elphinstone College and from Victoria Gardens to Sonapur. It is sad that Maharashtra is not well acquainted with Nana’s greatness, as it ought to have been. Every Maharashtrian should try to know how much indebted he is to Nana. The claim made by those that Bombay’s growth is attributed to non-Maharashtrians, Nana’s very life is the best answer to them. That is the reason why Nana’s Death Anniversary should be observed with devoutness in entire Maharashtra.Nana was indeed “Uncrowned King of Bombay.”

Jagannath Shankarshet did not share the views on ‘Divine Dispensation’ or ‘Divine Providence’. According to Prof. J.V.Naik, the phrase was first propounded by Raja Ram Mohan Roy in his ‘Appeal to the King in Council against Adam’s Press Regulations’ and followed by the leaders of Bombay like Dr. Bhau Daji, Justice M.G.Ranade who used it very often, and Raosaheb Vishvanath Narayan Mandlik. Nana on the contrary, was more interested in the constitutional rights for which he had been fighting against the Government since 1820s,be it the struggle for the inclusion of the Natives in the Petty Jury, Grand Jury, Petty Sessions, in the list of the Justices of Peace or the foundation of the Bombay Association to seek such rights. In this aspect, he has been aptly described by Tarktirth Laxmanshastri Joshi thus: “Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet was indeed the ideal of the highest natural disposition in the entire country. With services rendered by him, the foundation stone of the Social Revolution in India had been laid. He was the first leader of the Constitutional Revolution in the country. On account of his noble motive, the country obtained freedom. It is he who initiated the progress of Modern Science in India except the present technology and computers.”

Prof. J.V.Naik opined that Nana’s activities were not restricted to the promotion of education alone.. “As the foremost leader of the Urbs Prima in Indis , he endeavoured to modernize Bombay and contributed to almost all notable public institutions , that came into existence in his time. Citing that 30 years’ period from 1822 to 1857 was the seed period of Bombay’s intellectual renaissance, almost ‘all the pioneering educational , social and political institutions which contributed in making Bombay an urban centre of enlightenment and learning were established during this period..’ Significantly , this was the part of the Age of Jagannath Shankarshet, when he was the supreme leader of the Natives.

It appears that the British officialdom never forgave Nana for founding the Bombay Association and its petitions to Parliament . They seriously tried to implicate him in the Revolt of 1857 and later by creating the false Hundi of Rs. 50000/- in his name , the sinister plot of which failed miserably. If we imagine about the days of 1850s only the leader like Jagannath Shankarshet with the band of his young colleagues could summon up courage to found a political outfit, which created a lot of heart burning for the British. The action, first of its kind in British India, was the beginning of the political fight for the constitutional rights, which proved to be the beginning of the movement leading ultimately to the freedom struggle of India. Therefore, Nana’s contribution in this particular aspect was pioneering in the entire country. According to G.B.Sirdar, “The credit for the foundation of Indian politics should go to this(Bombay) Association . It was of great significance that the leaders of all castes and creed had come together in this organization.”

Prof. Gangadhar Gadgil is more explicit in his assessment of Nana Shankarshet. According to him, the most important thing is that “in modern India, Jagannath Shankarshet laid the foundation of the tradition of selfless social service…This was possible because being a devout Hindu, Nana had equal love and respect for all the communities, the Christians, Parsis and the Muslims.”

Barrister M.R.Jayakar throws a spotlight on Nana’s exemplary contribution in that period. He had stated : “The first public-spirited citizen who came to rescue of this work(activity of Students’ Literary and Scientific Society) was the (Hon’ble Mr.) Jagannath Shankarseth(properly called Nana Shankarseth) for many years a member of the Board of Education. The history of the progressive movement of that age shows that he was zealous pioneer of nearly every effort to spread knowledge and enlightenment among his countrymen….In addition to his educational activities…Jagannath Shankarseth held advanced views in social matters also and had derived many of his notions from British conceptions of dignity and culture. Further, while eulogizing the role and the impact of the Bombay Association, Jayakar had emphasized: “In the clamant din of the rival claims of cities and provinces, it is well to remember this almost forgotten landmark in the history of the freedom movement started in Bombay for the benefit of the entire Province. In fact, the foundations of an organized political movement in the Bombay province were well and truly laid in Bombay”. Elaborating further on this issue, he clarified: “There is a mistaken belief in some quarters that political agitation in India took its rise from the activities of Poona leaders. This belief has gained currency. A recent attempt to prove the error of this view and to place before the public the early political services of these two (Nana Shankarseth and Dr.Bhau Daji) and to her Bombay leaders many of whom were Parsees, is to be found in recent publication by a Poona scholar, J.J.Jambhekar of the record of the life of Bal Shastri Jambhekar, one of the pioneer social and political reformers of Bombay. In that book, the author has collected abundant facts showing how the beginning of the organized political work in Western India was undertaken not by the leaders of Poona but by the leading men of Bombay more than a century ago, when Poona had scarcely awakened to the need of the organized political agitation..…Bombay had come to acquire in those days the reputation of being the first city of political importance in Western India.”

It must be remembered that Nana was born a quarter century before Lokhitwadi Gopal Hari Dekhmukh(18-2-1823) and Jyotiba Phule (1827). Nana’s field of work was basically wider. His centre of action was Bombay, the Gateway of India that was the most important commercial centre in the country. During that time, to develop Bombay itself was equivalent to nation-building which work including promotion of female education Nana carried out from the time when both these reformers in social work of the later times were not even born. It was Nana who inspired the generation beginning from Bal Gangadhar Shastri Jambhekar, Nowrojee Furdoonjee, Bhau Daji, Dadoba Pandurang, Mahadeo Govind Ranade and others. Acharya P.K.Atre too emphasized this by stating that in his opinion during British regime, all credit should go to Nana alone for creating the generation of intellectuals. As commented by Prof. M.P. Mangudkar , “Nana had created an Age by his self-capability. Taking into consideration the sphere of social and political fields, Nana Shankarshet strived hard for the welfare of the people as well as for the nation-building…….. the seeds of political and social reforms were sown during the Age of Nana.” Prof. Mangudkar stressed that in the history of Maharashtra, the period up to 1865 should be called Jagannath Shankarshet Age and should be duly acknowledged in the history of Maharashtra.

In fact, right from the time of occupation of India by the British till India’s independence in 1947, only four historic figures could claim their periods of careers as Ages. Raja Ram Mohan Roy(1811-1833), Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet (1821-1865), Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak(1889-1920) and Mahatma Gandhi(1920-1948) were their only claimants. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was the Founder of Universal Religion, Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet was the Father of Indian Constitutionalism and Indian Liberalism, Lokmanya Tilak was the Father of Indian Nationalism and Mahatma Gandhi , Father of India’s Independence.

The misjudgement of even Lokmanya Tilak with respect to the state of India in the 19th century has been rightly corrected by Prof. Gangadhar Gadgil thus: “When this country was lying motionless and cool , the credit for providing it warmth and setting it in motion was given to (Justice) Madhav Rao Ranade by Lokmanya Tilak. With due acknowledgement of the greatness of Ranade, one feels to state that this work had been done by Nana (Shankarshet) much before Ranade.”

Considering the times when orthodoxy was at its height it is noteworthy that Nana advocated that’ ‘untouchables’ of the time too should be imparted education like the females. He opined that they too deserved to have right to acquire education sitting with other pupils. He got it duly endorsed by the Board of Education. As result, the orthodox section of the Hindus in Bombay resorted to an outcry of “Religion has gone to dogs in Bombay.” But Nana did not budge. It must be noted that because of full backing to this move in the Board of Education, in the period around 1842 in the district of Ahmednagar, the student population of ‘untouchables ‘ of those days was to the tune of 1200. And this miracle was happening when Mahatma Jyotiba Phule was in his teens and 100 years before Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had initiated steps in this regard in Maharashtra.

The capability of Nana Shankarshet who aimed at the revolution in social, political, religious, educational, cultural, industrial, and all other fields and who wanted to mould the Native man as a lover of freedom and build up one’s own nation, who was the votary of mother tongue and motherland was that of the foremost pioneer.

Prof. Y.D.Phadke supplements this assertion forcefully thus:” Today we see several social, political and economic developments in the country. Likewise intellectual movements are seen there . Bombay is the Gangotri ( source of River Ganga ).In this Bombay alone the seeds of varied developments and progress were sown first in the 19th century. Resultantly, Bombay City has attained a distinct importance for itself., Nana Shankarshet had the major share in several of these reforms.”

Mr. Hormusji Dadabhoy, Nana’s contemporary and a highly respected intellectual of Bombay had described Nana more clearly thus: “The man , Sir, I did say man – yes, for I consider that name as the highest prerogative of every individual of the human race, the man, who rose superior to the prejudices of his country at a time of great and general ignorance, who evoked public spirit among his countrymen, when public spirit was a thing unknown and unintelligible, the man, Sir who educated the conscience and intellect of his country by all the means in his power regardless of self, the man that has headed every public movement, who infused wise counsels into the Government of his country and who has perhaps done more than any other individual to mitigate the evils inseparable from the domination of race over race.”

Mrs. S.D. Collet, scholar of Raja Ram Mohan Roy’s works had stated: “Raja Ram stands in history as the living bridge over which India marches from her unmeasured past to her incalculable future. He was the arch, which spanned the gulf that yawned……between superstition and science, between despotism and democracy, between a bewildering polytheism and a pure if vague Theism…… The Raja was no merely occidentalized Oriental, no Hindu polished into the doubtful semblance of a European --- we shall find that he leads the way… towards a civilization which is neither western nor eastern but something vastly larger and nobler than both.”

Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet being the only leader of utmost reckoning in all the four Presidencies, he was the guiding spirit of the civilization, which Miss Collet had described. It was the civilization born out of resurgence of India in which Hon’ble Jagannath Shankarshet had a lion’s share . He was the Prophet of Resurgence of India, who was marching ahead after crossing the bridge held by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, on the highway to all round progress of the country.

Source: Hon. Jagannath Shankarshet –Prophet of India’s Resurgence And Maker of Modern Bombay , Vols.I-III by Dr.P.P.Shirodkar.

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About the Author…

Dr. Prakashchandra Pandurang Shirodkar (68) hails from the illustrious family of Goa. Eldest son of the late Shri. Pandurang P. Shirodkar, one of the most prominent freedom fighters of Goa and the first Speaker of the Goa, Daman and Diu Legislative Assembly, he had his doctorate in Political Science from the University of Bombay. At 21, he joined the field of journalism in 1962 and wrote an extensive column on Foreign Affairs in Sunday Maratha (Marathi) of the late Acharya P. K. Atre. He joined the Free Press Journal, Mumbai in 1967 and was its Chief Sub-Editor in 1976 when he left it to join the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Goa where he was appointed as its Director in 1980, the post which he held for about two decades. He was also the Executive Editor of the Goa Gazetteer Department for about 20 years. Since 1962, his entire life has been devoted to research. Author of several books and numerous research articles, he has put a focus on the panorama of the Portuguese colonial history from Brazil to Africa to South East Asia. A prolific writer and research scholar, some of his books namely 'Researches in Indo-Portuguese History (2 Vols.), 'Goa's Struggle for Freedom', 'Kolhapur-Portuguese Sambandh' and 'Portuguese Palaeography' are well-known as authoritative works. He has been on the Executive Committee of the International Seminar on Indo-Portuguese History, Lisbon for two terms. He has contributed several research papers to the international and national seminars and edited several books. He had been specifically invited as representative of Asia to contribute on India and Brazil through the Ages to the Fifth Centenary Commemoration Volume on the Discovery of Brazil by the Universidade Metodista de Piracicaba, Brazil. He is considered as one of the few experts in the field of Portuguese Palaeography. He has been the Founder Editor of Colloquium, a research journal of the Goa Institute for Historical and Cultural Research as well as Purabhilekh-Puratatva, a research journal of the Directorate of Archives, Archaeology and Museum, Goa (1986-1999). He was instrumental in the discoveries of the largest Megalithic Mother Goddess in the country, the 5-km long port wall of Kadambas, Mesolithic period rock art carvings of Usgalimal and Kajur and numerous Megaliths of Goa. He has contributed much to Goan history, archaeology, art, history, numismatics, etymology and anthropology. He had been associated with the Goa University right from its inception and besides having been the Guide in History, he was on its various academic bodies including the Academic Council for over two decades.. He has been associated with several academic and research institutions in the country and abroad. The present work is the magnum opus, which can be considered as the most glorious chapter in his 46-year research life.
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For Contact: Email: ppshirodkar@rediffmail.com Mob: 09823769410 Ph(s): (0832) 6524346 / 2415850