Personal Blogs
A must-read for anyone who has lived in Pune or its surroundings.
A must-read for anyone who has lived in Pune or its surroundings.
Looking Back is the autobiography of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, the man after whom Karvenagar is named. It is a short, plain and honest account of a life spent building things for others.
Discover Pune’s history: Understand the roots of SNDT, Fergusson College and institutions around Karvenagar, Sinhagad Road and Hingane Budruk. Many of us pass these names every day without knowing the story behind them.
An ordinary man, extraordinary achievements: Karve wasn’t a Nobel laureate or an exceptional genius. His grit and perseverance helped him achieve what seemed impossible.
Social reform through action: Widow rehabilitation, widow remarriage, girls’ education and the Nishkama Karma Math. He married a widow himself when doing so meant being cast out by his own community.
Building institutions: He didn’t just talk about change. He built institutions that continue to serve society.
Governance that outlives the founder: He handed control to life members, a Senate and a Syndicate rather than keeping it himself. That is why his institutions still thrive a century later.
A Satyashodhak spirit: Question social conventions. Seek truth. Turn conviction into action.
Remarkable omissions: Despite covering the period from 1892 to 1930, the book makes no reference to the freedom struggle. Religious references are also absent, apart from his own atheism.
A timeless lesson: You don’t need extraordinary talent or resources to change society. Grit, perseverance and a clear purpose can take you a long way.
Read it to understand Karve. Read it to understand Pune. Read it to discover what one determined individual can accomplish.