https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Phondushastri_KarandePhondushastri Karande - Revision history2026-11-02T19:30:04ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phondushastri_Karande&diff=525402&oldid=prevCaitlinBecker07: new some details v12026-05-03T19:49:51Z<p>new some details v1</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{refimprove|date=April 2026}}<br />
{{Short description|Reformist writer (1864–1946)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2026}}<br />
{{Infobox writer<br />
| name = Phondushastri Karande<br />
| birth_name = Ramchandra Vaman Karande<br />
| birth_date = 1864<br />
| birth_place = [[Marcel, Goa|Marcel]], [[Portuguese Goa]]<br />
| death_date = {{death year and age|1946|1864}}<br />
| death_place = Marcel, Portuguese Goa<br />
}}<br />
'''Ramchandra Vaman "Phondushastri" Karande''' (1864–1946) was a reformist writer and a litterateur.<br />
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==Early life==<br />
Ramchandra Vaman Karande was born in 1864 in [[Marcel, Goa|Marcel]], [[Portuguese Goa]]. He was introduced to Vedic studies and medicine through his family tradition and eventually became an expert in these fields. He conducted deep studies into astrology, the technical aspects of religious rituals, and various scriptures ([[Dharmashastras]]). Since he was an expert in [[Sanskrit]], literature, rituals, [[Ayurveda]], and astrology, he earned the title of ''Shastri''.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999">{{cite wikisource |editor-first1=Tanaji |editor-last1=Halarnkar |editor-link1=Tanaji Halarnkar |first=Ramesh Sakharam |last=Barve |others= |title=Konkani Vishwakosh |trans-title=Konkani Encyclopaedia |wslink=Page:Konkani Viswakosh Vol1.pdf/375 |type= |edition= |series= |page=375 |volume=1 |year=1999 |publisher=[[Goa University]] |location=Goa |language=gom |wslanguage=gom }}</ref><br />
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==Early work==<br />
Most of Karande's writing was published in periodicals. Around 1894, he began writing on social issues for the Panjim-based weekly magazine ''Hitachintak''. He wrote under the pen name ''Dwiref''. He chose this name because his own name, Ramchandra, contains two 'R's (in Devanagari script, the letter 'Ra' is sometimes referred to as 'Reph'). Since the word Dwiref literally means a bumblebee (which has two 'R's in its Sanskrit name), he titled his collection of writings ''Gunjarav'' (''The Humming of a Bee''). He wrote under this name for forty years.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><ref name="MishraPressHistory04">{{Cite book |last=Mishra |first=Rekha |date=January 2004 |title=History of the Press in Goa |url=https://irgu.unigoa.ac.in/drs/bitstream/handle/unigoa/3905/mishra_r_2004.pdf |publisher=Goa University |pages=158–160}}</ref><br />
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==''Satsang''==<br />
While he contributed to many important Goan periodicals, his most significant literary contribution was through the magazine ''Satsang''. In 1901, when Shrinivas Lakhu Bhandare established a printing press in [[Cumbarjua]], Karande conceptualized starting a periodical from there.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /> With support from Bhandare, [[Dada Vaidya]] and Ramchandra Waman Naik, Satsang was launched under Karande's editorship, where he wrote extensively. Karande's work was then compared to that of [[Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar]].<ref name="MishraPressHistory04" /> ''Satsang'' was published in [[Marathi language]] and focused on the lives of different [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]]s.<ref name="ParoboBahujan22">{{Cite book |last=Parobo |first=Parag D. |title=Construction of the Bahujan Samaj: Consciousness, Contestations and Assertions from the nineteenth century to post–Liberation Goa |url=https://irgu.unigoa.ac.in/drs/bitstream/handle/unigoa/6947/parobo_p_d_2022.pdf |date=June 2022 |publisher=Goa University |pages=88, 263}}</ref><br />
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==Social reform and ideology==<br />
Later, in Satsang, he began writing poetry under the pseudonym ''Toch Mee'' (It's me), though his prose was considered far superior to his poetry. He is often recognized as the first "stylist" writer in Marathi literature.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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In 1908, Karande spoke at a public meeting at [[Mhamai Kamat House]] in Panaji. The result of this meeting was the founding of the [[Mushtifund Saunstha]] in Panaji for the education of the underprivileged.<ref name="ParoboBahujan22" /><br />
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In 1928, Karande established the Gomantak Sahitya Seva Mandal, for inclusion of Konkani words, phrases and proverbs in the Maharashtra–Shabdakosh.<ref name="ParoboBahujan22" /><br />
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Although he covered a wide range of subjects, his primary focus was the spread of education, a topic he wrote about with great passion. His writings often reflected his grief over India's lack of independence. His style was characterized by irony and satire, used to critique social ills, and subtle humour, making his reformist ideas more accessible.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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Despite having a traditional education, he was a staunch reformist. He was a vocal advocate for women's education and held progressive views against the caste system, child marriage, and the prohibition of foreign travel (Paradeshgaman).<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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His only published book is titled ''Kaivalyapur Mathacha Itihas'' (''History of the Kaivalyapur Monastery'').<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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==Death==<br />
Karande died in 1946 in Marcel.<ref name="Vishwakosh1999" /><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Karande, Phondushastri}}<br />
[[Category:1864 births]]<br />
[[Category:1946 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Goa]]<br />
[[Category:People from Portuguese India]]</div>CaitlinBecker07