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'''Prabhakar Shankar Joshi''' (c. 1925<ref name="saha">{{cite journal |last1=Saha |first1=Dr. Priyanka |title=भीमायनम् काव्यगुणेन सत्याग्रहान्दोलनस्य एकमालेख्यम् |journal=ShodhSamhita |date=December 2024 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=90-100 |url=https://kksushodhasamhita.org/index.php/sdsa/article/download/1621/110/2088 |trans-title=Bhimayana – A sketch of the Satyagraha movement in poetic account |issn=2277-7067 |url-status=live}}</ref> – 2013) was an Indian [[Vedic]] scholar, [[Sanskrit]] teacher, and author from [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vedic-scholar-pens-ambedkars-biography-in-sanskrit-423378 |website=NDTV |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010}}</ref> He is best known for composing ''Bhimayanam'' (2010), the first-ever biography of the Indian social reformer and polymath [[B. R. Ambedkar]] in Sanskrit.<ref name="barefix1">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Ambedkarrsquos-first-biography-in-Sanskrit/article16192030.ece |title=Ambedkar&rsquo;s first biography in Sanskrit |date=10 July 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=3 November 2026}}</ref><ref name="toi">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/pune/Vedic-scholar-pens-Ambedkars-biography-in-Sanskrit/articleshow/6152452.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010}}</ref> For his contributions to Sanskrit literature, Joshi was awarded the Mahakavi Kalidas Award by the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="ndtv"/>
'''Prabhakar Shankar Joshi''' (c. 1925<ref name="saha">{{cite journal |last1=Saha |first1=Dr. Priyanka |title=भीमायनम् काव्यगुणेन सत्याग्रहान्दोलनस्य एकमालेख्यम् |journal=ShodhSamhita |date=December 2024 |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=90-100 |url=https://kksushodhasamhita.org/index.php/sdsa/article/download/1621/110/2088 |trans-title=Bhimayana – A sketch of the Satyagraha movement in poetic account |issn=2277-7067 |url-status=live}}</ref> – 2013) was an Indian [[Vedic]] scholar, [[Sanskrit]] teacher, and author from [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]].<ref name="ndtv">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vedic-scholar-pens-ambedkars-biography-in-sanskrit-423378 |website=NDTV |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915044351/http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/vedic-scholar-pens-ambedkars-biography-in-sanskrit-423378 |archive-date=2015-09-15 |url-status=live }}</ref> He is best known for composing ''Bhimayanam'' (2010), the first-ever biography of the Indian social reformer and polymath [[B. R. Ambedkar]] in Sanskrit.<ref name="barefix1">{{cite news |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Ambedkarrsquos-first-biography-in-Sanskrit/article16192030.ece |title=Ambedkar&rsquo;s first biography in Sanskrit |date=10 July 2010 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=3 November 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210505111410/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/Ambedkarrsquos-first-biography-in-Sanskrit/article16192030.ece |archive-date=2021-05-05 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="toi">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/pune/Vedic-scholar-pens-Ambedkars-biography-in-Sanskrit/articleshow/6152452.cms |website=The Times of India |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010}}</ref> For his contributions to Sanskrit literature, Joshi was awarded the Mahakavi Kalidas Award by the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="ndtv"/>


== Early life and career ==
== Early life and career ==
Joshi was born on 16 January 1925 in [[Pune]], [[India]]. His father's name was Shankar Joshi. His early education was completed in Pune.<ref name="saha" />
Joshi was born on 16 January 1925 in [[Pune]], [[India]]. His father's name was Shankar Joshi. His early education was completed in Pune.<ref name="saha" />


Joshi spent much of his career as a Sanskrit teacher at [[Fergusson College]] in Pune. He also served as a research guide for doctoral students pursuing their PhDs in Sanskrit at [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|Pune University]].<ref name="ndtv"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Halder |first1=Biswajit |title=Resplendent Sanskrit literature: Timeless echoes in the modern era |journal=International Journal of Sanskrit Research 2017; |date=2017 |volume=3 |issue=3 |page=434 |url=https://www.anantaajournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/9-4-38-654.pdf |publisher=International Journal of Sanskrit Research |issn=2394-7519}}</ref>  
Joshi spent much of his career as a Sanskrit teacher at [[Fergusson College]] in Pune. He also served as a research guide for doctoral students pursuing their PhDs in Sanskrit at [[Savitribai Phule Pune University|Pune University]].<ref name="ndtv"/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Halder |first1=Biswajit |title=Resplendent Sanskrit literature: Timeless echoes in the modern era |journal=International Journal of Sanskrit Research 2017; |date=2017 |volume=3 |issue=3 |page=434 |url=https://www.anantaajournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/9-4-38-654.pdf |publisher=International Journal of Sanskrit Research |issn=2394-7519|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806011152/https://www.anantaajournal.com/archives/2017/vol3issue3/PartG/9-4-38-654.pdf |archive-date=2024-08-06 |url-status=live }}</ref>  


== ''Bhimayanam'' ==
== ''Bhimayanam'' ==
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Joshi began working on the biography in 2004. During the writing process, he suffered from progressive [[glaucoma]], which eventually caused him to lose his eyesight completely.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Giridhar |title=ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲೂ ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ |url=https://kannada.webdunia.com/news-in-kannada/%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B8%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%83%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%A6%E0%B2%B2%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B2%E0%B3%82-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%81%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%A6%E0%B3%86-%E0%B2%85%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%AC%E0%B3%87%E0%B2%A1%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8D-%E0%B2%9C%E0%B3%80%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%A8-%E0%B2%9A%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%86-110071000032_1.htm |website=Webdunia |access-date=3 November 2026 |language=kn |date=10 July 2010 |trans-title=Ambedkar's biography is also being released in Sanskrit.}}</ref><ref name="barefix1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vedic-scholar-pens-ambedkar-s-first-biography-in-sanskrit/story-EP0Ksva9Q5APobx3WclnjP.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="ndtv"/> Despite his visual impairment, Joshi continued his work. He adopted a unique method: he would first summarize the important milestones of Ambedkar's life, record them on an audio cassette, and then listen to the tapes repeatedly to compose the next verses in his mind. As he lost his vision, he would write down words in the middle of the night, sometimes overlapping words or writing with dried ink. His wife assisted him by reading the handwritten lines and making them legible for the final manuscript.<ref name="ndtv"/>
Joshi began working on the biography in 2004. During the writing process, he suffered from progressive [[glaucoma]], which eventually caused him to lose his eyesight completely.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Giridhar |title=ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲೂ ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ |url=https://kannada.webdunia.com/news-in-kannada/%E0%B2%B8%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%B8%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%95%E0%B3%83%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%A6%E0%B2%B2%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B2%E0%B3%82-%E0%B2%AC%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%81%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%A4%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%A6%E0%B3%86-%E0%B2%85%E0%B2%82%E0%B2%AC%E0%B3%87%E0%B2%A1%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%95%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%8D-%E0%B2%9C%E0%B3%80%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%A8-%E0%B2%9A%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%A4%E0%B3%8D%E0%B2%B0%E0%B3%86-110071000032_1.htm |website=Webdunia |access-date=3 November 2026 |language=kn |date=10 July 2010 |trans-title=Ambedkar's biography is also being released in Sanskrit.}}</ref><ref name="barefix1" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/vedic-scholar-pens-ambedkar-s-first-biography-in-sanskrit/story-EP0Ksva9Q5APobx3WclnjP.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=10 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="ndtv"/> Despite his visual impairment, Joshi continued his work. He adopted a unique method: he would first summarize the important milestones of Ambedkar's life, record them on an audio cassette, and then listen to the tapes repeatedly to compose the next verses in his mind. As he lost his vision, he would write down words in the middle of the night, sometimes overlapping words or writing with dried ink. His wife assisted him by reading the handwritten lines and making them legible for the final manuscript.<ref name="ndtv"/>


The completed work, published in 2010, consists of 1,577 Sanskrit verses (''shlokas'') spread across 21 chapters (''sargas'') and 160 pages.<ref name="toi"/> The book was published under the ''Sharada Gaurav Granthamala'' series by Pandit Vasant Anant Gadgil, the founder of the Sharada Dnyan Peetham in Pune.<ref name="ndtv"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Bhimayanam - Ambedkar's first biography in Samskrit |url=https://vsktamilnadu.org/personalities/bhimayanam-ambedkars-first-biography-in/ |website=VSK |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=6 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="dna">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens BR Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-vedic-scholar-pens-br-ambedkars-first-biography-in-sanskrit-1407774 |website=DNA India |access-date=3 November 2026 |language=en}}</ref>
The completed work, published in 2010, consists of 1,577 Sanskrit verses (''shlokas'') spread across 21 chapters (''sargas'') and 160 pages.<ref name="toi"/> The book was published under the ''Sharada Gaurav Granthamala'' series by Pandit Vasant Anant Gadgil, the founder of the Sharada Dnyan Peetham in Pune.<ref name="ndtv"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Bhimayanam - Ambedkar's first biography in Samskrit |url=https://vsktamilnadu.org/personalities/bhimayanam-ambedkars-first-biography-in/ |website=VSK |access-date=3 November 2026 |date=6 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251027050638/https://vsktamilnadu.org/personalities/bhimayanam-ambedkars-first-biography-in/ |archive-date=2025-10-27 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="dna">{{cite web |title=Vedic scholar pens BR Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-vedic-scholar-pens-br-ambedkars-first-biography-in-sanskrit-1407774 |website=DNA India |access-date=3 November 2026 |language=en}}</ref>


It is also studied in higher educational institutions like [[IGNOU]].<ref>{{cite web |title=इकाई-4 ‘भीमायनम्’ (प्रो. प्रभाकर शंकर जोशी), दशम सर्ग, (पद्य 20-29 तक) |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/99404?mode=full |website=Egyankosh |access-date=3 November 2026}}</ref>
It is also studied in higher educational institutions like [[IGNOU]].<ref>{{cite web |title=इकाई-4 ‘भीमायनम्’ (प्रो. प्रभाकर शंकर जोशी), दशम सर्ग, (पद्य 20-29 तक) |url=https://egyankosh.ac.in/handle/123456789/99404?mode=full |website=Egyankosh |access-date=3 November 2026}}</ref>

Latest revision as of 17:27, 3 November 2026

Prabhakar Joshi
Born(1925-01-16)January 16, 1925
Pune, Maharashtra
Died28 July 2013(2013-07-28) (aged 88)[1]
Pune, Maharashtra
NationalityIndian
OccupationScholar, author, Sanskrit teacher
Known forWriting Bhimayanam, a Sanskrit biography of B. R. Ambedkar
AwardsMahakavi Kalidas Award

Prabhakar Shankar Joshi (c. 1925[1] – 2013) was an Indian Vedic scholar, Sanskrit teacher, and author from Pune, Maharashtra.[2] He is best known for composing Bhimayanam (2010), the first-ever biography of the Indian social reformer and polymath B. R. Ambedkar in Sanskrit.[3][4] For his contributions to Sanskrit literature, Joshi was awarded the Mahakavi Kalidas Award by the Government of Maharashtra.[2]

Early life and career[edit | edit source]

Joshi was born on 16 January 1925 in Pune, India. His father's name was Shankar Joshi. His early education was completed in Pune.[1]

Joshi spent much of his career as a Sanskrit teacher at Fergusson College in Pune. He also served as a research guide for doctoral students pursuing their PhDs in Sanskrit at Pune University.[2][5]

Bhimayanam[edit | edit source]

Joshi is widely recognized for authoring Bhimayanam, a comprehensive biography of B. R. Ambedkar written entirely in Sanskrit shlokas.[4]

The inspiration for the project came when Joshi was studying Ambedkar's life and discovered that Ambedkar's father, Ramji Maloji Sakpal, had an ardent desire for his son to learn Sanskrit. However, when Ambedkar enrolled at Elphinstone High School in Mumbai, the teachers refused to teach him Sanskrit because he belonged to a Dalit (untouchable) caste.[2] Moved by this historical discrimination, Joshi decided to write the biography as an "atonement of sorts" on behalf of the upper castes for the injustice inflicted upon a young Ambedkar.[4] Joshi often referred to Ambedkar reverently as a Mahamanav (great human being) and noted that Ambedkar himself was a strong supporter of the Sanskrit language.[2][6]

Joshi began working on the biography in 2004. During the writing process, he suffered from progressive glaucoma, which eventually caused him to lose his eyesight completely.[7][3][8][2] Despite his visual impairment, Joshi continued his work. He adopted a unique method: he would first summarize the important milestones of Ambedkar's life, record them on an audio cassette, and then listen to the tapes repeatedly to compose the next verses in his mind. As he lost his vision, he would write down words in the middle of the night, sometimes overlapping words or writing with dried ink. His wife assisted him by reading the handwritten lines and making them legible for the final manuscript.[2]

The completed work, published in 2010, consists of 1,577 Sanskrit verses (shlokas) spread across 21 chapters (sargas) and 160 pages.[4] The book was published under the Sharada Gaurav Granthamala series by Pandit Vasant Anant Gadgil, the founder of the Sharada Dnyan Peetham in Pune.[2][9][10]

It is also studied in higher educational institutions like IGNOU.[11]

Awards and recognition[edit | edit source]

  • Vyakarana Visharada: Conferred by Tilak Maharashtra University
  • Kavya Kovida: Conferred by Pune Sabha.
  • Kavya Tirtha: Conferred by Kolkata University.[1]
  • Mahakavi Kalidas Award: Conferred by the Government of Maharashtra for his significant contributions to Sanskrit literature and teaching.[4]

Death[edit | edit source]

He died on 28 July 2013.[12][13]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Saha, Dr. Priyanka (December 2024). "भीमायनम् काव्यगुणेन सत्याग्रहान्दोलनस्य एकमालेख्यम्" [Bhimayana – A sketch of the Satyagraha movement in poetic account]. ShodhSamhita. 9 (2): 90–100. ISSN 2277-7067.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit". NDTV. 10 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2015-09-15. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Ambedkar’s first biography in Sanskrit". The Hindu. 10 July 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-05-05. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit". The Times of India. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  5. ↑ Halder, Biswajit (2017). "Resplendent Sanskrit literature: Timeless echoes in the modern era" (PDF). International Journal of Sanskrit Research 2017;. 3 (3). International Journal of Sanskrit Research: 434. ISSN 2394-7519. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-08-06.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  6. ↑ "Standing tall". 12 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  7. ↑ Giridhar (10 July 2010). "ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲೂ ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ" [Ambedkar's biography is also being released in Sanskrit.]. Webdunia (in ಕನ್ನಡ). Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  8. ↑ "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit". Hindustan Times. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bhimayanam - Ambedkar's first biography in Samskrit". VSK. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 2025-10-27. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  10. ↑ "Vedic scholar pens BR Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit". DNA India. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  11. ↑ "इकाई-4 'भीमायनम्' (प्रो. प्रभाकर शंकर जोशी), दशम सर्ग, (पद्य 20-29 तक)". Egyankosh. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  12. ↑ "संस्कृतविश्वावर मोठा आघात". Maharashtra Times. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
  13. ↑ "'भीमायनम्'कर्ते प्र. शं. जोशी यांचे निधन". 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
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