Prabhakar Joshi | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1926 |
| Died | 28 July 2013 (aged 86–87) |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Scholar, author, Sanskrit teacher |
| Known for | Writing Bhimayanam, a Sanskrit biography of B. R. Ambedkar |
| Awards | Mahakavi Kalidas Award |
Prabhakar Shankar Joshi ( (c. 1926 – 2013) was an Indian Vedic scholar, Sanskrit teacher, and author from Pune, Maharashtra.[1] He is best known for composing Bhimayanam (2010), the first-ever biography of the Indian social reformer and polymath B. R. Ambedkar in Sanskrit.[2][3] For his contributions to Sanskrit literature, Joshi was awarded the Mahakavi Kalidas Award by the Government of Maharashtra.[1]
Early life and career
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.[1][4]
Bhimayanam
Joshi is widely recognized for authoring Bhimayanam, a comprehensive biography of B. R. Ambedkar written entirely in Sanskrit shlokas.[3]
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.[1] 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.[3] 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.[1][5]
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.[6][2][7][1] 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.[1]
The completed work, published in 2010, consists of 1,577 Sanskrit verses (shlokas) spread across 21 chapters (sargas) and 160 pages.[3] The book was published under the Sharada Gaurav Granthamala series by Pandit Vasant Anant Gadgil, the founder of the Sharada Dnyan Peetham in Pune.[1][8]
It is also studied in higher educational institutions like IGNOU.[9]
Awards and recognition
- Mahakavi Kalidas Award: Conferred by the Government of Maharashtra for his significant contributions to Sanskrit literature and teaching.[3]
Death
He died on 28 July 2013.[10][11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit". NDTV. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Ambedkar’s first biography in Sanskrit". The Hindu. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's biography in Sanskrit". The Times of India. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ 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.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ↑ "Standing tall". 12 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತದಲ್ಲೂ ಬರುತ್ತಿದೆ ಅಂಬೇಡ್ಕರ್ ಜೀವನ ಚರಿತ್ರೆ" [Ambedkar's biography is also being released in Sanskrit.]. Webdunia (in ಕನ್ನಡ). 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
{{cite web}}:|first1=missing|last1=(help) - ↑ "Vedic scholar pens Ambedkar's first biography in Sanskrit". Hindustan Times. 10 July 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "Bhimayanam - Ambedkar's first biography in Samskrit". VSK. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "इकाई-4 'भीमायनम्' (प्रो. प्रभाकर शंकर जोशी), दशम सर्ग, (पद्य 20-29 तक)". Egyankosh. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "संस्कृतविश्वावर मोठा आघात". Maharashtra Times. Retrieved 3 November 2026.
- ↑ "'भीमायनम्'कर्ते प्र. शं. जोशी यांचे निधन - Marathi News | Bhimayanam Kar P C Joshi No More - Latest Pune News at Loksatta.com". 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2026.