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Atmaram Pandurang was an Indian physician and social reformer who established the Prathana Samaj and was also one of the founders of the Bombay Natural History Society. Yashodabai and Pandurang Yeshwant were the parents of Atmaram. Along with Dadabhai Naoroji, he attended the Elphinstone Institution to study mathematics under Balshastri Jambhekar. Read this blog to learn about Atmaram Panudrang.
Contents
Atmaram Pandurang’s Life
Popularly called Atmaram Pandurang Turkhadekar, he was a well-known 19th-century Indian leader who made contributions to social reform and medicine.
- Atmaram Pandurang was born in 1823, and his brother was also a well-known social reformer.
- He became a physician and graduated from Grant Medical College.
- He married Radhabhai and had a son named Dnyaeshwar Atmaram Turkhud.
- Additionally, he also served as the sheriff of Bombay in 1879
- He led a great life and died in 1898
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Atmaram Pandurang’s Contribution to Indian Society
Pandurang made a great deal of contributions to Indian society throughout his lifetime.
- He established the Prathana Samaj, which was a reformist society advocating for monotheism and social justice, and also rejected rigid rituals within the society. The Samaj also played a cultural role in the Indian national movement.
- Along with Sakharam Arjun, he cofounded the Bombay Natural History Society.
- In the British Raj, Pandurang probably supported social reforms, based on his progressive views and affiliation with the Prarthana Samaj.
Founder of the Prarthana Samaj
One of his greatest contributions was founding the Prarthana Samaj in 1867 in Bombay. This was a social and religious reform movement. The aim was to:
- Promote monotheism (belief in one God)
- Reject caste discrimination
- Support women’s education and widow remarriage
- Encourage ethical living based on reason and morality
- The Prarthana Samaj was inspired by the Brahmo Samaj of Bengal and became an important part of India’s reform movements.
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Role in Indian Nationalism and Education
Atmaram was also involved in educational reforms. He promoted:
- Modern science education
- Use of English and Indian languages
- Establishment of schools for both boys and girls
- He was one of the founders of the University of Bombay (now University of Mumbai) and worked to make higher education more accessible to Indians.
FAQs
Atmaram Pandurang Turkhadekar was a 19th-century Indian physician, social reformer, and co-founder of the Prathana Samaj and Bombay Natural History Society.
He established the Prathana Samaj, advocated for social reform, cofounded the Bombay Natural History Society, and served as the sheriff of Bombay.
He promoted monotheism, social justice, and cultural reform through the Prathana Samaj, influencing Indian society and the national movement during British rule.
He is best known for:
Founding the Prarthana Samaj in 1867
Promoting women’s rights and education
Supporting scientific thinking and public health
Yes, he was a qualified medical doctor. He studied medicine in England and was one of the few Indians at the time to have a Western medical education.
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