G. S. Khaparde
Encyclopedia
Ganesh Srikrishna Khaparde (27 August 1854 – 1 July 1938) was a renowned Indian lawyer, scholar, political activist and a noted devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba.
Born at Ingroli in Berar
, Khaparde studied Sanskrit
and English Literature
before beginning law. He graduated with an LLB in 1884, which led him to Government service. He served as a Munsiff and an assistant commissioner at Berar between 1885 to 1890. Closely associated with Bal Gangadhar Tilak
, he took a keen interest in politics and in 1890 resigned from service to begin his own law practice at Amrawati. Khaparde was the chairman of the reception committee at the Amarawati Congress
in 1897. He attended, along with Tilak, the Shivaji Festival of the Congress at Calcutta in 1906. He was at this time associated with the "extremist" camp within the Congress, led by Lal-Bal-Pal trio of Lala Lajpat Rai
, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal
. A close ally and one of the most trusted lieutanants of Tilak, Khaparde's strong and singular personal influence in the Central Provinces earned him the epitaph of "the Nawab of Berar". Between 1908 and 1910, Khaparde travelled to England to conduct Tilak's appeal to the Privy Council
. Intelligence reports indicate that along with Bipin Chandra Pal, he was at this time associated with the India House
.
Later, Khaparde was a founding member of Tilak's Indian Home Rule League in 1916, and was a member of the Congress's deputation to the Viceroy on constitutional reforms. Between May 1919 and January 1920, Khaparde was in England again as a delegate of the Home Rule League's deputation to the Joint Parliamentary committee. During his stay of seven months he made speeches in England. He become popular by way of his wit, humour and mannerisum and hence some news-paper described him as Mark Twain
.
Following the inauguration of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
, he was selected a member of the Imperial Legislative Council
. However, in 1920, Khaparde left the Congress anticipating Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement
. Between 1920 and 1925, Khaparde elected a member of the Central Legislative Assembly
.
G.S. Khaparde was also a noted devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. His first interaction with Sri Sai Baba was in December 1910 when he sought refuge at Shirdi escaping the incarceration and purge of political dissidents in India at the time. Between 1910 and 1918, his Shirdi diary recording visits to Sai Baba shed much light on Baba's life, his routine, and his work.
G.S. Khaparde died on 1 July 1938. He was survived by his son Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde
, also a lawyer and leader.
Born at Ingroli in Berar
Berar Province
Berar Province, known also as the Hyderabad Assigned Districts, was a province of British India. The province, formerly ruled by the Nizam of Hyderabad, was administered by the British after 1853, although the Nizam retained formal sovereignty over the province...
, Khaparde studied Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
and English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
before beginning law. He graduated with an LLB in 1884, which led him to Government service. He served as a Munsiff and an assistant commissioner at Berar between 1885 to 1890. Closely associated with Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Lokmanya Tilak –, was an Indian nationalist, teacher, social reformer and independence fighter who was the first popular leader of the Indian Independence Movement. The British colonial authorities derogatorily called the great leader "Father of the Indian unrest"...
, he took a keen interest in politics and in 1890 resigned from service to begin his own law practice at Amrawati. Khaparde was the chairman of the reception committee at the Amarawati Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
in 1897. He attended, along with Tilak, the Shivaji Festival of the Congress at Calcutta in 1906. He was at this time associated with the "extremist" camp within the Congress, led by Lal-Bal-Pal trio of Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai
Lala Lajpat Rai was an Indian author, freedom fighter and politician who is chiefly remembered as a leader in the Indian fight for freedom from the British Raj. He was popularly known as Punjab Kesari or Sher-e-Punjab meaning the samem and was part of the Lal Bal Pal trio...
, Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal
Bipin Chandra Pal was an Indian nationalist. He was among the triumvirate of Lal Bal Pal.-Early life and background:...
. A close ally and one of the most trusted lieutanants of Tilak, Khaparde's strong and singular personal influence in the Central Provinces earned him the epitaph of "the Nawab of Berar". Between 1908 and 1910, Khaparde travelled to England to conduct Tilak's appeal to the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. Intelligence reports indicate that along with Bipin Chandra Pal, he was at this time associated with the India House
India House
India House was an informal Indian nationalist organisation based in London between 1905 and 1910. With the patronage of Shyamji Krishna Varma, its home in a student residence in Highgate, North London was launched to promote nationalist views among Indian students in Britain...
.
Later, Khaparde was a founding member of Tilak's Indian Home Rule League in 1916, and was a member of the Congress's deputation to the Viceroy on constitutional reforms. Between May 1919 and January 1920, Khaparde was in England again as a delegate of the Home Rule League's deputation to the Joint Parliamentary committee. During his stay of seven months he made speeches in England. He become popular by way of his wit, humour and mannerisum and hence some news-paper described him as Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
.
Following the inauguration of Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms
The Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms were reforms introduced by the British Government in India to introduce self-governing institutions gradually to India. The reforms take their name from Edwin Samuel Montagu, the Secretary of State for India during the latter parts of World War I and Lord Chelmsford,...
, he was selected a member of the Imperial Legislative Council
Imperial Legislative Council
The Imperial Legislative Council was a legislature for India during the middle years of the British Raj.The Indian Councils Act 1909 increased the number of members of the Legislative Council to sixty, of which twenty-seven were to be elected...
. However, in 1920, Khaparde left the Congress anticipating Gandhi's Non-cooperation movement
Non-cooperation movement
The non-cooperation movement was a significant phase of the Indian struggle for freedom from British rule which lasted for years. This movement, which lasted from September 1920 to February 1922 and was led by Mohandas Gandhi, and supported by the Indian National Congress. It aimed to resist...
. Between 1920 and 1925, Khaparde elected a member of the Central Legislative Assembly
Central Legislative Assembly
The Central Legislative Assembly was a legislature for India created by the Government of India Act 1919 from the former Imperial Legislative Council, implementing the Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms...
.
G.S. Khaparde was also a noted devotee of Shirdi Sai Baba. His first interaction with Sri Sai Baba was in December 1910 when he sought refuge at Shirdi escaping the incarceration and purge of political dissidents in India at the time. Between 1910 and 1918, his Shirdi diary recording visits to Sai Baba shed much light on Baba's life, his routine, and his work.
G.S. Khaparde died on 1 July 1938. He was survived by his son Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde
Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde
Balkrishna Ganesh Khaparde was leader of Swaraj Party from Amravati. He was lawyer by profession like his father Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde who was a close ally of Bal Gangadhar Tilak....
, also a lawyer and leader.