Krishna Arjun Keluskar

 Krishna Arjun Keluskar   (20^th august 1860------unknown),

                      A great benefactor of Baba Sabib Dr.B.R.Ambedkar

                                                                         By : Er.H.R. Phonsa

 A good hearted teacher and Marathi writer Krishna Arjun Keluskar was born on 20 August 1860 in Marashtra  in British India.  He was born in Kelus village of Vegurala. According to Census 2011 information the location code or village code of Kelus village is 566647. Kelus village is located in Vengurla Tehsil of Sindhudurg district in Maharashtra, India. It is situated 24km away from sub-district headquarter Vengurla and 33km away from district headquarter. Kelus village is also a gram panchayat. Keluskar was  a prime  Shivcharitkar in Marathi.

Subedar Ramji Sakhpal ,Bhimrao Ambedkar ’s father moved to Bombay (now Mumbai)  in 1904. Ramji got on rent accommodation in Dabak Chawl at lower Parel,  a labour area. Bhimrao was admitted in Maratha  High School and later to the Elphinstone High School. The house surroundings were not conducive for peaceful living and education of children.  So to continue his studies Bhimrao Ambedkar  used to go to Charni Road Garden (now S.K. Patil Udyan) to study. Bhimrao Ambedkar  used to  read under a street light pole in the garden as the house lady had warned them to put off light early. Krishnaji Arjun Keluskar, the Brahmin Headmaster ( D.Keer writes Assistant teacher) of Wilson High School, who used to frequent the same garden, noticed the studious boy. Keluskar asked from Bhimrao Ambedkar , his family and circumstances why he reads in the garden for long time.  Bhimrao Ambedkar told him all his difficulties. For these pleasant conversations Keluskar used to sit with Bhimrao Ambedkar. Both had pleasant talks and Kerluskar promised all help in his studies to Bhimrao Ambedkar. He carried his promise ,by giving reading material and all other possible helps to Bhimrao Ambedkar .

      When Bhimrao Ambedkar  explained his difficulties and his desire to get higher education, Keluskar could judge the supper qualities  in  Bhimrao Ambedkar  and  wished him bright future . Keluskar ji , promised Bhimrao Ambedkar  all helps in his studies. When Bhimrao  Ambedkar passed his Matriculation in 1907 so earned the distinction of being first Mahar, to pass such examination.  This occasion was celebrated by his community and a function was arranged which was attended by good hearted teacher Krishana Ji Keluskar and S.K. Bole, both Brahmins by caste. S.K.Bole a great socialist reformer of Maharashtra presided over the function. Both spoke of high head and heart qualities in Ambedkar, and wished him all success. Krishana  Arjun  Keluskar , a famous  Marathi writer gave his book” Life Of Gautam Buddha” to Bhimrao Ambedkar  . Bhimrao Ambedkar read this book which  brought turning point in his life. The seed of Buddhism sown by this book spouted in 1935 when Baba Dahib declared to leave Hinduism and it bore fruits on 14^th October 1956 when Baba Sahib embraced Buddhism with his lacs of followers and succeeded to bring back Buddha to His land of birth India, after 20 centuries. 

S .K. Bole a social reformer moved a resolution in the Bombay Legislative Council on 4^thAugust, 1923 and the same was adopted in the House. The resolution stated that "The untouchable classes be allowed to use all public water places and Dharamshalas which were built and maintained out of public funds or administered by the bodies appointed by the Government or created by statue, as well as public schools, courts, offices and dispensaries." The Bombay Government accordingly issued directive instructions for its implementation on 11^th September, 1923. But this order remained buried in the files with no practical follow up initiative by the Government or social organizations. 

Ramji Sakhpal was facing financial hardships to bear education expenses of his son  Bhimrao Ambedkar . At time he borrowed money from his married daughters to defray the charges of purchasing books for Bhim.  Here again Keluskar ji came to his rescue. As Kerluskar had gained nearness to Maharaj Baroda Siyaji Gaikward –III due to writing  a Book Chhatarpati Shiva Ji Maharaj. For which Maharaja had helped him financially. He arranged an interview of Bhimrao Ambedkar with Maharaja at Maharaja Palace Malabar Hills Bombay. On the appointed day and time Bhimrao Ambedkar could not reach the palace. But in the evening when Maharaja was moving out , he saw Bhimrao Ambedkar standing at his palace gate .The watchman had not allow Bhimrao to enter gate despite the fact he had an interview pass. Maharaja called Bhimrao Ambedkar in, put him some questions and on getting satisfactory answers, sanctioned a monthly scholarship of rupees twenty five .

Ramji Sakhpal passed away on 2^nd February 1913 leaving his son to face the world alone. Ambedkar was keeping in his mind the desire of higher education as per wishes of his father. To Ambedkar higher studies was the only way he could  cut the age old slavery chains of his untouchable Samaj. He had also faced , these precarious condition being faced of his Samaj, so was desirous to cut their roots. He again met his old well wisher keluskar, who advised him to meet the Maharaja Baroda.   He also told to  Ambedkar the Town Hall Bombay announcement of  Maharaja  to extend  help to  meritorious untouchable  students to peruse  studies in foreign  universities. Mean while Baroda State had invited applications for sanction of 4 scholarships for studies in Columbia University New York, U.S.A.  Bhimrao Ambedkar   was  on look out of such opportunities. Ambedkar met the Maharaja and expressed his wish for help for higher studies. Maharaja advised Ambedkar to put up his application to the Baroda State for foreign scholarship for higher studies. Ambedkar put up an application and his request was accepted . Bhimrao Ambedkar was asked to sign an agreement on June 4, 1913 to serve the Baroda State for 10 years after completion of his foreign studies and he signed the agreement. Ambedkar prepared for going abroad for higher studies.

 He reached New York in the third week of Julu, 1913. After his studies at Columbia and London he return to India on August 21, 1917. Reason to return to India leaving his studies incomplete, was  that his scholarship term was not extended by the Dewan Of Baroda State.

As per agreement Dr. Ambedkar had to serve the State of Baroda for 10 years. On reaching Baroda Ambedkar was treated very badly  , he got no accommodation to live and his office high caste staff including peons treated the highly read Doctor with contempt.  Ambedkar returned to Bombay. When this came in notice of Keluskar, he approached Maharaja Baroda and informed him all about it. Even Maharaja did not reply to Keluskar. But professor at Baroda was very well known to Keluskar. Keluskar asked him to help Ambedkar and he agreed to keep Ambedkar as paying guest.On these assurances Ambedkar returned to Baroda. On  reaching Baroda railway Station  Ambedkar received a  note from the  professor through his  man ,saying ,his orthodox  wife was not agreeing  to the proposal of Ambedkar, an touchable, staying at their house. Ambedkar again returned to Bombay second time. His step mother was serious and she passed away.

 As per available records Krishana Arjun Keluskar wrote life story book “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Charitra.” and the first Marathi edition of this  book having 600 pages was brought out in 1907. Shahu Ji Maharaj financially helped the author. The Maharaja of Baroda Siyaji Giakward honored Keluskar with “ Ragal Of Baroda State” award. The book was later published in Hindi and Gujrati.  The author continued collecting more material for the book and second edition with added material was also published by the Entertainer press by K.R. Mitr.  This was done on the promise to purchase books by  “ The Shri Shivaji Literary Memorial Committee” formed by  some leading members of different Hindu Communities in Bombay. But this committee could only  collect rupees  thousands so the author  For publishing the two editions Keluskar was caught in debt trap of Rupees 24000/-.  The committee approached  the Chief of Indore State Sawai Shri Tukojirao III Holkar hor financial help. Sawai Shri Tukojirao III Holkar agreed to extend help to pay off the debt. So the  purchase of 4000 copies of English version of this book was finalised  for denoting to all World Libraries( Refer Committee letter 15th September 1925 from Keluskar  address. Address — C/o K. A. Keluskar, Dadar, Bombay, India)  . This also confirms that at least till September 1925 Keluskar was alive. BAMCEF a Dalit organization have brought out 4 editions of this book between 1991-2010. This explains the importance of the book and wisdom, labor  of the learned author. Beside these above mentioned books, Keluskar also  wrote in Marathi  Adhyamic( Spiritual) Gayanratnavali (1894), Old History of France and Character of Tukaram Maharaj .

 Dr.B.R. Bhimrao  Ambedkar engaged himself in multifarious duties in India. Mean while a post of Principal of Sydenham College Bombay fell vacant. Ambedkar had all qualifications to be appointed, he applied.  Keluskar met Dr. R. P. Paranjpye, the  Member for Education, at Mahabaleshwaram and  recommended Ambedka’s name for the post. However Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was not appointed despite all his super education qualification records. Instead Dr. R. P. Paranjpye offered post of Principal of Elphinstone College Bombay but Dr. Ambedkar refused the offer.

Dr Ambedkar was in London in 1933 he came to know that his benefactor Keluskar was then, an old man needed help. The great full Dr. B. R. Ambedkar had not forgotten the  sympathies of  Keluskar, wrote a petition to Maharaja Baroda through his Dewan and appealed the  Maharaja to grant monthly pension to to ease his life in old age. This way both Dr. Ambedkar and Keluskar  stood by each other rendered  helped when ever any one was in need.  Not only these both persons has gone down in history but shall be remembered for their generosity.

 Words 1628

Dated 31-8-2020                                                       Er.H.R.Phonsa

                                                    hrphonsa@gmail.com

 

Source Material.  

1.      https://www.livehistoryindia.com/snapshort-histories/2018/12/06/dr-ambedkar-against-all-odds

2.       Dr. B.R.Ambedkar,The Messiah Of the Down trodden By Janak Singh.

3.       Dr.Ambedkar: Life and Mission by Dhananjay Keer

4.      DR. AMBEDKAR AND BRAHMINS by  Justice R.A. Jahagirdar (Retd)

5.       Dr.Ambedkar and his Associates By; Er.H.R.Phonsa.

 

Visionary Shri Gillu Ram Ji ( My father)

                               Visionary Shri Gillu Ram Ji

                                         ( His 50^th Death Anniversary falls on 21^st June 2020 )

                My father Late Shri Gillu Ram was an illiterate but visionary person. Due to his vision coupled with hard work, commitments to family and Dalit Samaj he toiled for whole life and saw that his low caste tagged short coming do not come in the way of his offspring’s. My mother Late Gullan Devi too was illiterate but poise, hard working, Co- operative and intelligent.

My ancestral place was village Raipur in present day Tehsil and District Samba. My family owned land at Raipur. My great grandfather Sunder Das son of Sh. Mal cultivated their agriculture land and had also built a well for use as drinking water source and also for irrigation purposes. This well is still there but is deserted. I am told that my Grandparents Shri Kashmiri Lal Son of Shri Sunder  Das and Shrimati Malti had left  village Raipur for reasons they divulged  to none. Some say a fortune teller pundit (Jyotishi ) frightened them to leave village telling thatS they may not have any child born to them . So they migrated to a Village Patli, Tehsil Shakergarh in present day Pakistan, where some of their relatives were living. But this fact was kept concealed by them all their life, may be due to fear of   tyrannical revenue authorities who may trouble them for land revenue. We came to know this fact around 1945-47 when a dispute had irrupted between Gujjar and Brahmins who had occupied our land at Raipur. Brahmins were troubling Gujjars and threatened them to dispossess them from our land under them. The Gujjar family traced us at our present Village Pakhri. By then both my grandparents had died. Raipur land ownership paper  were got prepared but 1947 turmoil forced  stoppage of further follow up. However this record enabled my father and others to get Permanent State Subject of J&K State on the basis of Raipur Land records.

 My father along with his elder brother Sh. Tillu Ram and  their three sisters namely, Kesri, Shahni and  Gullan were all born and married off while family was at  Patli.  My father was tall about  6 ft in height, had fair complexion with strong body. Our family was handed over a shop possession in Morri  Darwaja (Gate ) Lahore, now Pakistan by my grandmother’s brother. So both my father and Taya Ji ( Grand  uncle) used to work in Lahore Shoe repairing Shop by turn. They earned quite a bit so their financial position was comfortable. They had made about 20 repairing and polishing shoes  small boxes. These were  given free to those who came to them for some job first time. I was told by my father that at times as many as thirty five persons lived with them. They all used to work during day in the city (Ferri-walas) and took meals in contributory kitchen kept in shop. One person daily took off from work and prepared meals on rotational basis. This way my father and Taya Ji provided means    of livelihood to many families from their relatives and others known persons.

 All elders in the family had great longing for education. My grandfather carried his eldest two grandsons (  Akloo alias Charan Dass and Chartu Ram ) to school at a distance from village. Muslim  Moulvi teachers were liberals in admitting Dalit Children in schools.  Grandfather stayed out till children were in school. After school he brought them back home safely, sometimes carrying them on his back . This was daily routine. In the village Brahmin dominated and the Be-gar ( Work without payment of wages) was prevalent . A Brahmin took up a quarrel and abused my father for not completing a given job in time. My father gave him a severe   beating and ran out to his in laws, who were at Pakhri  in Tehsil Samba District Jammu, a princely ruled state. He told my Nana Ji ( Faggu Ram ) that he wanted to purchase land  and leave Patli village for good.  A search was made and a Brahmin family agreed to sell 10 Acres (nearly 4 hectors) of agriculture land for about  Rupees three Thousands in village Pakhri. It was some time in 1927. It was a great job during those days and whole news of land purchase by Chamar family from Brahmins spread like any hot news. Some advance money was paid for the land, but later they came to know that a Permanent Residence of state viz. State Subject Certificate was needed, which they did not had, nor there was any hope to  get it in the prevailing circumstances. So the land purchase/sale deed was got registered in the name of my cousin ( my father’s sister’s son) Sh. Dhanu Ram S/O  Wadhawa of Koulpur, a nearby village. I  am told that Rupees Two Thousands and Two Hundreds were carried on  horseback to samba for payment in front of Tehsildar. The money was counted by Zaikdar of Kali Village .He found even not one silver coin counterfeit, saying their  earning was100% honest.  This way whole family moved to new place.  A well for irrigation purpose was also got dug, so our farming came on sound footing. The education of my elder brother Chatru Ram, and cousin Charan Das continued at Ramgarh Government Primary School  till they passed 6^th class. They had to leave schooling as there was no school beyond 6^th class in the area. Both of them started working at Lahore. Although they were qualified to join service as Patwari or School teacher at monthly salary of rupees ten or so, but they preferred working at Lahore.

 Both by father and his brother lived   separately. My Grandfather died at an age of 95 years and grandmother some years thereafter but before 1947 turmoil.  She had turned blind due to some eye problem. My family many members still live and cultivate land, I also own a piece of land as my family share.     

A misfortune befell on my father when my mother died sometime around 194-42, leaving behind four sons and two daughters. We were named  Chatru Ram, Jabro Ram, myself Hem Raj, Giano Devi,Punna Devi and a very young male child. My youngest brother lived  few months after our mother’s death. My mother died because of child delivery related problems. I was also very young and do not remember anything of my mother. My elder brother Chatru Ram  and sister Giano Devi were although married but being young  were unable to share the family burden with our father. When my sister went to her in laws, my Bhabi  Shrimati Vidya Devi was still very young, unable to carry house hold responsibilities independently. So father and young brothers  had to bear the family chaos. Many  relatives suggested my father to get remarried as it was difficult to carry on family responsibilities alone. But he refused saying he believed in fate. Now he should bring up his children to the best of his ability. He carried all family responsibilities from tilling of land to cooking, toiling on floor gringing stone  ( Chhakki) , raring animals. But he carried this all with full vigor and responsibility with no regrets  on his face. My brothers and sister rendered full help to him as per their capacity.

 My family was still struggling with problems arisen out   from my mother’s death,   then 1947 partition turmoil came  like a bomb shell.  Our village was burnt down by Pakistani raiders, some persons were murdered, properties looted by them. People left the village for safety to higher reaches in kandi Belt. All Areas below Pathankot to Jammu National (then nonexistent) falling in Jammu province became barren, crops destroyed, housed burnt, properties including animal wealth  looted and destroyed putting people to great loss. In a nearby village Palouta  a Mahatama Jiagopal Giri along with his disciples was killed.  There was no road link between Pathankot and Jammu.  To provide an all weather road route between Pathankot and Jammu  so work of construction of NH was started on war footing. Labour work on construction of NH provided means of survival to people.

                          Many families migrated to nearby Punjab State. My family also decided to migrate to Punjab. I was hardly 6-7 years and had to travel on foot from Samba to Pathankot. We reached Behrampur and settled temporarily at village Pindi Rangran. From here we shifted to  Vadda Salimpur ( On Gurdaspur to Dera Baba Nanak Road)  and finally to Kotli Shah pur , all these villages are located  in the vicinity of Gurdaspur. My family worked there as farm labour and also continued with   shoe making ( Desi Jutti). I was engaged in animal raring and caring animals of Mulkha Singh Jatt, a land lord but a deadly drunken person. He had provided us living accommodation in his house premises, previously vacated by a Muslim weaver to migrate to  Pakistan. My schooling started from here. I was got admitted in Pry. School at Zayora Chhatran.  But soon a school was opened in Varsola. The village Gurudwara served also a school Building. I joined new school at Varsolla. In school time many untouchability related problems were faced by me. On the instigation of a Brahmin boy Som Nath, all Jatt boys threw out their lunch saying my touch with them has polluted it. I also threw out my lunch telling them that they too have spoiled my lunch. In school on my disclosing the matter to Head Master who happened to be from SC gave a good beating.  Village panchayat even offered my father some monthly grains to keep me off school and continue raring animals of Mulkha Singh. But my father declined all this, so my studies continued.

 In around 1950-51 in my old village area people  started returning to village and  starting  farming  activities despite  continuously troubled by nearby Pakistani night looters.  My father and Taya Ji  also came back and started living there and redeveloping agriculture  land. The village was fortified and some 303 rifles were also supplied to village army retired persons  by authorities to defend the village from Pak night Looters. Our family  shifted back to Pakhri. I knew only Punjabi, where as in Jammu Hindi and Urdu languages were subject at school. I had studied a bit of Hindi at home which came to my rescue and took Hindi subject. I studied Urdu at Home and soon obtained reading and writing prophecy in it. Many difficulties including financial  problems arose but my father always encouraged me to continue my studies, come what may. Many a times we had to vacate village due to trouble by Pakistan .In 1957 when J&K Constitution was promulgated, whole boarder was disturbed and people shifter to  higher places. On 26^th January 1957 I was alone in home from our family. My brother was blessed with his first male child Ashok Kumar on this day, but Bhabhi Sita Devi had  gone to Gurah Salathian a Kandi village away from my village.

 In 1956 an agitation of J&K Dalit castes under taken at Village Chhan Arorian in Tehsil  Hiranagar  ( Kathua) against excesses committed on them by upper caste people and officers. The organization heading was was Harijan Mandal and leader  Late Babu Milkhi Ram, later an M.L.A.  A fast unto death had started ,which continued for over 10 days. Dalit Samaj was appealed to render all possible help for the success of the agitation. My father collected cash and ration donation from our village and carried it  to Chha Arorian on foot, is over 40 kms from my village. This showed my father’s mind set for his community welfare and coopration. I arranged a demonstration in my village of school going children for which got beating from village Nambardar.

    I was first civilian from my area to crossed Himalayan Banihal peak to go to Kashmir valley in 1957 in a Youth Camp. Then the Jawahar Tunnel  Banihal had not come up.  I toured whole valley. It had support from my family which enabled me to see Kashmir Valley as student I received Rs50/ then a big amount  for valley tour. Many others students could not afford due to poverty.  

  I passed Matriculation in 1959 becoming Second person in my village history to get this qualification. I stood First in my School in Matriculation Examination.  I was encouraged to continue education in G.G. M. Sc college Jammu from where I passed Intermediate ( FSc, Faculty Of Science) with Non Medical subjects. Many a times I was given grains to sell and get money to continue my studies. Here an opportunity arose for me to join Regional Engineering College Srinagar for my Bachelor in Civil Engineering.  I needed about rupees Eight Hundred for college fee and other charges. My father and  my brother Jabro Ram encouraged me to must not loose opportunity. They borrowed rupees Six Hundred equal amount from one Pandit ji of Tarore village and from my cousin Dhanu Ram of Koulpur.

  I went to see my grand uncle ( Taya Ji) before going to join REC( Now NIT) and begged  for his blessings. He pointed out to his while colored  turban telling me “ Go , my blessing with you. But see that my white turban does not get spoiled by any sprinkle of any other colour because of your any undesired action:”   It was my last meeting with him as he died before I returned on my winter Vocations.

 By the sacrifices and hardships of my father assisted by other family members, I earned the distinction of being the first Dalit ( SCs, OBCs) Graduate  Engineer of J&K State ( Now UT) history when in 1966 I passed this examination. In J&K STs include Muslims too.

 My father had very clean habits of not using any intoxicants. He was a regular Hooka ( Hubble-bubble)  smoker . When both my brothers and their family’s family adopted  vegetarianism on the principle of Radha Soami Satsang Beas, my father instantly left hookah smoking at 60-65 years of age. I joined service in July 1967.

 The vision of my father, his longing for education to family has shown dividends. In the present times out of His offspring’s   nearly One and a half dozen are Engineers out of whom some with Post Graduate and MBA qualification and other qualification. Two of the  grandsons of this noble  soul, who had no chance to dream to attend school himself , have crossed seven seas  for education and service are now    in USA and Canada.

     My father also visited Dera Beas with my brothers. On one visit he applied for incitation of Nam Man. It was his last visit to Dera Beas. He got it. On way back home he met all his relations including my sister. I know he used to go on days out side home to visit our relations, which had spreading up to Amritsar from my village. He normally went on foot, as relatives were in villages away from main road.   He was regularly attended  Radha Soami Satsangs in village near to our village.

   In 1970 my father suddenly developed and then   investigated liver cancer. He was admitted in Jammu hospital. He had almost re-covered from first phase of treatment and we were planning to move home in a day or so. Although I was posted at Udhampur, but I was in   his regular  attendance in hospital. On 19^th June, 1970 he called me and asked me to go to attend my duties. I went to Udhampur same day. But in the day after  morning I received a telephone call, giving me my   life’s severest shocking blow . My father had passed away in the hospital during 20-21 June 1970 night. My brother Sh. Jabro Ram was by his bed side when he breathed his last. The end of the noble soul came on 7 Ashar 2027  Vikrimi correspondingly 21-06-1970 early morning. His cremation was carried in our village in the evening. Thus came the end of an angle that suffered all discomforts of life himself but stood like a rock against any discomfort to his family.  He worked to bring education light and worldly comforts in family. He suffered to create comforts for his family besides to  Samaj to possible extent.

May his soul get all comforts?

 Words 2729

Dated 18-06-2020.