Maharshi Dhondo Keshav (Annasaheb) Karve was born on 18 April 1858 at Sherwali village in Khed taluka of Ratnagiri district, Maharashtra, in a lower middle-class Brahmin family. His father, Keshav Bapunna Karve, was Manager of the Estate of Barve of Koregaon in Ratnagiri district on a meagre salary.
Annasaheb was married twice. After the death of his first wife, Radhabai, in 1891, he married a widow, Godubai, in 1893.
Annasaheb had his primary education at Murud, first in a Shenvi school and in a Government school. In those days, if a person wanted to become a teacher in a primary school, he had to pass the Sixth Standard (Marathi) examination. Annasaheb passed this examination at the late age of 18 because of lack of facilities. Simultaneously, he received the traditional Indian education.
Then he came to Bombay and joined the Robert Money School. He passed his Matriculation at the age of 23. He passed his Previous from the Wilson College and his B. A. from the Elphinstone College (1884); he stood first at the First B.A. in Mathematics. He taught that subject for one year in the Elphinstone High School.
He joined the Fergusson College, Poona, as Professor of Mathematics in November 1891. In April 1892 he was elected a Life Member of the Deccan Education Society. He retired from the Society at the end of 1914.
After his retirement from the Deccan Education Society, Annasaheb decided to devote his entire life for the upliftment of the widows and the promotion of female education. In 1893 he had already founded the Society for the Promotion of Widow-marriages which helped the needy children of widows and looked after their education.
In 1898 he started the ‘Mahilashram’ in Poona; in 1900 the Home was shifted to Hingne where it is still working with full vigour. He started the Mahila Vidyalaya in 1907. In 1916 he founded the Indian Women’s University, in 1917 a Training College for Primary School Teachers and in 1918 the Kanya Shala.
In 1929 Annasaheb visited England and Switzerland. During his tour of America, Annasaheb delivered lectures at many places on women’s education and social reforms in India. He also visited the Women’s University in Tokyo. He returned to India in April 1930.
In December 1930, Annasaheb left for Africa. He returned to India in March 1932.
Annasaheb stood for the abolition of caste and untouchability. He spent his life in working for the cause of widow-marriage and raising the status of women by providing educational facilities for them.
In his opinion, women should have the type of education useful to them in their lives. He felt that freedom alone was not enough; there should be social equality and a castless society.
Annasaheb was awarded many honorary titles by various universities. The President of India confered on him the title of Padma Vibhushana in 1955 Among his important publications are—‘Atmavritta’ (1928) and ‘Looking Back’ (1936).Annasaheb was a great social worker and an educationist. He led a quiet, ascetic life.
The Indian government conferred him the Bharat Ratna in 1958 for his commendable services towards Indian society. He left for his heavenly abode in the year 1962.
