Keshav Rao Koratkar

Keshav Rao Koratkar (1867-1920)

One of the illustrious names in the history of Hyderabad, India, Keshav Rao Koratkar's contribution to the Maharastrians Hyderabadi community remains unmatched and it laid a foundation for the success of minority Hindu Maharastrians in the erstwhile state of Hyderabad. Sri Keshav Rao Koratkar was a great pioneer of political, social and educational reforms in the State.

Early years and career

Keshavraoji as he is fondly called was born in 1867 at Purjal village in his maternal grandfather's house. He was one among the five sons of Santukarao a religious Maharastrian Deshast Brahmin.At the age of nine, Keshavraoji left for his sister's house in Gulbarga where he started learning Urdu and Parsi.Young and ambitious Keshavraoji started his work for a Tehsil for Rs.15. He decided to pursue law as a career and in 1889 he passed both law and judiciary exams. Keshavraoji started his law career at Hyderabad in 1896. A fulfilling career in law highlighted with him becoming the High Court judge state of Hyderabad.

Community service

For over two decades Keshavraoji was closely associated with the Hindu reform movement of Arya Samaj [www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nanded/his1.html - 316k] in Hyderabad. He was the President of Hyderabad Samajik Sudhar Sangh, a social reform organization.In 1907, he was instrumental in starting a school with Marathi as medium of instruction for the large local Marathi speaking community at Residency Bazar. He was also actively involved in the starting of a school in Gulbarga by his friend Sri Vittalrao Davulgavkar.He started a Marathi library in 1920 in Hyderabad and inspired the Mararastrian youth. He was instrumental in starting started a Marathi monthly magazine named "Rajhansa".

Indian Independence Movement

Keshavraoji was influenced by his friend Bal Gangadhar Tilak and on his request Keshavraoji in 1897 helped Chapekar brothers of Pune who were in hiding seek medical help in Hyderabad [www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/VOL-II/REVOLUTIONARY_I.pdf ] . He became a part of the Khilafat movement,although mainly a Muslim religious movement, the movement became a part of the wider Indian independence movement [Pernau-Reifeld Margrit :Reaping the Whirlwind. Nizam and the Khilafat Movement, in: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 34, pp 2745-51] . In 1919 Raoji chose to lead Khilafat movement [Benichou Lucien D:From Autocracy to Integration: Political Developments in Hyderabad State, Orient Longman 2000 p.33] rally over his daughter's marriage, an incident which exemplified his commitment to cause over family.

Final years

Keshavraoji's final year were marked by ill health due to undiagnosed diabetes and impaired vision. On 20th May 1930, he went into diabetic coma, and breathed his last on 21st May 1930.

The koratkar family, descendents of shri keshav rao koratkar continue to live in Hyderabad and Pune INDIA.

keshav rao koratkar had three sons .shri vinayak rao koratkar was his eldest son who was the first minister of finance of state of Andhra Pradesh, India.He was also a member of parliament from Hyderabad during the time of pandit jawahar lal nehru.

His second son was shri vitthal rao koratkar who was a sessons judge in Hyderabad state.his 3rd son was shri rama rao koratkarthe descendents of shri vinayak rao and shri vitthal rao continue to live as honourable citizens of Hyderabad, descendents of shri ramarao koratkar continue to live in Pune, India.

References

* http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Nanded/his1.html - 316k
* http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/VOL-II/REVOLUTIONARY_I.pdf
* http://www.epw.org.in/epw/uploads/articles/9232.pdf
* Pernau-Reifeld Margrit :Reaping the Whirlwind. Nizam and the Khilafat Movement,: Economic and Political Weekly, Vol 34, pp 2745-51
* Benichou Lucien D:From Autocracy to Integration: Political Developments in Hyderabad State,Orient Longman 2000 p.33:
* ISBN 81-250-1847-6

Notes