Achievements and Philosophy
Agarkar was a founding member of the Deccan Education Society in 1884, a pioneering educational institution of the Deccan. He also founded new English school 1880 in Pune, Maharashtra and famous Fergusson college during last years of his life in 1885.
He was the first editor of Kesari, a prominent Marathi weekly in those days which was started by Lokmanya Tilak in 1880-81. He subsequently left Kesari out of ideological differences with Tilak concerning the primacy of political reform versus social reform; with Agarkar believing that the need for social reform was more immediate. He started his own periodical Sudharak in which he campaigned against the injustices of untouchability and the caste system. Agarkar abhorred blind adherence to and glorification of tradition and the past. He supported widow re-marriage. Though Agarkar championed social reforms he let his wife observe all the old traditions of Hindu faith and never once came in her way.
Tilak and Agarkar were contemporaries but with contrasting personalities although both came from families with similar social backgrounds. By nature Tilak tended toward extreme views while Agarkar tended toward the moderate. In Marathi they would say Jahal Tilak ani Maval Agarkar. Tilak hailed from a financially well-off family, while Agarkar was born in indigence. His financial condition was so bad that he used to study in the light of streetlamps during his college days, owned a single shirt, and never would ride a train or car for traveling. Ideological confilicts eventually led to a parting of these two social reformers. Agarkar expired unexpectedly on 17 June 1895.
Agarkar writes in his biography in the"futke nashib" that he was the only social worker who witnessed his own funeral, He has also written a book 'Alankar Mimmansa' (अलंकार मीमांसा). In 1892 after death of Fergusson college principal Aapte sir, Agarkar took over as the principal.
He died at an early age of 39 in the year 1895 . His death was attributed to Asthma.
Read more about this topic: Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
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