Pandurang Sadashiv Sane Biography 
Pandurang Sadashiv Sane was a writer, teacher, social activist and Indian freedom fighter from Maharashtra. Also known by the name, Sane Guruji he is often referred to as the National Teacher of India. He authored 73 books in his life time and was also associated with social activities like eradication of caste. Sane Guruji Rashtriya Smarak Samiti was started in his name. Shyamchi Aai is his noted work.
Sane was born on 24 December 1899 in Bombay State in British India. His father was a revenue collector of British government. Though the financial status of the family was fine during his early childhood, it gradually deteriorated. His home was confiscated by government authorities. His mother was not able to withstand the hardship and she died in 1917, due to lack of medical facilities which haunted Pandurang his entire lifetime. Mother was the most influential person of his life.
After primary education, he was sent to his uncle’s home. But he returned back to his village to complete his studies. He stayed at a missionary school in Dapoli, where he excelled in Marathi and Sanskrit and got interested to poetry at this time. His financial condition deteriorated once again and he couldn’t afford the expenses. But with the recommendation of a few friends, he enrolled at Aundh Institution which provided free food and education for poor kids. All students were sent back when a plague broke out and he completed his school studies at Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya after a lot of hardships. He completed his graduation and post-graduation from Sir Parshurambhau College.
Sane worked as teacher in Pratap High School in Amalner town and preferred to work in rural areas, though his income was low. He was a good orator whose speeches on civil rights and justice attracted people. He inculcated moral values through his speeches which made him popular. However he was not interested in politics though his father was a supporter of Lokmanya Tilak. But in 1930, he resigned his job to join Indian Independence Movement and was imprisoned for 15 months for his work in the Civil Disobedience Movement. He used to deliver lectures on Bhagavath Gita while at jail, where Vinoba Bhave was also imprisoned.
He was imprisoned for a second time in Trichnapalli Jail Tamil Nadu, where he learned Tamil and Bengali. He translated the famous Tamil work Kurul by Thiruvalluvar into Marathi. He played a crucial role in spreading INC in rural Maharashtra. He participated in the 1942 Quit India Movement and was imprisoned.
Published: N/A
Updated: November 11, 2015
