Ramdas Paranjpe Biography 
Ramdas Paranjpe was an Indian lawyer from Pune, who lived in the 20th century (1912-1989). He practised as a lawyer in Pune's District Court and in the Bombay High Court, and handled both civil and criminal cases. He was the first lawyer to defend tribal Phase pardhi community, which was till then regarded as criminal tribe. In 1963 he became president of the Pune Bar Association and also the Deputy Mayor of Pune. Ramdas is the son-in-law of famous water color artist S. H. Godbole. His son Mumbiram is a contemporary classical painter and author from Pune who spearheaded Rasa Renaissance art movement in India. R. P. Paranjpe, the first Indian to top the Mathematical Tripos exam at Cambridge was his uncle.
He was born into a family of intellectuals and spiritual personalities in Hanumangadh, Wardha, Maharashtra in 1912. His paternal uncle Shridhar Vishnu Paranjpe (father’s cousin) was a spiritual leader. He was the grandson of Bhaskar Hari Bhagavat who was a founder member of the Prarthana Samaj in Mumbai. Ramdas Paranjpe’s education was completed in Pune. He specialized in Sanskrit and Economics during graduation. Later he pursued law studies from Mumbai University. Then he started practising law in 1936.
He set up offices in Mandai vegetable market of Pune. As a lawyer he came to spotlight soon after assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 when he defended the accused in the cases of burning of Brahmin homes in Maharashtra soon after the incident. He defended tribal Phasepardhi community, which also helped him to remain in spotlight. He was inclined towards Praja Socialist Party in the 1950s. He was one of the founders of Nagari Sanghatana in 1963. He was a great admirer of the works of his father-in-law and his friend, Chitrakalacharya N. E. Puram.
Published: January 28, 2019
Updated: January 28, 2019
