Aprabuddha (1887 – 1967) was a saintly personality of Maharashtra who wrote on ancient thoughts and modern issues. Aprabuddha was the name adopted by Vishnu Keshav Palekar of Vidarbha, who first assumed the name while writing a biography of his master – Guru Annasaheb Patwardhan. He belonged to the Dattatreya sect.
Aprabuddha – Short Biography
Aprabuddha was born at Paratwada on December 31, 1887 and died
on July 9, 1967. He attended school at Amravati and attended college at Nagpur
and Allahabad. He also studied law. While young, he participated in the Indian
freedom struggle, and like his master had, turned to spiritual things.
Although he lived in the modern age, his eyes were fixed on
the lofty ideals set by the ancient rishis. He grew a beard like the earlier sages
and between 1917 and 1933, he chose to meditate in the Himalayas. He devoted
the rest of his life as divine mission. He was a devotee of Ganesha.
His guru had asked him to draw his spiritual inspiration from
the noted Marathi poet-saint Dnyaneshwar. Aprabuddha chose Nagpur as his karmabhumi
(place of work). He firmly believed that scientific approach would be beneficial
for society and its development. He wrote on various subjects out of his
conviction.
Aprabuddha – Literary Works
Some of his books are
- Shri Annasaheb Patwardhan Yanche Charitra (Aprabhuddha’s first work, a biography of his master in which he brought out Annasaheb Patwardhan’s life and teachings);
- Vaidika Sanskritichi Punarghatana (a book dealing with the problems confronting modern Hindu society);
- Rigvedacha Sandesh (the Message of Rig Veda) that argues for the need to develop India’s own system of investigation as against the ways propounded by the western counterparts;
- Vedanche Apaurusheyatva – where professes that the concepts of Vedas are in accordance with physics, impersonal and apaurusheya (self-manifesting) and hence can be demonstrated as stating scientific truths;
- Doan Samyavada where he brings out the limitations of Russian Communism and claims that Hindu thinkers had chalked out ways and means to achieve communist objectives in a more humanistic manner.
- Lal Gundgiri refuting the contentions of S A Dange in his book ‘India from Primitive Communism to Slavery;
- Brahman – Ek Rashtriya Prashna – discussing all the problems related to brahmins
- Patanjala Yogasutra (Prathampad) where yoga is discussed in the light of modern science
- Shikshanacha Khelkandoba which deals with the pathetic conditions in the field of education and the reasons behind these conditions
- The Science of Yoga Vol I and II discussing the fundamentals of Hindu culture with an attempt to dispel misconceptions about the science of Yoga
- Bharatiya Vivahashastra to state that marriage in India has a transcendental goal.