IIFL Knowledge Initiatives Sudhir Raikar Translated e-book design by into English by Mohammad Jameel Nivedan – A Plea Translated into English by Sudhir Raikar Acharya Dharmanand Kosambi e-book design by Mohammad Jameel Published in 2014. © India Infoline Ltd 2014-15 This publication is the property of India Infoline Group (IIFL), and should not be reproduced or redistributed to any other person or in any form in whole or in part without prior and explicit written approval/ consent of IIFL. This publication is purely for the purpose of public awareness and education and any reference to any scrip should not be construed as an offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities. We have exercised necessary due diligence in checking the authenticity of the information contained herein, but do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness and there can be errors both typographical and in content. 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FOREWORD Call it a memoir, travelogue or diary; Acharya Kosambi’s Autobiography of Dharmanand Kosambi (published by Nivedan is unarguably a sterling example of strikingly Permanent Black and distributed by Orient Blackswan) which unassuming and highly incisive autobiographical writing… helped me double-check the accuracy of certain names of people and places cited in the original. …endearing and enduring in the same breath, highly informative but equally humorous, brutally honest but I sincerely hope my English translation reproduces the never unceremonious, intimate in description and infinite meticulous details - if not the mesmerising charm - of in inspiration and most important, devoid of the vanity that Acharya’s flowing, first-hand account of incredible people knowingly or unknowingly seeps into any writing of the said experiences and parochial peculiarities in the course of his genre. The emotion wrapped in his words is as remarkable as knowledge-seeking penance across different regions of the discipline of his idiom. India, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka and America. The only liberty I have taken is to call his memoir ‘A Plea’ since it is, more I am deeply indebted to Shri. Prasad V Lolayekar, Director, than a travel account, also an humble appeal to his fellow Art & Culture, Government of Goa for his support and countrymen to try and delve deep before aspiring to soar encouragement during the making of this e-book which is high, whether in material life or on the elusive path of spiritual intended for free distribution over the internet. I am also thankful ascension. Beyond doubt, the Acharya’s heartfelt plea to Mr. Amar Ambani, Head – Research, IIFL for publicising this would inspire even the most casual of readers to re-examine e-book through the IIFL Knowledge Initiatives program, the purpose and significance of their lives in the guiding light a one-of-its-kind project to promote quality literature across of his example. verticals and spheres free of cost for the benefit of knowledge seekers and scholars spread across the globe. Credit is also Sudhir Raikar due to Ms. Meera Kosambi’s translation titled Nivedan: The July 11, 2014 3 Preface A weekly periodical called Bharat1 was published from Goa. Many of my Gomantak friends and acquaintances, however, It was run by a group of promising young activists during the fondly addressed the column simply as Nivedan (A Plea). This initial years. When I returned from my first visit to the US, they title, I felt, is more in line with my purpose and hence I have urged me to write a serialized column on my wide-ranging named the book so. experiences from the time I left my native place of Sankhval till my return from America. Conceding to their request, I Nivedan was published in Bharat from November 1912 till wrote one or two chapters under the title Majha Prawaas (My February 9, 1916. The reason behind the unduly long span Journeys) for the editor’s perusal. My text, in his reckoning, was the ongoing world war that made Bharat’s publication read more like a personal chronicle than a travel account and intermittent. I used to write chapters one after another in he rechristened it Atma Vritta (My Memoir). But the editor of sequential fashion but following the decision to visit America Bharat’s Marathi section Shri Shambarao Krishnaji Sardesai2, yet again, I completed five chapters at one go (14 till 18) in the in the very second instalment of the series, changed the title year 1916 or 1917 and handed them over to my friend Vishnu to Atma Nivedan (My Plea). Ramchandra Naik3. I intended to publish the consolidated text in book form with his help. The wish didn’t materialize owing Barring the expansive foreword that spanned the first two to several hurdles and the manuscript lay idle at his place for instalments, I chiefly intended to focus on my varied travel long. When I lost all hope of getting the book published from experiences. ‘My Journeys’ thus would not have proved Goa, I dispatched the 13 episodes published in Bharat and inappropriate in the given context. But I didn’t oppose the the succeeding five chapters to another friend Shri Damodar name given by Shri Shambarao under which 13 instalments, Raghunath Mitra4. I genuinely believe he has endorsed his and part of the 14th, were eventually published in Bharat. unabiding love for me by publishing this memoir in book form. 1 Renowned bilingual published from Panaji 1913 to 1917, and later from Kepe 1920 to 1949. Languages: Marathi and Portuguese 3 Lawyer by profession and a leading activist 2 Leading intellectual essayist, editor and fiction writer from Goa 4 Originally from Bardesh in Goa. Founder of the Marathi magazine ‘Manoranjan’ in Mumbai 4 Nivedan – A Plea Acharya Dharmanand Kosambi Nivedan makes a passing mention of a few gentlemen and monks who were otherwise kind and generous to me but also caused me distress and disappointment at times. I could have avoided the allusion; many would certainly feel in hindsight. Let me make it clear that my intention is not to bring disrepute to my friends and supporters. I have heartfelt respect for them and most of them are aware of this fact. It was only but natural for my patrons to assume that my chosen path was opposed to conventional wisdom, inevitably destined for failure. Yet they never disowned me and in fact still retain their love for me. I am also indebted to Shri Vittal Jiwaji Nadkarni5 for his prompt and scrupulous help in proof reading. Dharmanand Kosambi, Puratatwa Mandir, Ahmedabad, July 5, 1924 5 Author of several religious books including ‘Narendranath’ 5 1. EARLY YEARS was born at around 4.00 am on October 9, 1876 in Sankhval, granddaughter - all widowed. He had no son. Another of our a tiny hamlet in the Sasasht (Salsette) province of Goa. My neighbours was Narayan Shenvi Sanzgiri. (Currently, his son mother Anandibai and father Damodar had seven issues stays there and has carried out major repairs to the original I in all, two sons and five daughters. I was the youngest of structure.) Barring these three Brahmin households, we had the lot. My mother fell ill immediately after my birth and my a handful of Hindu and Christian Sudras in close vicinity. I nanny had to feed me to ensure my survival, so I am told. hardly mixed with the Christian boys; probably my father had When I was about six months old, my left leg, all of a sudden, prohibited me from doing so. There was little restriction in the developed a pus-filled swelling. Roki Miskita, an Ayurvedic case of Hindu Sudras; I am inclined to believe, for I distinctly practitioner from Kansuv, removed the pus by cutting open remember having mingled with them on many occasions. I part of my knee. The wound healed in due course but my leg was unanimously considered the dumbest of all my friends, remained weak for life. rather among all boys of the village. I couldn’t eat my food on my own till the age of 8 or 9. If my friends bullied me, I When my grandfather Ramchandra Kosambe first arrived never complained to my folks.