Gopal Ganesh Agarkar
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Gopal Ganesh Agarkar (14 July 1856 – 17 June 1895) was a Brahmin social reformer, educationist, and thinker from Maharashtra, British India.
At one time a close associate of Bal Gangadhar Tilak, he was a co-founder of educational institutes such as the New English School, the Deccan Education Society and Fergusson College along with Tilak, Vishnushastri Chiplunkar, Mahadev Ballal Namjoshi, V. S. Apte, V. B. Kelkar, M. S. Gole and N. K. Dharap. He was the first editor of the weekly Kesari and founder and editor of a periodical, Sudharak. He was the second Principal of Fergusson College and served that post from August-1892 until his death, aged around 39.
Early life
Gopal Ganesh Agarkar was born in a Koknastha Brahman family on 14 July 1856 in Tembhu, a village in Karad taluk, Satara district, Maharashtra. He was a friend of Nilkanth Tidke
Agarkar was schooled in Karad and then worked as a clerk in a court there.,In 1878, he got his B. A. degree, and in 1880 was awarded an M.A.
Achievements and philosophy
He was the first editor of Kesari, a prominent Marathi-language weekly newspaper that had been founded by Lokmanya Tilak in 1880-81. Ideological differences with Tilak caused him later to leave: they disagreed regarding 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 tolerated his wife's observation of the traditions of Hinduism.
Publications
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).
Death
Agarkar died unexpectedly on 17 June 1895. His death was attributed to asthma.