Phondushastri Karande

Ramchandra Vaman Karande was born in 1864 in Marcel, Portuguese Goa. He was introduced to Vedic studies and medicine through his family tradition and eventually became an expert in these fields. He conducted deep studies into astrology, the technical aspects of religious rituals, and various scriptures (Dharmashastras). Since he was an expert in Sanskrit, literature, rituals, Ayurveda, and astrology, he earned the title of Shastri.^[1]

Most of Karande's writing was published in periodicals. Around 1894, he began writing on social issues for the Panjim-based weekly magazine Hitachintak. He wrote under the pen name Dwiref. He chose this name because his own name, Ramchandra, contains two 'R's (in Devanagari script, the letter 'Ra' is sometimes referred to as 'Reph'). Since the word Dwiref literally means a bumblebee (which has two 'R's in its Sanskrit name), he titled his collection of writings Gunjarav (The Humming of a Bee). He wrote under this name for forty years.^[1][2]

While he contributed to many important Goan periodicals, his most significant literary contribution was through the magazine Satsang. In 1901, when Shrinivas Lakhu Bhandare established a printing press in Cumbarjua, Karande conceptualized starting a periodical from there.^[1] With support from Bhandare, Dada Vaidya and Ramchandra Waman Naik, Satsang was launched under Karande's editorship, where he wrote extensively. Karande's work was then compared to that of Vishnushastri Krushnashastri Chiplunkar.^[2] Satsang was published in Marathi language and focused on the lives of different Gaud Saraswat Brahmins.^[3]