Vitthal Ramji Shinde

Shinde was born on 23 April 1873 in the princely state of Jamkhandi, now in Karnataka, into a Maratha family.^[6] His early childhood was influenced by a family environment that was tolerant of different ideologies and belief systems. His family, friends and acquaintances came from various social backgrounds.^[7]

His religious views were influenced by the works of Sant Tukaram, Sant Eknath, and Sant Ramdas. He also studied the writings of John Stuart Mill, Herbert Spencer, Max Müller, Mahadev Govind Ranade, and R. G. Bhandarkar.^{[citation needed]} He was a follower of the Varkari sect.

Shinde was married to Yamunabai, who spoke Kannada, and was raised in a Vaishnav Brahmin family.^[8]

In 1898, Shinde earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fergusson College, Pune. He began law studies in Mumbai to pursue his Bachelor of Laws (LLB), but discontinued it.^{[citation needed]} In that year, he joined the Prarthana Samaj, where he associated with figures such as Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade and Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar. In 1901, with the financial support of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III of Baroda State, he went to Manchester College, Oxford, to study comparative religion.^[9]

After returning to India in 1903, Shinde resumed his work with the Prarthana Samaj and became active in efforts to address caste-based discrimination.^[10] He focused on education and social welfare initiatives for the Depressed Classes. In 1905, he opened a night school for Dalit and untouchable children in Pune.^{[citation needed]} The following year, on 16 October 1906, in Mumbai, he founded the Depressed Classes Mission in Bombay.^[11]

In subsequent years, he established the Murali Pratibandhak Sabha or "Murali Prohibition Council" in 1910 and convened the Asprushyata Nivaran Parishad or "Untouchability Eradication Council" in 1912.^{[citation needed]} In 1917, Shinde played a role in passing a resolution at the Indian National Congress condemning the practice of untouchability.^{[citation needed]}

Between 1918 and 1920, he was involved in organizing conferences on untouchability, chaired by leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, and Sayajirao Gaekwad III.^{[citation needed]} He also presented evidence before the Southborough Franchise Committee in 1919, advocating for political representation of marginalized castes. In 1923, he resigned from the executive of the Depressed Classes Mission due to internal disagreements, but he remained associated with its objectives.^{[citation needed]}

In 1930, Shinde participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement and was imprisoned for six months in Yerwada Central Jail.^[1]

During the 1920 Bombay Presidency Council elections, which he contested from Pune, he published a Marathi-language article titled Bahujan Paksh in Baroda's Jagruti Patra.^[1] The article served as a political statement and outlined the objectives of the Bahujan Samaj Paksha, a party aimed at representing socially and economically disadvantaged groups in Indian society.^[12]

In 1933, Shinde published Bhartiya Asprushyatecha Prashna (India's Untouchability Question), which examined the caste system and religious orthodoxy. The work included critiques of idol worship, ritualism, and hereditary priesthood. Shinde advocated for a direct relationship between individuals and the divine.^[13]

Shinde established the Depressed Classes Mission to provide social and educational support for groups including the Mahars, Chamars, and Namasudras.^[3][14]

To accomplish this, the society worked to:

1. Oppose untouchability.
2. Provide education to Dalit communities.
3. Establish schools, hostels, and healthcare facilities.
4. Address social challenges faced by marginalized groups.^{[citation needed]}

Vitthal Ramji Shinde died on 2 January 1944, at the age of 70, in Bombay Province, British India.^[15]