Many houses, offices and landmarks in the Walled City are named after various members of the Nilkanth family in gratitude to the people who awakened the city to the need for women's education, and to the existence of social evils such as child marriage, the caste system and the practice of declaring a person outcaste, just because he had crossed the seas.
For instance, the road opposite the Baradari bungalow leading into Khanpur is called Vidyagauri Nilkanth Marg. Right in front of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's ( AMC) Danapith building is a marble bust of Ramanbhai Nilkanth. In Raipur, there is an orphanage named Mahipatram Rupram Nilkanth Anath Ashram. And most important of all, the famous Bholanath Sarabhai Devetia Haveli in Lakha Patel ni pol.
On Saturday evening, at a quite function in Navrangpura, Shailja Kalelkar Parikh and Sukumar Parekh released a book in which they have narrated stories about the two families-that of the famous author, social reformer Mahipatram Roopram Nilkanth and that of Bholanath Sarabhai Divetia. The book is titled 'Marching to a different beat, the Nilkanths of Gujarat'. Both had contributed immensely to the strengthening of Gujarat's social fabric.
Bholanath was the founding member of 'Dharma Sabha' and was often called the 'Raja Rammohan Roy' of Gujarat. Shailja and Sukumar's book is set between 1829 and Independence. It gives an account of the opposition the two families had to face when they stood up against the rigidities of society. The Prarthnasabha, Hindu Sansar Sudhara Samaj and Anjuman-e-Islam are just a few of the societies that the two families had nurtured. The two families became closer to each other when Ramanbhai Nilkanth married Vidyagauri. Their daughter was named Vinodinee Nilkanth.
Ramanbhai's father, Mahipatram Roopram, a reformer and educationist, was the first to cross the seas to travel to England in March 1860 and write after returning to Gujarat in April 1861, the first Gujarati travelogue - 'Englandni Musafininu Varnan'. He had gone on the advice of the educationist TC Hope who was reviewing textbooks for children. Mahipatram was then a temporary headmaster at the Ahmedabad High School.
On his return, the Nagars banished Mahipatram from the community and nicknamed him 'Vilayati Monkey'. Throughout this painful episode, Bholanath Sarabhai, Dalpatram Kavi, Kavi Narmad, Ranchodlal Chhotalal, his wife Parvatikunvar stood by him like a rock. (Parvatikunvar had by now joined her husband against blind rituals, child marriage and the movement for women's education).
By 1865, Parvatikunvar was instrumental in forming the Stree Mandal which had several influential women as members. Prominent among these was Harkuvar Shethani, wife of Hutheesing Kesrisingh. By 1888, the Gujarat Ladies Club had come into existence. Mahipatram had written a whole book, 'Paravatikunvar Akhyan', narrating the story of her struggles. By 1881, Mahipatram had written three biographies - Kapol Karsandas Mulji Charitra (1877), Durgaram Charitra (1879) and novels like Vanraj Chavdo (1881), Sasu Vahuni Ladhai (1866) and Sadhara Jaesangh (1880). These books focussed on the social evils and absurdities of the time.
Talking about their book on Saturday, Shailaja Kalelkar Parikh said that the book gives an account of the Prarthana Samaj and Bholanatah Sarabhai's efforts to rid society of irrational beliefs and superstitions.
"It also tells about the civic, educational and literary advancements made during Ramanbhai's time, Lady Vidyagauri's contribution to women's empowerment and Gandhiji's influence on the two families," said Shailaja Parikh.
Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Mahipatram-crossed-the-seas-and-paid-the-price/articleshow/26330658.cms
For instance, the road opposite the Baradari bungalow leading into Khanpur is called Vidyagauri Nilkanth Marg. Right in front of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's ( AMC) Danapith building is a marble bust of Ramanbhai Nilkanth. In Raipur, there is an orphanage named Mahipatram Rupram Nilkanth Anath Ashram. And most important of all, the famous Bholanath Sarabhai Devetia Haveli in Lakha Patel ni pol.
On Saturday evening, at a quite function in Navrangpura, Shailja Kalelkar Parikh and Sukumar Parekh released a book in which they have narrated stories about the two families-that of the famous author, social reformer Mahipatram Roopram Nilkanth and that of Bholanath Sarabhai Divetia. The book is titled 'Marching to a different beat, the Nilkanths of Gujarat'. Both had contributed immensely to the strengthening of Gujarat's social fabric.
Bholanath was the founding member of 'Dharma Sabha' and was often called the 'Raja Rammohan Roy' of Gujarat. Shailja and Sukumar's book is set between 1829 and Independence. It gives an account of the opposition the two families had to face when they stood up against the rigidities of society. The Prarthnasabha, Hindu Sansar Sudhara Samaj and Anjuman-e-Islam are just a few of the societies that the two families had nurtured. The two families became closer to each other when Ramanbhai Nilkanth married Vidyagauri. Their daughter was named Vinodinee Nilkanth.
Ramanbhai's father, Mahipatram Roopram, a reformer and educationist, was the first to cross the seas to travel to England in March 1860 and write after returning to Gujarat in April 1861, the first Gujarati travelogue - 'Englandni Musafininu Varnan'. He had gone on the advice of the educationist TC Hope who was reviewing textbooks for children. Mahipatram was then a temporary headmaster at the Ahmedabad High School.
On his return, the Nagars banished Mahipatram from the community and nicknamed him 'Vilayati Monkey'. Throughout this painful episode, Bholanath Sarabhai, Dalpatram Kavi, Kavi Narmad, Ranchodlal Chhotalal, his wife Parvatikunvar stood by him like a rock. (Parvatikunvar had by now joined her husband against blind rituals, child marriage and the movement for women's education).
By 1865, Parvatikunvar was instrumental in forming the Stree Mandal which had several influential women as members. Prominent among these was Harkuvar Shethani, wife of Hutheesing Kesrisingh. By 1888, the Gujarat Ladies Club had come into existence. Mahipatram had written a whole book, 'Paravatikunvar Akhyan', narrating the story of her struggles. By 1881, Mahipatram had written three biographies - Kapol Karsandas Mulji Charitra (1877), Durgaram Charitra (1879) and novels like Vanraj Chavdo (1881), Sasu Vahuni Ladhai (1866) and Sadhara Jaesangh (1880). These books focussed on the social evils and absurdities of the time.
Talking about their book on Saturday, Shailaja Kalelkar Parikh said that the book gives an account of the Prarthana Samaj and Bholanatah Sarabhai's efforts to rid society of irrational beliefs and superstitions.
"It also tells about the civic, educational and literary advancements made during Ramanbhai's time, Lady Vidyagauri's contribution to women's empowerment and Gandhiji's influence on the two families," said Shailaja Parikh.
Source : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Mahipatram-crossed-the-seas-and-paid-the-price/articleshow/26330658.cms
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