Anant Viththal Keer,[1] known by his alias Dhananjay Keer (1913–1984[2]) was an Indian biographer who profiled many high profile politicians and social activists.

Anant Viththal Keer
Born(1913-04-23)April 23, 1913
Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, India
Died12 May 1984 (1984-05-13) (aged 71)
Pen nameDhananjay Keer
OccupationBiographer
LanguageEnglish
Period1950-1980
GenreBiography
Notable awardsPadma Bhushan

He had written biographies of B. R. Ambedkar, V. D. Savarkar, Bal Gangadhar Tilak,[3] Mahatma Phule,[4]: 194  Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj and Mahatma Gandhi.[2]

Biography

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Keer was born in Ratnagiri on 23 April 1913. His father's name was Vithal and his mother's was Devaki. He was married to Sudha and had six children.[5]: 136 

K. N. Jadhav writes that the revolutionary atmosphere in Ratnagiri in the early 1920s had a great influence on him. He migrated to Mumbai in 1938 to work with the Education Committee of the city's Municipal Corporation.

He began writing in "Free Hindustan". His first biography, that of Savarkar, was first published in 1950.[2]: 159  Later, he wrote biographies of Ambedkar and Tilak.

Resigning from his job, he wrote biographies of Phule, Shahu and Gandhi.[2] He was bestowed with the Padma Bhushan in 1971[2]: 159  and was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Shivaji University in 1980.[2]

Keer had worked with Savarkar in the building of a temple in Ratnagiri.[6]

Books

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Marathi

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  • Mahatma Jotirao Phule: Amchya Samajkrantiche Janak
  • Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (1966)
  • Lokmanya Tilak ani Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj: Ek Mulyamapan (1971)
  • Vishwabhooshan Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Manas Ani Tattvavichar
  • Mahatma Phule : Samagra Wangmay (1969) (Coeditor S. G. Malshe)
  • Krushnarao Arjun Keluskar: Atmacharitya va Charitya
  • Rajarshi Shahu Chattrapati
  • Krutadnya Mi Krutartha Mi (autobiography)
  • Lokhitkarte Babasaheb Bole
  • Teen Mahan Saraswat (1979)
  • Hyani Itihas Ghadawila (1980)

English

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  • Veer Savarkar / Savarakar and His Times (1950)
  • Dr. Ambedkar: Life and Mission (1954)
  • Lokmanya Tilak: Father of Indian Freedom Struggle (1959)
  • Mahatma Jotirao Phule: Father of Indian Social Revolution (1964)
  • Mahatma Gandhi: Political Saint and Unarmed Prophet (1973)
  • Shahu Chattrapati: A Royal Revolutionary (1976)

References

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  1. ^ Times of India (Firm) (1971). The Times of India directory and year book including who's who. Bennett, Coleman & Co. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f K.N Jadhav (1 January 2005). Dr. Ambedkar and the Significance of His Movement. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7154-329-8. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  3. ^ United Asia. United Asia. 1963. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  4. ^ P.E.N. All-India Centre, Bombay (1968). The Indian P.E.N. P.E.N. All-India Centre. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  5. ^ India News and Feature Alliance (1975). India who's who. INFA Publications. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  6. ^ Lavakare, Arvind (6 March 2003). "A saint vs a patriot". rediff.com/. Rediff.com. Retrieved 26 March 2012.

Further reading • Dr. J. P. Dodamani (2011). (Tra. Kannada). Mahatma Jyotirao Phule