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Contents
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Page No.
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Preface
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Preface
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Acknowledgements
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I. Early Life
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13
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Swami Keshvanand was a prominent personality of north India.
Being a Swami, he neither wrote his autobiography nor ever talked about his
family. So, a little is only known about his family background and early
life.
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II. A Learner
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22
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When Birma joined the Arya Anathalaya of Ferozepore he was
seventeen. So fas as his knowledge was concerned, it was hardly equal to an
average boy of five. The Anathalaya was his first School.
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III. A Freedom Fighter
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32
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Swami Keshvanand's desire for learning led him to know the
pitiable condition of the country. Under the British rule India was going
from bad to worse.
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IV. The Gramotthan Vidyapeeth
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40
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Swami Keshvanand was a
multi-dimensional pesonality, yet he was popularly known as a Shiksha sant.
His public life began in 1908. Since then, he had been working hard to end
the prevailing ignorance among the people. His role in developing the Sadhu
Ashram, Fazilka, establishing the Sahitya Sadan, Abohar, encouraging the
adult education and opening the mobile library in the villages of Fazilka
tehsil was highly significant.
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V. Opening the Rural Schools
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59
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After consolidating the establishment of the Jat School,
Sangaria, Swami Keshvanand decided to open schools in the villages of Bikaner
State. It was backward state, especially in the field of education.
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VI. In Support of Women's Education
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67
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When Swami Keshvanand achieved one thing, he immediately moved
forward. By 1944, he placed the Jat High School, Sangaria on strong footing.
So, now he devoted his time and energy to opening schools in rural areas.
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VII. Love for Libraries
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75
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Swami Keshvanand was not much educated, yet he developed a habit
of collecting numerous books. As the days rolled by, his collection of books
increased quantitatively as well as qualitatively.
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VIII. In Service of Hindi
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100
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Swami Keshvanand had great love for Hindi. He served its cause
for more than six decades. If we look into the public activities of Swamiji,
we shall find that he not only served the country through Hindi, but also the
cause of Hindi in itself.
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IX. Craze for Museums
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122
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Though Swami Keshvanand was a multi-dimentional personality, yet
he concentrated himself on creating all-round awakening among the ignorant
people of his region.
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X. A Social Reformer
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135
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In India, it is easier to become a political leader than to a
social reformer. The Indian society is not prone to change. If we look at its
history, we shall find the number of saints and seers much higher than that
of karma-yogis and social reformers.
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XI. Fund-Collections
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151
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Swami Keshvanand was more or less a Fakir, yet he had the credit
of establishing several costly institutions at Fazilka, Abohar, Mahajan (near
Bikaner) and in particular at Sangaria.
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Illustrations
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173
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XII. Was he a Sadhu?
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197
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The word 'sadhu' is a familiar word in India. It has come into
use from times immemorial. It is a respectful word. It is also a synonym of
Sannyasi.
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XIII. Conclusion
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206
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The most interesting chapter of a biography is often its
Conclusion. This chapter is supposed to examine the mind, body and soul of
its hero. A biography is generally of some greatman.
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Appendices
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219
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Chronology
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231
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1883: Birth at Magloona village in Sikar District (December).
1886: Father dies.
1889: Mother dies.
1900: Joins the Arya Anathalaya, Ferozepore.
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Bibliography
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235
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(a) Primary Sources (unpublished)
-Personal Diaries of Ch. Harish Chandra Nain, a close associate of Swamiji.
II
The Log-Books of the following institutions:
-Gramotthan Vidyapeeth (including Jat School and Sir Chhotu Ram Memorial
Museum), Sangaria.
Sahitya Sadan, Abohar.
-Yuvak Samiti, Sirsa.
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Name Index
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241
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