The purpose of giving power is to be able to give it away
It is uncommon for people to willingly relinquish their status. It is extremely rare for people in positions of power to do the same. However, one name that defies this rigid practice is Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi. The ruler of the princely state of Anudh (modern day Maharashtra), he willingly gave up his kingdom in favor of Swaraj. Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi is also known by his aliases Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi or Bhawanrao Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi. In addition be being a kind ruler, who kept up with the new traditions, he was also an avid art enthusiast, author, illustrator, art collector, erudite musician, and bodybuilder.
Chitra Ramayana (1916)
Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi took on the laborious task of publishing Valmiki’s Ramayana. This version of Ramayana was supported by pictures, hence the name ‘Chitra Ramayana’ or Picture Ramayana. He even illustrated the book himself. This was his major tête-à-tête with paintings.
To accomplish this task, he read Ramayana extensively. Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi was a perfectionist. It is evidenced by his obsession to pinpoint actual references of clothing, ornaments, and their details. This was the reason why his paintings seem so intricate.
Shri Bhavani Museum and Library
Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi was a true patron of art. He wished to make art more accessible to the local audiences. Therefore, he established Shri Bhavani Museum and Library in 1938. It is currently maintained by the Maharashtra state government. The museum cum library was built according to international standards. It houses many sandalwood and ivory objects. They also boast of a collection of paintings from all major and coeval schools – Bijapur, Jaipur, Kangra, Maratha, Mughal, Pahadi, and Punjab.
The museum has sections devoted to Indian and Western artworks and sculptures. Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi had also procured paintings from students at Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy School of Art. Some of the most famous artists are put on display – Raja Ravi Verma, Rao Bahadur Dhurandhar, Baburao Painter, Andrea Del Sarto, Rembrandt, Bartona Morilla, Francisco Goya, Cornil, and more. They also have a collection of 8,000 articles and 16,000 manuscripts, 3,500 out of them are handwritten holy books.
Surya Namaskar – For Health, Efficiency & Longevity
Although Suryanamaskar has been in existence since the Vedic ages, it has gone through several evolutions. The current iteration of the age-old practice is seldom credited to Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, who published the book ‘Surya Namaskar – For Health, Efficiency & Longevity’ in 1940. The book presents a detailed history, movements, benefits, and precautions of Surya Namaskar.
Photo Courtesy – Wikimedia Commons
