Pandurang Shastri Athavale, also known as Dadaji, literally translates as “big brother” in Marathi, is an Indian activist, philosopher, spiritual leader, social revolutionist and reformer. He founded Swadhyaya Parivar in 1954.
The Bhagavad Gita-based research process has spread to nearly 100,000 villages in India, with five million followers. Famous for giving lectures on the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas and Upanishad, Dadaji is also known for his selfless work and profound knowledge of the Sutras.
He is remembered for founding the Swadhyay Parivar organization, which highlighted the Bhagavad Gita’s principles.
Pandurang Shastri Athavale before fame:
After reading several intellectual times at the Royal Asiatic Library, he became intrigued with Hindi philosophy.
Achievement of Pandurang Shastri Athavale:
In 1997, he was honored with the Templeton Prize for Religious Progress.
Pandurang Shastri Athavale family life:
With his wife Nirmala Tai, he had one child.
He and chess player Viswanathan Anand were both given India’s second-highest civilian accolade, the Padma Vibhushan.