Remembering 'Tatyasaheb Kelkar' On His 150th Birth Anniversary

Today, we commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of N.C. ('Na Chi') Kelkar. He was also known as ‘Tatyasaheb’ Kelkar.

N.C. Kelkar was a very prominent figure in Maharashtra in early 20^th century. Unfortunately, his work is not very well known today.

Narsimha Chintaman Kelkar was born in Miraj on 24 August 1872. He spent most of his life in Pune. Kelkar studied law, and was a prominent literary, political and social figure in the early twentieth century Maharashtra. N.C. Kelkar was a close associate of Lokmanya Tilak. About 15 years younger, Kelkar worked with Tilak over many initiatives. Following Tilak's death, he became one of the key leaders of the 'Tilak faction' of the Indian National Congress. Kelkar was the editor of Kesari twice during Tilak's imprisonments (1897-99 and 1908-1914). He continued working with Kesari after Tilak's death (in 1920) and wrote the first comprehensive biography of Tilak in 1921.

Kelkar was elected to the Central Legislative Assembly and served from 1923 to 1929. He participated in the first Round Table Conference in 1930. He was president of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha twice at Jabalpur in 1928 and Delhi in 1932.

Kelkar played key leadership roles in many institutions across political, social and commerce areas. He was associated with virtually every major institution in Pune. He was a founding member of the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce and the Cosmos Bank. Kelkar was actively involved in the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in several capacities, ever since its inception in 1917. He was a member of the Regulating Council of the Institute continuously from 1918 to 1947, and served as its Chairman from 1930 to 1942.

Kelkar passed away on 14 October 1947 at his home on Prabhat Road in Pune. Prabhat Films made a short film about his funeral (watch here).

A huge number of people attended N.C. Kelkar's funeral in Pune, including Maharishi Karve and Veer Savarkar.

Savarkar in his brief 'Shradhanjali' mentioned:

N.C. Kelkar's statue is prominently located near Lakdi Pul in Pune, at the beginning of the 'N.C. Kelkar Road'.

On 24 August morning, the statue was garlanded by his descendants and others.

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