Datto Vaman Potdar


Dattatray Vaman Potdar, better known as Datto Vaman Potdar, was an Indian historian, writer, and orator. He was the Vice-Chancellor of University of Pune from 1961 to 1964.
The British colonial Government of India had honored Potdar with the title Mahamahopadhyaya in 1946. He was honored by government of india with Padmabhushan in 1967. Because of his vast knowledge, he was sometimes called as Dr. Johnson of Maharashtra or a living encyclopedia.
Potdar was a disciple of the historian Vishwanath Kashinath Rajwade, and served as a trustee of Pune based Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal founded by Rajwade. His disciples included Pandurang Sadashiv Sane, Swami Swaroopanand, Vasudeo Sitaram Bendrey, Sethu Madhav Rao Pagadi, and Ramchandra Chintaman Dhere.

Early life

Potdar was born into Deshastha Brahmin family in the village of Birwadi in Raigad District of Maharashtra. Potdar completed his matriculation in 1906 from Marathi Vidyalaya">Marathi language">Marathi Vidyalaya in Pune, and four years later received a bachelor's degree in History and Marathi from the then University of Bombay affiliated Ferguson college in Pune.

Career

Potdar became a teacher in 1912 at Shikshan Prasarak Mandali's Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya, his former school. He left the school in 1920 as the Head Master of the school. Shikshan Prasarak Mandali appointed him as a professor in 1921 at New Poona College in Pune. He remained in that position until 1935.
Potdar had mastered Sanskrit to the extent that he could fluently converse in it. He also was proficient in Persian and this proved to be valuable while conducting Historical Research.

Scholarly career

In 1910, Sardar Mehendale, V. K. Rajwade, and Potdar founded Itihas Sanshodhak Mandal. Potdar maintained passionate interest through his life in the growth of the Mandal.
He traveled all over India, collecting historical documents pertaining especially to Maratha Empire and Marathi literature. He ran periodicals, delivered speeches, and organized lecture series, inspiring others to research historical papers. He only once went abroad and that was to what in those times was USSR.
In 1965, the Government of Maharashtra appointed Potdar to write the biography of Shivaji, but before he could finish the assignment, he died on 6 October 1979 in Pune.

Personal

Potdar remained a lifelong bachelor.He was a victim of the 1961 Panshet floods with the wada he lived in the Narayan peth neighbourhood near the banks of the Mutha River getting destroyed by the flood waters.

Works

  • Vasantik Upadesh in IX parts – 1917 to 1929
  • Apale Pune – 1921
  • Marathi Gadyacha Ingraji Avtar – 1922
  • Thorle Madhavrao – 1928
  • Bodhprad Pustika for students in XII parts – 1935
  • Marathi Itihas va Itihas Sanshodhan – 1935
  • Maharashtra Sahitya Parishadecha Itihas – 1943
  • Jaypur Darshan – 1948
  • Suman Saptak – 1950
  • Maharashtra Deshachya Itihasache Sankshipt Varnan – 1951
  • Samaj Shikshan Mala – 1952
  • Shrote Ho ! – 1959
  • Bharatachi Bhashan Samasya – 1960
  • Me Europat kay pahile ? – 1960
  • Olakh – 1961
  • Inside Maharashtra – 1964
  • Lokmanya Tilakanche Sangati – 1975
Besides the above, Potdar has to his credit over 600 historical articles.

Editorial works

  • Devdas krut Sant Malika – 1913
  • Marathe Va Ingraj – 1922
  • Dr. Johnson Yanche Charitra – 1924
  • Sahitya Sopan – 1931
  • N.M.V.Smarak Grantha – 1933
  • Shivdin Kesari Krut Dnyan Pradeep – 1934
  • Vaktrutva : Krushnashastri Chiplunkar – 1936
  • Maza Pravas – Vishnubhat Godse – 1966
  • English East India Company cha Peshwe Darbarshi farsi patravyavahar
  • Vad yanchya Athwani : Parvatibai Paranjpe – 1971

Affiliations

Potdar was closely associated with 68 organizations. including the following:

Honors