Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi C.B.E(October 24, 1868 – April 13, 1951), popularly known as Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi or Bhawanrao Balasaheb Pant Pratinidhi, was the ruler of the princely state of Aundh of British Rajduring the reign (1909 – 1947).
He is known for inventing the exercise sequence of Surya Namaskar, Salute to the Sun, now incorporated into modern yoga as exercise.
Contents
- Life
- Family
- Awards
- Shri Bhavani Museum
- Literary contributions
- See also
- References
- Sources
- External links
Life
Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao was born to Shriniwasrao Parashuram “Anna Sahib” (7th Raja of Aundh) on 24 October 1868. He studied at Satara High School and completed his Bachelor of Arts in Deccan College of University of Bombay in Pune. He succeeded the Aundh State as the Raja on 4 November 1909. Although Balasaheb was not a scholar, he was avid reader and his Sanskrit was tolerably good. He worked as Chief Secretary to his father from 1895-1901 in order to learn the Administration of the State. He was a man of letters, an accomplished painter, and an erudite musical kirtankar. He presided over Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held in Indore in 1935. He also served as President of the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha.
In the 1920s, he popularised the flowing sequences of salute to the sun, Surya Namaskar, containing popular asanas such as Uttanasana and upward and downward dog poses, helping to shape yoga as exercise.
Family
His second son Appa Sahib Pant served as Indian ambassador (1912-1992) in many countries. The Government of India honoured him in 1954, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his contributions to the society, placing him among the first recipients of the award.
Awards
- In 1946, he was awarded The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire – C.B.E.
Shri Bhavani Museum
Bronze statue of Shivaji Maharaj in the collection of the Shri Bhavani Museum of Aundh
Damayanti Vanavas by Raja Ravi Varma
Balasaheb was an avid collector, patron and commissioner of arts. He set up a museum on the Yamaitemple hill in Aundh to hold his art collection.The museum has the distinction of being one of the first art museums in India to be set up by an Indian as an Art Museum rather than as a museum of archeological ]. The museum collection includes paintings and sculptures of various well-known artists including Raja Ravi Varma and the famous “Mother and Child” stone structure by Henry Moore. It also has various works of art by former alumni of the J.J. school of art such as M. V. Dhurandhar, and Madhav Satwalekar The museum includes a collection of paintings by Dhurandhar on the life of the founder of Maratha empire Shivaji which was commissioned by Balasaheb in 1926.The museum also holds works from the Bengal school. The collection includes casts and copies of many popular western classical sculptures and paintings.There is a small collection of Indian paintings from the pre-modern period especially of the Kangra or Pahadi style.
Literary contributions
- The Picture Ramayana (1916) -Balasaheb wrote and illustrated he book.
- The Ten-Point Way To Health: Surya Namaskars (1928)
- Surya namaskaramulu (1928) Telugu translation.* Ajanta (1932)
- Surya Namaskar (1939) Gujarati translation.
- Surya Namaskars (1940)
- Surya Namaskar (1973) Hindi translation.