14 Facts About Durgaram Mehta

Durgaram Mehta was the first to use autobiographical writing in Gujarati literature by keeping minutes of the transactions of the Manav Dharma Sabha with his comments and views.

Durgaram Mehta accompanied his aunt to Bombay in 1825 and studied for six months in a government Gujarati School free of charge and was found capable to handle a school.

Since Durgaram Mehta himself was a strong supporter of widow-remarriage, the event of his second marriage has been criticised by Mahipatram Rupram Nilkanth, biographer of Durgaram Mehta.

Durgaram Mehta is considered to be pioneer of social reform activities in Gujarat.

Durgaram Mehta concentrated his attention on the problem of widows, and led a movement supporting widow remarriages.

Durgaram Mehta believed that among the Hindus there are many sects and sampradayas and this state prevented them from believing in one God.

Durgaram Mehta therefore desired that some effort must be made to make people see the truth and with this in mind, he thought of founding an association in his native town of Surat.

Around 1842, Durgaram Mehta came in contact with Dadoba Pandurang, who transferred from the Elphinstone Institute of Bombay to the Government English School, Surat.

Dadoba, closely associated with the social reformers group of Bombay, encouraged Durgaram Mehta to start a reform association.

On 10 February 1843, with the suggestion of Dadobha, Durgaram Mehta already had prepared the seven basic principles of the Manav Dharma Sabha.

In 1846, Dadoba transferred to Bombay, and, in 1850, Durgaram Mehta left Surat permanently and then the Manav Dharma Sabha was disbanded.

Durgaram Mehta is noted for his diary which records his public activities and minutes of the Manav Dharma Sabha from 1843 to 1845.

Durgaram Mehta used to jot down all his ideas and experience in connection with the field of education and such activities in diary regularly.

Durgaram Mehta wrote a book on science named Vijnan Nu Pustak.