G.R.Dabholkar or Annasaheb Dabholkar or simply Dabholkar or Hemadpant as called
by Baba was born in 1859 in a poor Adya Gowd Brahmin family in a small town by name
Kelave-Mahim in Thana district. His father and grand-father were religious and devout
persons. He had lost his father at an early age. As the family was poor, his primary
education was done in his native-place and then his English education up to the
5th standard was completed at Poona. On account of his adverse financial circumstances
he could not continue beyond his 5th standard. Then he had to accept the post of
a school-master in his native place. He married Rukhmabai. His good nature, intelligence
and work were appreciated by Sabaji Chintaman, Chitnis who was then Mamlatdar in
the Colaba district. He appointed Dabholkar as a Talati (village-officer), then
as an English clerk and afterwards Aval (head) clerk in the Mamlatdar’s office.
Sometime afterwards he was appointed as a Forest Settlement Officer and again as
a Special Officer on Famine Relief Work at Broach (Gujrat). He supervised well the
draught relief work and performed his duties most efficiently. In 1901 he was appointed
as a Mamlatdar of Shahapur (Thana district) and in 1903 as a Resident Magistrate
1st class, at Bandra where he served till 1907.Afterwards he was transferred to
Murbad, Anand and Borsad (Kheda district).
At that time he came into contact with Dixit and they both together were reading
the Bagwat Gita and both were eager to meet a Guru who could lead them on safely
in their spiritual pursuit. In 1909 on Nanasaheb Chandorkar’s advice, Dixit went
to Shirdi and had darshan of Baba and was convinced that Baba was a Saint Divine,
a God in human form. He immediately wrote to Dabholkar then Magistrate at Anand
and told him that he met a Saint who was a walking God in Shirdi and advised him
to visit Shirdi forthwith to see the Saint.
Meantime, Dabholkar had a friend in Lonavala and his friend's son fell sick and
his friend tried all types of medicines and there was no improvement. His friend
even went to the extent of requesting his Guru to sit by the bed side of his son.
In spite of all these efforts, his son's illness did not abate. Dabholkar felt that
even a Guru could not help his friend's son, why should any one have a Guru. Thinking
on these lines, Dabholkar postponed his visit to Shirdi. Finally when Nanasaheb
Chandorkar told him in a convincing way about the need to visit Shirdi , he decided
to visit Shirdi. When he was on his
way to Shirdi, in the train some Muslim gentleman on his own came to him and told
him where to get down and how to go to Shirdi without wastage of time. Had that
Muslim not come and told him about this, he would have missed visiting Shirdi. Dabholkar
considered this as miracle, later on.
Despite his sincere efforts, Dabholkar could not visit Shirdi immediately, though
very much anxious to visit. Miraculously and on its own, Bandra post became vacant
and Dabholkar was transferred by telegram to Bandra where he worked previously.
Generally officials were not permitted to work for the second time in the same place
but this had happened in his case. When he was about to go to Shirdi, an incident
in his friend’s family took place and that incident made him think that it was no
use to have a Guru and gave up his plan of Shirdi visit. Then Nanasaheb then working
at Thana, while on official duty, came to Bandra and advised Dabholkar to visit
Shirdi after dispelling all his doubts. Dabholkar decided to visit Shirdi and was
on his way and miraculously in the train a Muslim gentleman totally new to him who
advised him correctly about train halts and how to reach Shirdi promptly and that
helped him very much and he reached Shirdi promptly and at that time Dixit was already
there in Shirdi waiting for Dabholkar’s arrival. Baba was then standing at the corner
of Sathewada and Dabholkar had Baba’s darshan and fell on Baba’s feet. He first
visited Shirdi in 1910. His posting for the second time to Bandra facilitated his
visit to Shirdi and this was a miracle.. It was in this year that he had the good
fortune to go to Shirdi and get the darshan of Sai Baba.
While in Shirdi, he argued with Balasaheb Bhate about the need to have a Guru and
the arguments went on for about an hour or so. Both argued effectively and none
was convinced with the arguments of the other. Dabholkar's view was that whatever
was destined to happen, would happen and why should any body have a Guru. While
Bhate's argument was that every human being was an helpless creature and that he
required to be guided by a Guru to reach safe destination in life. All these arguments
took place in Sathewada which was located far away from the masjid.
When Dabholkar went to the masjid and was having darshan of Baba, Baba knew about
his arguments about the need to have a Guru and calling Dabholkar as Hemadpant,
enquired about the arguments with Bhate. Dabholkar was surprised as to how Baba
who was in the masjid could know
all these arguments and came to the conclusion that Baba was omniscient and knew
every thing and the thoughts of all the people, whether near or far. Baba addressing
Dabholkar as Hemadpant had got a prophetic significance. Yadav King, Ramachandra
ruled Yadav kingdom from Devgiri from 1271 to 1309 A.D. and Hemadri or Hemadpant
was the Chief Minister in his kingdom. Hemadpant compiled the encyclopedic Sanskrit
work, Chaturvarga Chintamani. He had also built many temples in a style known after
him, i.e.Hemadapanti. He also invented the Modi script for writing Marathi. In addition,
he wrote many books on vaidhyakshastra (medical science) and also started new methods
of accounting system.
This title was given to him in advance by Baba in anticipation of his future work:
he wrote "Shri Sai Satcharitra", life history of Baba and also he maintained the
accounts of the Sai Baba Sansthan in later years. Inside the masjid, Dixit also
was present. Based on the diary notes Dixit made, which were published later, Baba
narrated a parable when Dabholkar, Dixit and others were present, explaining the
need to have a guide (Guru) to safely reach from a thick forest, without any danger
from wild animals, to our destination. Baba also said that guide (Guru) was necessary
for the people to improve their lives happily and to achieve spiritual pursuit;
as the path was really tough and in this way Baba cleared his doubts on the necessity
to have a Guru. This had greatly convinced Dabholkar about the need to have a Guru.
He retired from service in 1916. After this, he again got a temporary Govt. job
but that was of very short duration. After his retirement, Dabholkar got a meager
pension and it was insufficient for the maintenance of his family. Once he went
to Shirdi along with his friend, Anna Chinchnikar who told Baba about Dabholkar’s
meager pension and prayed to Baba to help Dabholkar by providing some other job
to him. Baba said that he would get it; but Dabholkar should serve Baba and derive
eternal bliss which was more important. In 1921 Dabholkar got a job and his financial
position improved.
Dabholkar, alias Hemadpant wrote Shri Sai Satcharita which was originally in Marathi
The biography was later translated into English by Gunaji. Dabholkar’s work is thus
treated as the first authoritative foundation of all writings on Baba’s life & His
mission. Initially Hemadpant felt that he was not capable of writing about Baba,
a God in human form. However, he
prayed to and sought blessings from Baba and ultimately it was Baba who held the
hand of Hemadpant and made him script the divine book, “Shri Sai Satcharitra”. Baba,
while giving permission to write his biography, said that he would himself write
through Dabholkar and Dabholkar was simply an instrument in the process. Realizing
what a difficult task it was, Hemadpant appealed to Baba not to make his work more
complicated by not cooperating. In this noble task, Hemadpant enlisted the cooperation
of all Baba’s bhaktas to share their experiences with him and sought. the support
of Shama and others. Hemadpant commenced collecting information from 1917 for writing
Baba's Life History and completed in 1929 (about 13 years).
Shama was the most ardent devotee and it was Shama who convinced Baba about the
need for writing his biography. This happened in 1916. Once Baba agreed, the task
became very easy for Dabholkar to write Baba’s biography and record the events,
happenings, leelas/miracles and messages of Baba. Dabholkar’s “Shri Sai Satcharitra”
was later serialized in “Sri Sai Leela” magazine which came out in 1923, 5 years
after Baba’s Mahasamadhi. He began writing only during 1922-23 and completed the
biography 6 years later and the book was written in Marathi andthe original has
53 chapters, containing 9308 verses. On completion, the book was published in 1929.
This book is a pothi, a religious text and as in all pothis, one does not look for
chronological order of events but only on the contents of the main events. Baba
called him as Hemadpant after the name of Hemadri , the famous and learned court-poet
of the Yadava kings in the 13th century. It was a tribute given by Baba to Dabholkar
as it signified the poetic talent in him and his capacity in rational thinking.
After his retirement he served Sai Baba very sincerely till Baba’s Mahasamadhi and
afterwards managed very skillfully and efficiently Sai Baba’s Shirdi Sansthan till
his death in 1929. He left behind him his wife, Rukhmabai, one son and 5 daughters,
most of whom were married to suitable and worthy husbands.