Shripad Damodar Satwalekar (19 September 1867 – 31 July 1968) was a polymath with interests in painting, social health, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vedic literature. He was also the founder of the Swadhyay Mandal - A Vedic Research Institute.[1][2]
Shripad Damodar Satwalekar was born in the Princely state of Sawantwadi, now part of Sindhudurg district in the Present day Indian state of Maharashtra to Damodar Pant and Lakshmi Bai. He attended J J School of Art in Bombay and worked for six months at the same institute as a tutor. [3]
Satwalekar began his career as an artist, painter, and photographer with a studio in the city of Lahore, Punjab State. He mainly painted portraits of Maharajas and other prominent personalities of the day.[4] In 1900, he opened his own painting studio in South Hyderabad.[3] He moved to the Princely State of Aundh with a strong patronage offered by the then Maharaja of the State, Bhawanrao Pant Pratinidhi.
Satwalekar was interested in both individual and social health, Ayurveda, Yoga, and Vedas[5] (particularly in the analysis of the Vedas at the level of adhibhuta) and wrote several books on these subjects, including '
As early as in 1884, he started an institute for Sanskrit enthusiasts, Samskruta Vyaakhyaana Mandala. He established the Vivekavardhini Vidyaalaya, a public lecture hall, a gymnasium for young people, and so forth. For years he was associated with the Arya Samaj and the Theosophical Society. At one point of time, he served as a teacher of Vedas and painting at Kangadi Gurukula in Haridwar.[3]
Satwalekar was associated with several social service and outreach activities. He was a proponent of yoga and advised Gandhi on the subject. During his stay in Aundh he worked with the Raja Bhawanrao to promote Surya Namaskar.[11]
Satwalekar's son, Madhav Satwalekar (1915 – 2006) was also a renowned painter and artist in his own right.
Satwalekar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1968.[12] He was conferred the Mayo Award twice, once for painting and once for sculpting.[3]