COUPLE REVIVES PRITHVI PRADAKSHNINA

COUPLE REVIVES PRITHVI PRADAKSHNINA

30-JUNE-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

SASARAM--------------------------On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Rashtraratna Babu Shivprasad Gupta (June 28, 1883 – April 24, 1944), the centenary edition of his historic and rare work, *'Prithvi Pradakshina'* (Circumnavigation of the Earth), has become a subject of significant discussion within literary, academic, and intellectual circles. This edition was re-edited by Pramod Kumar Pandey—son of the late Kanhaiyalal Pandit (a renowned social worker, litterateur, and environmentalist from Bhaluni Dham, Rohtas district)—and his wife, the writer and editor Savita Pandey.

Paying a heartfelt tribute to Rashtraratna Babu Shivprasad Gupta on his 143rd birth anniversary, the editor couple stated that his contributions to the Indian freedom movement, national education, journalism, the promotion of Indian languages, and the development of nation-building institutions were unparalleled and unforgettable. Unfortunately, the current generation is not adequately familiar with his multifaceted personality and body of work.

According to the editor couple, Babu Shivprasad Gupta undertook a world tour spanning approximately 21 months between 1914 and 1916, during which he conducted an in-depth study of the education, culture, industry, society, and governance systems of numerous countries, including Japan, China, nations in Europe, and the United States. His objective was not mere tourism, but rather to assimilate the world's best experiences into Indian society and the process of nation-building. It is this visionary outlook that renders *'Prithvi Pradakshina'* highly relevant even today.

They noted that Babu Shivprasad Gupta played a pioneering role in the establishment and preservation of historic institutions such as *'Gyanmandal Prakashan'* (1919), the *'Aaj'* newspaper (1920), *'Kashi Vidyapith'* (1921), and the *'Bharat Mata Mandir'* (1936). The title 'Rashtraratna' (Gem of the Nation) conferred upon him by Mahatma Gandhi stands as powerful testimony to his extraordinary service to the nation.

Savita and Pramod Kumar Pandey stated that the life of Rashtraratna Babu Shivprasad Gupta remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration and enlightenment for everyone associated with society, education, journalism, and nation-building. They expressed confidence that the centenary edition of *'Prithvi Pradakshina'* would reacquaint researchers, students, historians, and general readers with the thoughts and vision of this great nation-builder.

They urged the Central Government and the Member of Parliament for Kashi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to confer the 'Bharat Ratna' posthumously upon Rashtraratna Babu Shivprasad Gupta, in recognition of his unparalleled contributions to nation-building, national education, Hindi journalism, Indian languages, and the establishment of social institutions.