Dr. Vasant Kumar Pandit

PANDIT, DR. VASANT KUMAR, M.A., LL.B., Ph.D  [Bharatiya Janata— Madhya Pradesh Rajgarh, 1980]  s. of Shri Ramkrishna Pandit; b. at Bombay June 5 1921 ed. at Wilson College, Bombay, Govt. Law College, Bombay; m. Smt. Shushila, July 8, 1946; 1 s. and 3 d.; Professional Astrologer, Social Worker, Businessman and Industrialist; previously associated with Bharatiya Jan Sangh; has taken part in various national movements and courted arrests fourteen times; of special note are his arrests during Kashmir Satyagraha, Cutch Border agitation, Chinese aggression, Anti-Indo Russian Pact, Delhi Janata Morcha, Price-rise-Andolan, Agitation, for unemployment, Teachers’ Satyagraha, Students’ Movements and various other public causes; during the Emergency worked underground for some time and was later arrested under D.I.R.; joined Jaya Prakash Narayan in his Janata Andolan for “Samagrah Kranti;”  Secretary, Bharatiya Jan Sangh; Bombay Unit 1953-66; President, (i) Bharatiya Jan Sangh, Bombay Unit, 1957-66, and (ii) Maharashtra State Jan Sangh, 1969-77; Member, A.I.W.C. Bharatiya Jan Sangh for 2 years; Was a Fellow, Lecturer, and later on Professor of Sanskrit, Wilson College Bombay for 1 year; Life Member, (i) Bhandarkar Oriental Institute, Poona, (ii) Asiatic Society, Bombay, and (iii) All India Oriental Conference; connected with several cultural, educational and social organisations such as the Rotary club, Bharatiya Sangeet Samsad; Member, (i) Bombay “University Senate for years, (ii) Prince of Wales Museum for 3 years, (iii) Indo-Israel League for 10 years, (iv) Maharashtra Sports Committee for 3 years, (v) The World Brotherhood for 25 years and (vi) the Universal Spiritual Mission etc.;  Member, (i) Maharashtra Legislative Council, 1959-77, and (ii) Sixth Lok Sabha, 1977-79; has worked on several Committees; sent by the Govt. of Maharashtra, as a delegate to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference held in London, 1966, and in Delhi; 1975.  

Social activities:  A social worker of repute, loves to serve the people.  

Favourite pastime and recreation:  Indian classical and European music, photography, stamp and match-box collections, cooking and sports.  

Special interests:  Education, culture, Arts, Sport, social life and Politics.  

Accomplishments in letters, art and science:  First person to get M.A. and Ph.D. in Jyotish Shastra in India; renowned as an International Astrologer, and is known as “Pandit Varahamihira” in the circle of Astrologers.  

Publications:  (i) Varahamihira, (ii) Brief History of Ancient Indian Astrology, (iii) Vivahpatal; (iv) Omens and Portents in Vedic literature; several articles en various subjects like Jyotish Shastra, Indology, etc. also published.  

Sports and clubs:  Cricket, Tennis, Swimming, Horse-riding; Member, (i) Mathran Sports Club, (ii) Willingdon, Sports Club, Bombay, (iii) Royal Western India Turf Club, Bombay, and (iv) Rotary Club of Bombay Midtown.  

Travels abroad:  U.K., 1966, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan, 1979.  

Permanent address:  Ramakrishna Niwas, 8, Setalwad Road. Bombay-400036.