Pandit Ravi Shankar was born on the 21st of April 1903 in all learned family in Banera (Mewar). His ancestors served the court of Mewar right from Maharana Kumbha (1433-1468 A.D.) to Maharana Raj Singh I (l652-1680 A.D.) 'One of his ancestors Pt. Kushalesh left Udaipur along with Bhim Singh and settled at Banera and was appointed as a 'Rajaguru'. His ancestors Chaturbhuji and his brother Nanji took active part In the battle on the side of Raya Singh of Banera, which was 'fought between Ari Singh and Mabadji Sindhia. They are said to have brought the corpse of Raya Singh lifting it in their shoulders from the battlefield to the royal camp. For this service the title of Debars Shri 'Grace of the Royal Tent' was conferred on them.
Pandit Nagaji Ramji Shastri. the elder brother of Pt. Ravi Shani'(Nagaji's father. was a learned Sanskrit Scholar of his times, and has to his credit the 'authorship of works such as the ' Aksaya Niti Sudhakara', 'Vamsa Vamanam' 'Siksabala Jati Prabodha, 'Bhupa Bhusana ', 'Niti Sudha'. 'Bhu Bhrani Nivarana' etc. The last named work for a satire on' the princes who have adopted the decadent values of the West.
Pt Ravi Shankar ji took his B.Sc. and LL.B. degrees from the Allahabad University and obtained that of Bar-at-law from England.
His was also honored by the membership of the Royal Asiatic Society and the Bharatiya Vidya Parishad. He was awarded the title of 'Vidya Fanusana'. He died on the 12th of March, 1962 leaving behind two sons and two daughters Shri Vidya Sagar. Shri Akshaya Kumar. Smt. Sumitra Tiwari and Smt. Shatrupa Devi Pandit. Shri Akshaya Kumar ji is in the Indian Revenue Service as Asst. Collector of Customs and Central, Excise. His nephew the late Prof S.D. Derashri was a renowned educationist and economist who served the University of Jodhpur as Professor & Head of the Economics Department. We all remember him as one of our frequent visitors. Ravi Shankar ji was a selfless auditor dedicated person. His achievements are too numerous and cannot be compressed in this short life-sketch. We would like to reserve some space for giving more about him in our Research Bulletins.
Though he was a student of science and law, he took keen interest in History and literature also. His research work helped Narayan Shyam Rao Chidambaram write his 'History of Banera'.
Though born in an orthodox family he was a staunch supporter of equality in the society and hated untouchability. In those feudal times he was a staunch supporter of Democracy and helped in the establishment of Local-self-Government. He wanted the princes to introduce popular rule. He expressed his ideas openly in his series of articles published in the Navjiva' (1941-42) and in Marathi journals. He also acted as a legal consultant to Raja Prafulla Chandra Bhanja Deo of Bastar. and to the prince of Dungarpur in 1935 A.D. He also served the Raghogarh estate in Madhya Pradesh as an administrator. He has the credit of developing the state to a considerable extent.
His care for the cultural heritage led him' to collect a large number of paintings and manuscripts He also edited and got published' two historical and literary works entitled "Sera Prakasa" and Jaya Simha Virdavarat" printed from Gwalior and Raghogarh. These books relate to the deeds of the Khichi Chauhans of Raghogarh. His interest extended also to 'Ethics, Astrology, Ayurveda and comparative study of) religions. His love for the development of Hindi made him writ articles in Hindi magazines published from Prayag namely "Vidyarth and the "Vigyan",
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