Gurudeo Ranade Jamkhandi

Ranade, when he was only twenty in 1906 went with his few friends to meet Lokamanya Tilak after his return from the Mandalye Jail. Then Lokamanya showed him his hand-written manuscript of Gita-Rahasya. After Lokmanya had Published his great book 'Geeta Rahasya' Ranade read the big volume within eight days of its publication in 1916

Shri. N.C.Kelkar, the personal secretary of Lokamanya Tilak then requested young Ranade to write a review of the book. Ranade replied that he was too young to review the great book of Lokmanya. Then Lokmanya Tilak himself asked a very searching question to Ranade, as to what was the most important portion of Geeta Rahasya. He promptly replied, "The typical selective references to the stories in Mahabharat and their moral import communicated in Geeta Rahasya is the most important portion. Similary, the utterances of political wisdom and statesmanship referred to in Geeta Rahasya from Mahabharat are important portions of the book which could not have been written by anybody else. "Lokamanya was astonished and completely satisfied with the critical and comprehensive study of Gurudeo Ranade. Then in the year 191 7 being very much influenced by the intellectual eminence of Ranade, Lokamanya Tilak felt that he should be dragged to politics. Hence, he called him and requested him to do so. The young Ranade (the future Gurudeo in him) replied 'Sir, I have an inherent liking for religion and spirituality and not for politics. I have become a life-member of the Deccan Education Society only three years back and as yet there has arisen no reason for leaving it. Moreover, according to you a person must be a 'Sthitaprajnya' 'before he enters politics'. So, one must see whether one possesses these qualities. Lokamanya heartily smiled and remarked 'Arvinda Babu' is also a mystic like you".

Secondly, observing young Ranade's special aptitude for religion, Lokamanya suggested 'I can collect a lakh of rupees and hand them over to Bombay University with a request to appoint you as a professor of Hindu Religion. ' At this the young Ranade replied "Well Sir, you can do your part of the work, but it is doubtful whether the University would do its part, owing to its internal politics."

On the next occasion of their meeting Lokamanya Tilak asked the young scholar whether he would translate the Geeta Rahasya in English. Gurudeo replied him,it would bw rather difficult to translate such a book and suggested that an adaptation of the book in English would be better. Lokamanya liked the suggestion. But the matter was left there and suddenly Lokamanya posed another question to young Ranade- "Do I appear to be an atheist to you ?" Gurudeo Ranade then immediately replied that it would be audacious and foolhardy to call a person atheist who has so much implicit and profound faith in the philosophy of Bhagwadgita. (From the reminiscences of Lok. Tilak Vol-II pp. 33-35)