Anand Raghuji Divte, popularly known as Anandswami, was born on 26 July 1893, in Waghude Budruk, Ahmednagar district. At the age of 12, he resided in a monastery in Vadgaon Rasai, Pune district, where he delved into the studies of yoga, Pranayama, and Dharmashastra. Appointed as the monastery's abbot in 1914 by Harimaharaja, he later left to join India's freedom movement.
Between 1919 and 1923, Anandswami garnered significant popularity across Maharashtra. Establishing an Ashram and Gurukul in Jambora village, Buldhana district, in March 1923, he championed the cause of debt-ridden farmers, leveraging the Debt Arbitration Act of 1933 to free many from exploitation.
Embracing Subhash Chandra Bose's call, he formed the revolutionary farmers' organization 'Lal Daglewala' and went underground from July 1940 to August 1943, actively participating in the anti-British struggle. Despite imprisonment in Omkareshwar and later Raipur, he continued his advocacy for prisoners' rights.
Upon release in August 1946, he dedicated himself to the Farmer Workers Party's propagation and organization in Vidarbha. Ailing health compelled him to focus on social service at Vadgaon Rasai Ashram from 1950 onwards.
Anand Raghuji Divte passed away on 29 August 1952.
Name mentioned in the freedom fighter Charitra Kosh Vidarbha Section, Maharashtra State.
Source: Dr. Shivaji Mhaske, Contributor for CCRT.