He grew up in Vidarbha but ran away from his home in Nagpur at age thirteen in response to Mahatma Gandhi's call to young people for joining his movement for India's attainment of freedom from the British Raj.
After spending a few years in extreme poverty, he found some stability with a few patrons.
Later he joined Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and worked as a volunteer in Gadge Maharaj's social service movement.
[1][2][3] In 1976, Dandekar received a Sahitya Akademi Award for his autobiographical work Smaran Gatha.
He was elected president of Marathi Sahitya Sammelan held at Akola in 1981.