Sir Ramakrishna Gopal Bhandarkar KCIE MLC (6 July 1837 – 24 August 1925) was an Indian scholar, orientalist, and social reformer.

[5] In 1853, while a student, Bhandarkar became a member of the Paramhansa Sabha, an association for furthering liberal ideas which was then secret to avoid the wrath of the powerful and orthodox elements of contemporary society.

In 1885, Bhandarkar along with noted social reformers Vaman Abaji Modak, and Justice Ranade established the Maharashtra Girls Education Society (MGE) .

[6] The society is the parent body of the first native run girls' high school in Pune popularly known as Huzurpaga.

[9] The establishment of the school and its curriculum were vehemently opposed by Nationalist leader Lokmanya Tilak in his newspapers, the Mahratta and Kesari.