Goswami Ganeshdutt was born to Goswami Mulchand and his wife Nihaldevi on 2nd November 1889 at Chiniot in Jhang District, Punjab. Educated at the Oriental College in Lahore, he worked briefly as a lecturer in a village. But even before he completed his education, he had taken a vow to wear coarse cloth and eat one meal a day, an austere life which later earned him the title of "Tyagmurti". He was fascinated by the ascetic tradition of saints, the "Sant Parampara", and in later years, by the "advait" philosophy of Swami Ram Tirth.

In 1923 he became a disciple of Madam Mohan Malviya, the founder of the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, and was made its General Secretary. Becoming the guiding spirit behind the Sabha, he dedicate his life to various aspects of social work, like upliftment of women and the protection of HArijans. He promoted Hindi and Sanskrit through Schools and College. He started a number of educational and other institutions like the Sanatana Dharma Sabha, Sanatana Dharma Schools and Colleges, Sanatana Dharma Mahavir Dals and Shakti Dals, cattle shelters, dharamshalas, dispensaries, orphanages and ashrams all over north and north west India. The Sabha suffered a severe setback when most of its institutions were left inPakistan due to the partition. Goswami Ganeshdutt was however not deterred. He established camps providing food, clothing and medical aid to the displaced persons. He supported Mahatma Gandhi's campaign against untouchability and encourages harmony between various communities. He started a number of newspapers like the 'Vishwa Bandhu' and 'Amar Bharat'.

His relentless efforts resulted in the establishment of over 1000 educational and over 600 religious institutions of which the most famous are the Birla Mandir at Delhi, the Geeta Bhavan at Harwar and the Sapta Rishi Ashram near Hardwar where Goswami Ganeshdutt breathed his last on 10th June 1959.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India