History of Shoonya
History of
Shoonya
Welcome to Shoonya Farm Retreat!
Nestled amidst the verdant folds of the Western Ghats, Shoonya Farm Retreat is far more than a scenic getaway. It is a place with a soul and a story.
If you’ve ever wandered through our lush trees, gazed at the gently rolling hills, or breathed in the crisp, mountain air, you’ve already felt the essence of Shoonya. But there is more — a history hidden beneath the rustling leaves and timeless stones, waiting to be discovered.
We invite you to journey beyond the obvious and uncover the remarkable legacy behind Shoonya — a tale known to only a few.


Shoonya Belgundi finds its roots in the dreams of an extraordinary visionary — Dr. A. G. Tendulkar, born in the humble village of Belgundi in 1902. As a child, he would often run up the very hill that Shoonya now rests upon, lost in dreams of the world beyond.
And dream he did — of journeys that took him from Goa to Sabarmati, then across continents to England, France, and Berlin. In 1930s Berlin, he witnessed both brilliance and decay — the artistic explosion of the Weimar Republic, mingling with the ominous rise of fascism. He crossed paths with legendary figures from both worlds: artists like Fritz Lang and Thea von Harbou, and political icons including Gandhi, Nehru, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Back in India during the freedom movement, he was imprisoned in WWII. In the 1950s, he catalyzed industrial change by starting a cement factory near Shoonya Belgundi.
In the 1940s, he returned to his childhood hill — building a “glass house” and planting thousands of mango and cashew trees across 300 acres of land. Dr. Tendulkar passed away in 1975, but his dreams took root — and still bloom here.
I hope your time at Shoonya allows you to breathe deep — not just air, but a piece of living history. Let the trees, the breeze, and the silence wash over you.
“This retreat is also a tribute to my father’s life” — now beautifully carried forward by my husband, Harry Dhaul, whose dedication and vision have brought Shoonya to life again.
Thank you,
Laxmi Tendulkar Dhaul
Dr. A. G Tendulkar
His career started as Sardar Vallabhai Patel’s personal secretary in Sabarmati. Moti-lal Nehru and other famous stalwarts recognized his brilliance and chose him for an Indian Civil Service (ICS) scholarship to the UK and eventually went on to study in a University in Paris.
He went to study in a University in Paris where he met and fell in love with a beautiful Russian actress Alexandra Passini. They were married for a short time. Interestingly, Alexander’s daughter Veronique went on to marry the famous Hollywood star Gregory Peck and they both visited India in 1952 to take Dr Tendulkar’s blessings
Dr. Tendulkar returned to Belgundi and started a newspaper called “Varta”. It was here that he came across the beautiful Freedom Fighter Indumati Gunaji who entered his office one day to have her article printed. Indumati Gunaji had been lured to the Indian Freedom struggle at a young age. She had just completed a few years as rector of Gandhiji’s Mahilla Ashram in Wardha.
A whirlwind romance with Tendulkar ensued which made her conservative scholarly father ask her to chose between her love for Tendulkar or her Family!