Sarvodaya Movement and Bhoodan Andolan cannot be separated
from the name Acharya Vinoba Bhave …. The saintly freedom fighter who for the
strave social, economical and religious equality.
Vinoba or Vinayak
Bhave was the first child of father Narahari and mother Rugmini Bhave. He was
born on 11th September 1895 in Godode village of Colaba district in
Maharashtra. He was influenced by the simplicity and spiritualism of his
mother. He remained unmarried and a devout all through his life.
Vinoba was excellent
in studies. Later he went to Kashi. He was very much interested in Vedas,
Upanishads and other ancient Hindu scriptures.
In 1916 he joined
Mahathma Gandhi’s Sabarmathi Ashram at Ahmedabad. He became Gandhiji’s
disciple and worked very hard at the Ashram. With his deep knowledge of
Bhagavat Gita, he conducted discourses at the Ashram.
Later, on Gandhiji’s suggestion, Vinoba took charge of the
Wardha Ashram, which was founded on industrialist Jamnalal Baja’s insistence.
Vinoba took part in the Nagpur flag sathyagraha and then temple entry movement. Many times he was imprisoned during the freedom struggle. He conducted long
distance Padyatras, visited several villages, worked for the Harijans and
spread awareness of freedom struggle. He maintained strict discipline and
Gandhian ideals at his Ashram.
Vinoba wished that
every village should be totally independent and should produce all the
necessary things within itself. He introduced the concept of Bhoodan … taking taking donations of lands
from the landlords and distributing them among the poor landless farmers. The
Sarvodaya Movement initiated by him insisted on equality among all.
In the later years
he retired to the Pavnar Ashram near Nagpur and continued his spiritual
activities. On 15th November 1982 he died at the age of 88.
Government of India honoured him with Bharat Ratna.
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