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Relevance of Gandhi and Vinoba

Relevance of Gandhi and Vinoba

August - 2015 Odisha Review

Relevance of and Vinoba

Rabindra Kumar Behuria

I know nothing which is of greater value than him, human life was a synthetic whole which could reading the Gita. And yet, I have found a living not be arbitrarily divided. It was a gift from nature person who follow the philosophy of Gita in his to be used carefully and judiciously. A life was own life. He is my master and lives in an destined to be lived decently and worthily. In order on the bank of Sabarmati river in Gujurat said to do so it had to be regulated in consonance , while concluding his fiftieth talk with a design or a integrated scheme. It was to on Gita. Perhaps these were the apt words in be guided by some basic priniciples and desirable which a disciple could pay tribute to his master. values. Acharya Vinoba Bhave is not known for wasting Gandhiji lived his life in conformity with words superfluously, for he does not possess even the principles and values which he cherished most. a grain of sycophancy in him. Being a student of Life for him was a God given gift and as such it Mathematics and also having a scientific was desirable that it should be integrated and temperament, he knew the worth and significance purposeful. It was to be harmonious whole. His of the word as medium of expression. His teachings and schemes of reforms reflect the same estimation of was as good as integration and purposefullness. These qualities any judicious person could give. Not only does it provide him with a basic unit of purpose and aim. shed proper light on the character of Mahatma, This unity might not appear on the surface only but also speaks volumes on the character of his because Gandhiji had no time and perhaps no follower. desire to reduce them to a system. For Gandhiji The whole gamut of man¶s activities today was never an intellectual in the academic sense of constitute an indivisible whole.You can not divide the term. He was neither a scholar nor a life - social, economic, political and purely religious philosopher anxious to establish a theory of what in to water tight compartments. I do not know of he perceived around him. He was pre-eminently any religion apart from human activity.It provides a man of action. He has written a great deal and a moral basis for all other activities, which they on various subjects but it was more to guide would otherwise lack, reducing life to a maze of people to action rather than presenting a thesis to sound and fury signifying nothing. The man said decorate scholarly parlours. this was Mahatma Gandhi. He believed in the Many of Gandhiji¶s ideas are noteworthy wholeness of human life and sanity of society. To and revolutionary. They grew out of creative mind.

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Such creative process in his mind was generated decentralisation, so that people can become by the challenges of his time and his earnestness partners of progress. Gandhi and Vinoba believed to cope with those challenges. For him historical in democracy and had immense faith in innate precedents and examples were no barrier to fresh wisdom and capabilities of common people. They thinking and discovery. Much of his direct contact lived closer to the common people and one among in the life and the practical experience it offered them. Thestrength of Gandhi and Vinoba was their him. At times, he did remember the old masters, simplicity. but rarely quoted them.His studies were instinctive Acharya Vinobaji in one of his remarks and more of general nature. For instance in placing said science plus spirituality form Gandhian before the nation the programme of and thought. One of the major reasons of the present village industry, he did not systematically work day crisis is absence of that blending of science out all the implications of his scheme in the and spirituality. Gandhian philosophy of language of an economist. Neither did he write a - welfare of all is based on the ancient scholarly thesis to prove the need for, and the value of decentralised industry in the economy of scriptures and tradition of . All sages and India.Instead, he gave simple and homely reasons saints of this land have prayed and worked for and illustrations for his new and revolutionary the good of not only all humans but of all creation. ideas. He tackled of the poverty of the masses It is very heartening that the latest science has and their enforced idleness and never forgot to also come closer to this philosophical approach. emphasize the fact that real India lived in her Some of the basic principles of ecology are villages. limitation, complexity and interdependence. Ecology tells us that if a part or section is harmed The world is in a crisis. Old order is or destroyed it will affect the whole. This also changing but the new is yet to emerge. All systems gives strong philosophical and scientific basis to are crumbling. Socialist model of the non-violence. If you harm others, you are harming has collapsed and capitalism in on the verge of your ownself. collapse. Even in India, the rate and pace of change is great and many old methods, values The power of non - violence is manifested and institutions are losing their credence. However, even in the life of an individual, but it becomes a the Gandhian alternative is emerging to the fore mighty power through mass movement as shown for the peaceful solution of the problems that by Gandhiji during the freedom struggle. Peoples confront the modern society. power is manifested when they adopt non violent means. It is for all those who have faith in Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Gandhian Ideology to awaken the inner power demonstrated the efficacy, as well as the necessity, of the people and make them realise the greatest of people¶s involvement in resolving problems. No power on earth is people¶s power. Violence and progress can be achieved without the active war have never been able to solve any problem. participation and involvement of people. They have lost all relevance in this nuclear age. Thus, Gandhi and Vinoba had immense Nuclear weapons are more dreaded than faith in the ability and capacities of the people in understood. Vinobaji could see that the nuclear the process of social change. In fact, they weapons are a blessing in disguise as they could advocated GRAM , democratic make humanity realise that violence is futile. In

61 August - 2015 Odisha Review this background, non- violence assumes special heartedness and collective efforts for the national significance. It is not violence alone that can offer reconstruction. As partisan approach is the bane solutions to various problems pestering humanity. of nation progress, and the communal frenzy in One of the major problems is how to bring about the name of caste and religion leads to social and a social change? Vinobaji¶s political disintegration, it is high time that we learn had proved the efficacy of non violence in this lessons from the past and, follow the path of field. The objective of Bhoodan Movement was Gandhi and Vinoba. not only to redistribute the land to the landless Gandhiji had strongly advocated the and home to the homeless but also to bring about decentralisation of political and economic power change in the attitudes of people which could have in favour of more or less self sufficient and self the way for a non violent revolution. We would governing village Panchayats . He regarded these like to tell our friends who are using violence to local instituions as the models of non- violent bring about a revolutionary change that they organisations. The 73rd constitutional Amendment should not waste their energies in this futile invigorating the system is a timely exercise. Revolution "Yes´ but violence - "No´. and decisive step in the right direction. It is also Then how to fight the exploitation, injustice, most appropriate to analyse in the present day corruption, inequality, they would ask. We the context, the Gandhian ideals as to how far the humble followers of Gandhiji, would like to assert village Republic will meet the demands of with conviction based on practical experience that decentralisation with people taking more these evils can be successfully fought with a non - responsibilities in governing their own affairs violence method as we are doing in various fields instead of a platonic approach of guardian in this country. planning. In the words of J.C Kumarappa ³You Gandhi and Vinoba are embodiments of can not have dictatorship in economics through people¶s power. They did not occupy any position centralised planning and democracy in politics.´ but they wielded enormous authority through their We have to strengthen the Panchayati Raj, the moral power. They were one with the people and grassroot democratic institution. enthused them to move ahead to achieve social On April 30,1936 at during change. his prayer meeting Gandhiji said´ I can only try to The non-violent movement under their persuade you to shed the ideas on caste and leadership not only strove for political untouchability. Gandhiji¶s purpose in life was to independence but also for change in all spheres fight poverty, remove exploitation and put an end of life. Their aim was not mere political to suffering and starving of poorest people of India Independence but total social reconstruction. - Harijans and downtrodden and untouchables. They inculcated new outlook and values in the His idea was to uplift the untouchables in all minds of innumberable people. A happy blend of respects by giving equal status and equal justice. political struggle with constructive work created Gandhiji attemted for this and he was successful a new sense of responsibility and was helpful in in his attempts. training generation of workers to carry forward The Gandhian concept of secularism the struggle for social reconstruction. It is the time stemmed from his unflinching conviction that to turn the tide again in favour of idealism, large fairness and justice to all was an inextricable part

62 Odisha Review August - 2015 of truth, which for him was the quintessence of our hearts after the attainment of independence´. religion. For Gandhiji, secularism was the best As the light of Bhoodan Yagna spreads out, these manifestation of religion. doubts and darkness scatter away. The task before us all is to sustain the new outlook by We are at the crossroads of history. concrete work and to make it a reality. Learning lessons from the past, we have to adopt innovative approaches for ushering in social The concept of Bhoodan Movement change. We have to grow beyond the sectarian forms an important aspects of social thought of considerations of caste and religion and strengthen Acharya Vinoba Bhave. It is based on the concept the secular ramparts we guard. Intercaste and inter of of Mahatma Gandhi. It is an attempt -religion marriages will facilitate the casteless to bring about land reforms in a peaceful manner. society. The tiny steps taken by innumerable It is a part of the constructive programme based individuals will pave way for social integration in on Gandhian philosophy and social the country. reconstruction. The concept of ³dan¶ or µgift¶ is not based on the concept of charity but it is based Acharya Vinoba Bhave, the founder of on equitable distribution. This concept has Bhoodan Movement, hardly known outside India emphasized the need for transforming the society before 1940, became a world figure. Prime so that the inequality that exsits today should go. Minister Nehuru warmly lauded his work in the The concept of Boodan eliminates the possibility Parliament. President termed of violence and force. It aims at getting the rightful Bhoodan as not merely ³a gift of land´ but the claim to the poor people in a legitimate and spirit behind it gives a vision of the social order peaceful manner. Vinobaji has laid great stress that Mahatma Gandhi envisaged and kindles and on change of heart as envisaged by Gandhiji. enlivens the hope of its attainment. The Time Boodan is nothing but establishment of a social Magazine featured this man on foot in its cover order which is based on freedom, public good story and hailed him as the dynamic disciple of and does not recognise the need of violence. In Gandhi. such a society, everybody is guided by the welfare The Bhoodan March of Vinoba began of the whole of the community and the betterment and continued for more than thirteen years in of all persons. Prof. Norman D. Palmer a foreign different parts of India, covering a total distance critic, says, ³Bhave, an olderly Gandhian who of 36,500 miles, more than the circumference of professes to have no interest in politics as such is the earth. During this he collected 4.4. nevertheless on the strongest political forces in million acres of land as free gifts, out of which India. The walking Messiah and Saint was invited about 1.3 million acres were distributed among by Bertand Russel to join the Anti Nuclear March the landless farm workers. The Bhoodan in London in 1962. Characterizing him as a Movement was followed by Gramdan and symbol of the role of of conscience in human Jeevandan Movements. Vinoba had also received affairs Arthur Kestler met him thrice and termed 1.6 lakhs villages as Gramdan, especially in the Bhoodan Movement as the greatest Peace and Orissa. All this had been achieved single Revolution since Gandhi. handedly. In Jeevandan, the person who created For building a Sarvodaya society in India, a thrilling joy was Jay Prakash Narayan, who, Gandhiji gave 18 fold programme. These are while dedicating his life said´ Despair had seized communal unity, removal of untouchability,

63 August - 2015 Odisha Review prohibition, Khadi, other rural industries, Nai Following openness of methods, fearlessness and Talim, Adult Education, upliftment of women, commitment to the basic ideals of Gandhi, we have Education in Health and Hygiene, provincial to plan our programmes and chalk out strategies language, national language, economic equality, which are relevant to our times. It is the peoples upliftment of Kisans, uplift of labour, uplift of initiative and peoples power and social action that lapers, uplift of Adivasi, uplift of students. Gandhi would strengthen democracy and . was a many splendoured personality a person who The worldwide events reveal the necessity kept the highest standard of morality in politics, a for peaceful coexistence among nations and great political strategist who evolved and practised people and also with the environment. In this politics of the capture of state power through a endeavour for social justice and ecological prolonged mass movement, an orthodox religious balance, Gandhi and Vinoba provide us with the believer who stood for the social liberation of much needed direction and inspiration. women, the ending caste oppression and in general application of reason to all aspects of social life, Bibliography: a person who had the vision of a world where all 1. Behuria, R.K, Odisha Review. BBSR, IPR, 2010 conflicts would be settled without violence. 2. Chandra, B. Essays on , New Gandhi was not a politician in the Delhi, Haranand, 2005. Machiavellian sense, but he did what his 3. Gandhi, M.K. The story of my Experiments with knowledge priori taught him. He never lost touch Truth. XI, rev.ed Agra, EP, 2006. with his spirituality even in the moments of his great 5. Pandya, J .Gandhi and his disciples, New Delhi, political engagements. He like Machiavelli and NBT, 2007. others did not separate religion from politics but 6. Singh, K. History of social thought, Lucknow, tried to provide a synthesis of the two. Gandhi, 2001. primarily based all his social and political doctrines 7. Singh, S. History of political thought, Vol.II, 3rd on the religious and spiritual view of human life. ed. Meerut, Rastogi, 1994 The Gandhian constructive programme 8. Sinha, A. The schools of Philosophy of was illustrative and with the changing times and Sarvodaya, , Janaki, 1978. situations new programmes, new ideas and 9. Souvenir : AICWC, Tirupati, 2-3 sept 94 (published innovative approaches were adopted to fulfil the by Akhil Bharat Rachanatmak Samaj, New Delhi). aims and aspirations and needs of the present generation. Gandhiji and Vinoba Bhave have shown us the method and path to follow. The details have to be worked out by each generation, keeping in view of the Vicissitudes of time and circumstances. Gandhi was never dogmatic and Rabindra Kumar Behuria, Chandabali, Dist- Bhadrak - he was ever chaning in his experiments with truth. 756133.

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