Page 14 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

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Gandhi was a leader of revolution whereas Vinoba’s temper was mild. He believed in
constructive non-violence leading to Bhoodan andGramdan movement. Gandhi’s non-violence was

dynamic. Gandhi was a prophet, as vigorous mind, could take a risk. Gandhi was a martyr whereas the
saint died throughSamadhi, (Icchamarana); i. e. religious and spiritual death.

“Gandhi Versus Vinoba” is misleading.In fact we should have “Gandhi VinobaContinuum”.
Gandhi was like a prophet of peace while Vinoba is a pilgrim of peace and non-violence. There is

remarkable affinity between the value systems of both.Besides; there is a deep personal bond of love
and faith between Gandhi, the teacher and Vinoba, the disciple.

According to the Indian tradition the teacher aspires that his disciple to excel him while the
disciple treats his teacher at the par of divinity. Gandhi the teacher is on record to acknowledge that

Vinoba the pupil is ahead of him in the three matters of spiritual attainment. It is no wonder that when
the proposal of nominating one by one person to go on individual satyagraha in 1940, Gandhi

unmistakably put the name of Vinoba Bhave at this coveted position. There was such personal
relationship between Gandhi and Vinoba.

Both Gandhi and Vinoba shared the same value system, as well as their Sumum Bonum and
also similar path ways. However, they have not only the similar goal of life but also identical views

about the method of its realization. In fact both of them have faith in the essential goodness of man and
absolute purity of means. Hence, if there is any strategy system it is to be adopted by both of them, it

is purity of means in the beginning, in the middle and also in the end. To treat man as essentially bad or
evil, is not only be insult of mankind but also pessimism par excellence.

Therefore at this point, we should not try to make a cleavage between their views about the
nature of man and consequently the defense degrading moral and spiritual values. Both Gandhi and

Vinoba have unshakable faith in Eleven Ethical Vows and Eight Constructive Programmes. Last but not
the least, both of them have faith in the efficacy of Satyagraha as the means of Non-violent resistance

against injustices.
A minor controversy had come up regarding the role of Vinoba when emergency imposed on

the people of India by the then Congress Government under the Prime Minister late Mrs. Indira Gandhi
suspending Fundamental Rights of the Citizens of India and putting thousands of people and leaders

into the prison, naturally there were protests all over the country under united opposition along with a
robust movement of student and youth under the leadership of charismatic freedom fighter, non-party

and selfless leader like Jayprakash Narayan who was requested to take over the leadership. In spite of
very bad health, he was constrained to accept the leadership against the government as the national

duty to save democracy. For reasons best known to him, Vinoba thought otherwise in the greater
interest over nascent democracy and freedom of the country. To avoid controversy in a sharp debate

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