Page 7 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

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Editor Note

All those who have left legacy of ideas are remembered for generations. Those who have not
only preached but practiced what is professed are revered for their contribution to the field of Thought,

Action and Life. Acharya Vinoba Bhave is a philosopher whose actions, words and thoughts continue
to inspire in different ways. He was a scholar, a saint, a man of God, a moral tribune, a beacon of hope

and solace to millions in India & abroad.
On 18th April 1951,an all-inclusive movement of Bhoodan emerged before him and showed

the path for egalitarian & self-governed society to villagers. Villages are the back-bone of India as
observed by Mahatma Gandhi and how to make them strong after the foreign rule of 150 years was

one of the most difficult questions before us. As Vinoba used to say the parcel of Independence was
delivered from London and has reached Delhi but did not reach (Dehat) the villages. He wanted to see

that the parcel reaches the villages and the villages become self-governed and self-reliant. Dada
Dharmadhikari points out that Vinoba desired to extend an artistic exquisiteness to the process of

revolution.One can say thatVinoba tried to find the dynamics of social change through non-violence
and love on the basis of Gandhi’s Constructive programme. This is clearly visible in the movements

which he launched whether it be Bhoodan, Gram-swarajya, Sampattidana, Shanti-sena or dacoit–
surrender, they can be cited as the instances of revolutionary vision of Vinoba.He trekked for two and

a half decades in the villages of India explaining the people how to govern themselves and become self
–reliant and in the process he travelled more than the periphery of the earth!

Along with the Social and Economic aspects, his contribution to spiritual and Philosophical
ideas is also remarkable. With his revolutionary and novel interpretation of Vedas and Upanishads,the

Gita and the Indian Traditionshe contributesimmensely to Indian Philosophy.It is worth making an
attempt to bring out allthese aspects of this great personality who declared himself to be a cipher in the

following words:
“prerana Paramatmyachi,Mahatmachi prassanatta, vani santa krupechi hi,Vinyachi kruti

shunyata.”(The inspiration from God, the well-wishes from Mahatma Gandhi, the language of the
saints made me to write these verses of Abhanga vrate, I am only the cipher.)

Vinoba is well known for holding Science and Spirituality together in his notion of Sarvodaya
(welfare of all).We are also aware of his works onSamya-Yoga, Geetaee as well as his Talks on the

Gita. However, he has elaborated on the “Sthitaprajna-Darshana” and has brought
out”Samyasutram”which assumes special philosophical importance. His contribution for giving us

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