As part of our 'This Day in History' series, we shed light on key events and influential figures that have shaped our nation's past. Today, we delve into the life and work of Vinoba Bhave, a crucial figure for those preparing for the IAS exam.
Born on September 11, 1895, in the village of Gagode in Raigad, Maharashtra, Vinoba Bhave was a devoted disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. He actively participated in the fight for India's independence and initiated the Bhoodan movement in 1951. Throughout his life, he remained a passionate advocate for social reform.
Born to Narahari Rao and Rukmini Devi, Vinoba Bhave, originally named Vinayak Narahari Bhave, was introduced to spirituality at an early age by his devout mother.
Despite being a bright student, he was attracted to spirituality and asceticism after reading the Bhagavad Gita in his formative years.
He mastered several regional languages and Sanskrit and spent considerable time studying scriptures.
A newspaper report featuring Mahatma Gandhi’s speech at the newly established Benaras Hindu University inspired him so deeply that he discarded his school and college certificates en route to Bombay for his intermediate examination.
After exchanging letters with Gandhi, he met him at his ashram in Ahmedabad in 1916.
At the ashram, he abandoned formal education and immersed himself in teaching and Gandhi's constructive programmes related to Khadi, education, sanitation, hygiene, etc.
He also participated in nonviolent protests against the British rule, which led to his imprisonment.
Gandhi selected him as the first individual Satyagrahi for a nonviolent movement in 1940. This event brought national recognition to the previously unknown Vinoba Bhave.
He dedicated his life to eradicate social inequalities. He initiated the Sarvodaya Movement, which translates to 'Progress for all'.
He founded the Brahma Vidya Mandir, a small community of women, to empower them to be self-reliant.
In 1951, Bhave launched the Bhoodan Movement in Pochampally, Telangana.
A polyglot, he wrote numerous books and was proficient in several languages, including Marathi, Gujarati, Sanskrit, English, Urdu, and Hindi.
He received the Roman Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1958 and was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1983.
Vinoba Bhave passed away on November 15, 1982, due to a severe illness.
Bhoodan, which translates to 'land donation', was a movement where landlords voluntarily donated their land to landless labourers for cultivation.
The aim was to bridge the wealth gap between the affluent and the poor. In this movement, no compensation was provided to the land donors.
The movement was initiated by Vinoba Bhave in Pochampally.
Bhave travelled across India for 13 years as part of this movement, during which he collected 4.4 million acres of land to be distributed among landless farmers.
In 1954, he initiated the Gramdan movement, which involved the voluntary donation of entire villages.
These movements were globally acclaimed for being exemplary instances of voluntary social justice.
To explore more topics, visit our UPSC Syllabus page and for more UPSC-related preparation materials, visit the linked articles:
The Bhoodan Movement (Land Gift Movement) attempted to persuade wealthy landowners to voluntarily give a percentage of their land to landless people. It is also known as the Bloodless Revolution was a voluntary land reform movement in India.
When was Vinoba Bhave born?
Vinayak Narahari ‘Vinoba’ Bhave born on 11 September, 1895, in a small village called Gagoji in Maharashtra, was an Indian advocate of human rights.
How were Vinoba Bhave and Mahatma Gandhi related?
Vinoba Bhave met Mahatma Gandhi in 1916 and was chosen by him in 1940 to lead the first civil-disobedience movement against British efforts to mobilize India for World War II.
Where was Bhoodan movement started for the first time?
Bhoodan Movement was first started in Andhra Pradesh.