Acharya Vinoba Bhave Biography and Works.

Born on September 11, 1895, Acharya Vinoba Bhave was considered as Mahatma Gandhi’s spiritual successor. Vinoba Bhave’s original name was Vinayak Narahari Bhave and was born in a Brahmin family in Maharashtra.

His ‘Bhoodan’ (Gift of the Land) Movement started on April 18, 1951 and attracted the attention of the world.

Vinoba Bhave was well-read in the writings of Maharashtra’s saints and philosophers and was also deeply interested in Mathematics.

In 1916, while he was on his way to Mumbai to appear for the intermediate examination, he took a detour and reached Varanasi. He was motivated by his desire to attain the imperishable. He studied ancient Sanskrit texts in Varanasi.

After exchange of few letters between Bhave and Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave went and met Gandhiji on June 7, 1916 which changed the course of Bhave’s life. He developed a deep bond with Gandhiji and participated in the activities at Gandhi’s ashram with keen interest.

Vinoba Bhave was asked by Gandhiji to take charge of the ashram at Wardha in 1921. In 1923, he brought out the Maharashtra Dharma, a monthly in Marathi, which had his essays on the Upanishads.

In 1940, Bhave was chosen by Gandhi to be the first Individual Satyagrahi. Vinoba Bhave also participated in the ‘Quit India Movement’.

After independence, he started the social reform movements, such as Bhoodan Movement and Sarvodaya Movement.

He died on November 15, 1982 after refusing food and medicine few days earlier. He was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1984.

Trivia

He observed a year of silence from December 25, 1974 to December 25, 1975 and in 1976, undertook a fast to stop the slaughter of cows.