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{{Short description|Indian independence activist, social worker and Gandhian}} | |||
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}} | {{Use Indian English|date=June 2016}} | ||
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}} | ||
{{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| name = Ravishankar Maharaj | | name = Ravishankar Maharaj | ||
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| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1984|07|01|1884|02|25}} | | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1984|07|01|1884|02|25}} | ||
| death_place = [[Borsad]], Gujarat, India | | death_place = [[Borsad]], Gujarat, India | ||
| other_names = | | other_names = | ||
| occupation = Activist, social worker | | occupation = Activist, social worker | ||
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==Life== | ==Life== | ||
Ravishankar Vyas was born on 25 February 1884, [[Mahashivaratri]], in Radhu village (now in [[Kheda district]], [[Gujarat]], India) to Pitambar Sivram Vyas and Nathiba, a Vadara Brahmin peasant family. His family was native of [[Sarsavani]] village near [[Mahemdavad]]. He dropped out after the sixth standard to help his parents in agriculture work.<ref name="Lal1992">{{cite book|last=Lal|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4607|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3|pages=4607–4608}}</ref><ref name="Kamath1996">{{cite book|author=M. V. Kamath|title=Milkman from Anand: the story of Verghese Kurien|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGjtAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Konark Publishers|page=24}}</ref> He married Surajba. His father died when he was 19 and his mother died when he was 22.<ref name="WG2014">{{cite web | title=પ.પૂ.રવિશંકર મહારાજ | website=WebGurjari | date=1 May 2014 | url=http://webgurjari.in/2014/05/01/ravishankar-maharaj/ | language=gu | access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> | Ravishankar Vyas was born on 25 February 1884, [[Mahashivaratri]], in Radhu village (now in [[Kheda district]], [[Gujarat]], India) to Pitambar Sivram Vyas and Nathiba, a Vadara [[Brahmin]] peasant family. His family was native of [[Sarsavani]] village near [[Mahemdavad]]. He dropped out after the sixth standard to help his parents in agriculture work.<ref name="Lal1992">{{cite book|last=Lal|title=Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KnPoYxrRfc0C&pg=PA4607|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-260-1221-3|pages=4607–4608}}</ref><ref name="Kamath1996">{{cite book|author=M. V. Kamath|title=Milkman from Anand: the story of Verghese Kurien|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGjtAAAAMAAJ|year=1996|publisher=Konark Publishers|page=24}}</ref> He married Surajba. His father died when he was 19 and his mother died when he was 22.<ref name="WG2014">{{cite web | title=પ.પૂ.રવિશંકર મહારાજ | website=WebGurjari | date=1 May 2014 | url=http://webgurjari.in/2014/05/01/ravishankar-maharaj/ | language=gu | access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> | ||
He was influenced by [[Arya Samaj]] philosophy.<ref name="Kamath1996"/> He met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in 1915 and joined his independence and social activism.<ref name="Kamath1996"/> He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]], and along with [[Darbar Gopaldas Desai]], [[Narhari Parikh]] and [[Mohanlal Pandya]], the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s. He worked for years for rehabilitation of Baraiya and Patanvadiya | He was influenced by [[Arya Samaj]] philosophy.<ref name="Kamath1996"/> He met [[Mahatma Gandhi]] in 1915 and joined his independence and social activism.<ref name="Kamath1996"/> He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]], and along with [[Darbar Gopaldas Desai]], [[Narhari Parikh]] and [[Mohanlal Pandya]], the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s. He worked for years for rehabilitation of [[Baria Koli|Baraiya Koli]] and Patanvadiya Kolis of coastal central Gujarat.<ref name="Hardiman1981">{{cite book|author=David Hardiman|title=Peasant nationalists of Gujarat: Kheda District, 1917–1934|url=https://archive.org/details/peasantnationali0000hard|url-access=registration|year=1981|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=[https://archive.org/details/peasantnationali0000hard/page/175 175], 272–273}}</ref><ref name="Weber1996">{{cite book|author=Thomas Weber|title=Gandhi's Peace Army: The Shanti Sena and Unarmed Peacekeeping|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BJ2B1TY6dL8C&pg=PA74|year=1996|publisher=Syracuse University Press|isbn=978-0-8156-2684-8|pages=74, 108, 125}}</ref> He founded Rashtriya Shala (National School) in Sunav village in 1920. He left his rights on ancestral property against wish of wife and joined [[Indian Independence Movement]] in 1921. He participated in Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and protested against Haidiya Tax. He also participated in [[Bardoli Satyagraha]] in 1928 and was imprisoned by British authority for six months. He participated in relief work of flood in 1927 which earned him recognition. He joined Gandhi in [[Salt March]] in 1930 and was imprisoned for two years.<ref name="Weber1997">{{cite book|author=Thomas Weber|title=On the Salt March: The Historiography of Gandhi's March to Dandi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5BtuAAAAMAAJ|date=1 January 1997|publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India|isbn=978-81-7223-263-4|page=166}}</ref> In 1942, he also participated in [[Quit India Movement]] and also tried to pacify communal violence in [[Ahmedabad]].<ref name="Lal1992"/><ref name="Hardiman1981"/><ref name="WG2014"/> | ||
After independence of India in 1947, he devoted himself to social work. He joined [[Vinoba Bhave]] in [[Bhoodan Movement]] and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In 1960s, he organised and supported [[Sarvodaya#Sarvodaya movement|Sarvodaya Movement]].<ref name="Weber1996"/> Ravishankar Maharaj inaugurated Gujarat state when it was created on 1 May 1960.<ref name="Ghassem-Fachandi2012">{{cite book|author=Parvis Ghassem-Fachandi|title=Pogrom in Gujarat: Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Violence in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFnjJa_xefsC&pg=PA295|date=8 April 2012|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4259-9|page=295}}</ref> He also opposed [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] in 1975. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]] visit him for blessings after taking oath of office. He died on 1 July 1984 in [[Borsad]], [[Gujarat]].<ref name="Lal1992"/><ref name="WG2014"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Bhavan's Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8u0DAAAAMAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.|page=71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Sarvodaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuwrAAAAIAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Sarvodaya Prachuralaya.|page=94}}</ref> The memorial dedicated to him is located at Adhyapan Mandir, Vallabh Vidyalaya, Bochasan.<ref name="Adhyapan Mandir">{{cite web | title=Our Motivator | website=Adhyapan Mandir | url=http://adhyapanmandirbochasan.org/gandhi_sardar_maharaj.html | access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> | After independence of India in 1947, he devoted himself to social work. He joined [[Vinoba Bhave]] in [[Bhoodan Movement]] and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In 1960s, he organised and supported [[Sarvodaya#Sarvodaya movement|Sarvodaya Movement]].<ref name="Weber1996"/> Ravishankar Maharaj inaugurated Gujarat state when it was created on 1 May 1960.<ref name="Ghassem-Fachandi2012">{{cite book|author=Parvis Ghassem-Fachandi|title=Pogrom in Gujarat: Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Violence in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFnjJa_xefsC&pg=PA295|date=8 April 2012|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-4259-9|page=295}}</ref> He also opposed [[The Emergency (India)|the Emergency]] in 1975. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed [[Chief Minister of Gujarat]] visit him for blessings after taking oath of office. He died on 1 July 1984 in [[Borsad]], [[Gujarat]].<ref name="Lal1992"/><ref name="WG2014"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Bhavan's Journal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8u0DAAAAMAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.|page=71}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Sarvodaya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuwrAAAAIAAJ|year=1984|publisher=Sarvodaya Prachuralaya.|page=94}}</ref> The memorial dedicated to him is located at Adhyapan Mandir, Vallabh Vidyalaya, Bochasan.<ref name="Adhyapan Mandir">{{cite web | title=Our Motivator | website=Adhyapan Mandir | url=http://adhyapanmandirbochasan.org/gandhi_sardar_maharaj.html | access-date=24 December 2016}}</ref> | ||
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[[Category:Indian social reformers]] | [[Category:Indian social reformers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian pacifists]] | [[Category:Indian pacifists]] | ||
[[Category:Gujarati-language writers]] | [[Category:Gujarati-language Indian writers]] | ||
[[Category:Indian centenarians]] | [[Category:Indian men centenarians]] | ||
[[Category:People from Kheda district]] | [[Category:People from Kheda district]] | ||
Latest revision as of 08:30, 10 February 2026
Ravishankar Maharaj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ravishankar Vyas 25 February 1884 |
| Died | 1 July 1984 (aged 100) Borsad, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | Activist, social worker |
| Spouse(s) | Surajba |
| Parent(s) | Pitambar Shivram Vyas, Nathiba |
| Signature | |
 | |
Ravishankar Vyas, better known as Ravishankar Maharaj, was an Indian independence activist, social worker and Gandhian from Gujarat.
Life[edit | edit source]
Ravishankar Vyas was born on 25 February 1884, Mahashivaratri, in Radhu village (now in Kheda district, Gujarat, India) to Pitambar Sivram Vyas and Nathiba, a Vadara Brahmin peasant family. His family was native of Sarsavani village near Mahemdavad. He dropped out after the sixth standard to help his parents in agriculture work.[1][2] He married Surajba. His father died when he was 19 and his mother died when he was 22.[3]
He was influenced by Arya Samaj philosophy.[2] He met Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 and joined his independence and social activism.[2] He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and along with Darbar Gopaldas Desai, Narhari Parikh and Mohanlal Pandya, the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s. He worked for years for rehabilitation of Baraiya Koli and Patanvadiya Kolis of coastal central Gujarat.[4][5] He founded Rashtriya Shala (National School) in Sunav village in 1920. He left his rights on ancestral property against wish of wife and joined Indian Independence Movement in 1921. He participated in Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and protested against Haidiya Tax. He also participated in Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and was imprisoned by British authority for six months. He participated in relief work of flood in 1927 which earned him recognition. He joined Gandhi in Salt March in 1930 and was imprisoned for two years.[6] In 1942, he also participated in Quit India Movement and also tried to pacify communal violence in Ahmedabad.[1][4][3]
After independence of India in 1947, he devoted himself to social work. He joined Vinoba Bhave in Bhoodan Movement and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In 1960s, he organised and supported Sarvodaya Movement.[5] Ravishankar Maharaj inaugurated Gujarat state when it was created on 1 May 1960.[7] He also opposed the Emergency in 1975. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat visit him for blessings after taking oath of office. He died on 1 July 1984 in Borsad, Gujarat.[1][3][8][9] The memorial dedicated to him is located at Adhyapan Mandir, Vallabh Vidyalaya, Bochasan.[10]
Works[edit | edit source]
He wrote about education, rural reconstruction and Kolkata.[11][1]
Recognition[edit | edit source]
The Government of India released postal stamp in his honour in 1984. Ravishankar Maharaj Award for social work, worth ₹1 Lakh, is instituted by Department of Social Justice, Government of Gujarat in his honour.[12]
In popular culture[edit | edit source]
Jhaverchand Meghani has written Manasai Na Diva based on his experiences with him during his social work among tribals.[13] Pannalal Patel has also written a biographical novel Jene Jivi Janyu (1984) on him.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Lal (1992). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature: Sasay to Zorgot. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 4607–4608. ISBN 978-81-260-1221-3.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 M. V. Kamath (1996). Milkman from Anand: the story of Verghese Kurien. Konark Publishers. p. 24.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "પ.પૂ.રવિશંકર મહારાજ". WebGurjari (in ગુજરાતી). 1 May 2014. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 David Hardiman (1981). Peasant nationalists of Gujarat: Kheda District, 1917–1934. Oxford University Press. pp. 175, 272–273.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Thomas Weber (1996). Gandhi's Peace Army: The Shanti Sena and Unarmed Peacekeeping. Syracuse University Press. pp. 74, 108, 125. ISBN 978-0-8156-2684-8.
- ↑ Thomas Weber (1 January 1997). On the Salt March: The Historiography of Gandhi's March to Dandi. HarperCollins Publishers India. p. 166. ISBN 978-81-7223-263-4.
- ↑ Parvis Ghassem-Fachandi (8 April 2012). Pogrom in Gujarat: Hindu Nationalism and Anti-Muslim Violence in India. Princeton University Press. p. 295. ISBN 978-1-4008-4259-9.
- ↑ Bhavan's Journal. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1984. p. 71.
- ↑ Sarvodaya. Sarvodaya Prachuralaya. 1984. p. 94.
- ↑ "Our Motivator". Adhyapan Mandir. Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ↑ Sisir Kumar Das (2000). History of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 618. ISBN 978-81-7201-006-5.
- ↑ Justice, Department of Social. "બીસીકે-૨૯૯ : પૂ. રવિશંકર મહારાજ એવોર્ડ". Department of Social Justice, Government of Gujarat (in ગુજરાતી). Retrieved 24 December 2016.
- ↑ Nalini Natarajan; Emmanuel Sampath Nelson (1996). Handbook of Twentieth-century Literatures of India. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-313-28778-7.