Vinoba Bhave - Dr. G Ramesh Babu

"If none come when you call, 

Then walk alone 

Walk alone....

If none speak to you, O

unfortunate one,

If all turn away and all are afraid - 

Then, open your heaert

And speak your mind out loud, alone" - 

Yes, this applies to Acharya Vinoba Bhave who was a great scholar, saint, man of God, moral tribune, a beacon of hope to millions of people in India and abroad.

Spiritual Successor to Mahatma Gandhi

Vinayak Narahari Bhave, popularly known as Vinoba, was born at Gagoda in the Kolaba District of Maharastra on September 11, 1895.  He was Deeply attached to his mother, Rukminibai, and, inherited her austerity, asceticism and altruism.  His father, Narahari Shambhurao, was an astute advocate of western learning and science.

Vioba, a Chitpavan Brahmin, was a brilliant student.  He studied Sanskrit and became proficient in all Hindu spiritual books.  He was a self-taught multilinguist.  He was highly inspired by the Bhagavad Gita, one of the holiest Hindu scriptures at a very early age.

Before Vinoba came into contact with Mahatma Gandhi, the perusal of the Desabodh of Swami Ramdas and Lokmanya Balagangadhar tilak's writings in Kesari made him resolve to dedicate himself to the service of the country.  At Sabarmati Ashram, he began to expound Bhagvad Gita. Vinoba said: "In all my actions, Gita has been my guide".

Mark Shepard, a critical reviewer of Mahatma Gandhi's successors, portrayed Vinoba Bhave as the King of kindness. Gandhi's spiritual successor, a saintly, reserved austere individual called Vinoba was in fact an embodiment of love, affection, truthfulness and non-violence - the leading principles of Mahatma Gandhi.

© "The Alpha Foundation", Hyderabad 500 082. The author can be reached at dr_babu@iupindia.org.

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