When Law Minister of India goes to meet a fakir

 

Maharashtra is known to be the land of reformers and the saints . It has a rich cultural heritage which makes it a unique state among all. But the ideological base had created many years ago through the Bhakti movement. Various saints had not only created awareness among the masses about the oneness of God but also united people from different castes and creed with a common love for the god.

In this article we are going to see  the contribution of Sant Gadgebaba in shaping the modern society and how he used his Kirtans in making people aware about the superstitions and the religious backwardness.

Sant GadgeBaba –Life and journey

Sant Gadge baba was born on 23^rd Feb 1876 in the Shengaon village of Amravati District of Maharashtra. Gagde baba was a social reformer. He went from village to village to fight for the injustice in the society . He had decided to live a simple life.

Gagdebaba’s full name is Debuji Zingraji Janorkar . His father’s name is Zingaroji Ranoji Janorkar and his mother’s name is Sakhubai Zingaroji Janorkar .

Gadgebaba was a person who believed in the scientific approach to anything in the society. He used to do Kirtan which is basically a traditional folk music form in Maharashtra. His Kirtans included social messages. He had covered whole of the Maharashtra doing Kirtans from village to village.

Gagdebaba used to aware people about the importance of education. It is said  that he was like a mobile university.

He told that “ Don’t go to temples , don’t worship idols of stone, don’t take loans for moneylenders”. He also encouraged people not to believe any black magic or any kind of stuffs.

This great son of Maharashtra had used the money which people donated to him for the construction of Dharmashalas , Orphanage and Schools.

He always said that if you want to meet the God , don’t find him the idol of stone find him the living people. According to him living people are gods and god is everywhere we don’t need to go to temple every time to meet him.

Gadgebaba used to wear a headgear made up to baked clay that’ s why he became popular as Gadgebaba. He also used to carry a broom with him.

He devoted his life for the upliftment of the Dalit- Bahujans. He had worked for the eradications of various socials ills among the society.

Gadgebaba used the medium of Kirtan to spread awareness among the people. During his kirtan session he used  to ask various questions to the audience and make them correct by telling them the real and scientific reason behind their belief.

His used to use the local language for the Kirtan which is called Varhadi which is spoken in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.

He always considered Sant Tukaram as his Guru. He also created awareness among people about the social evil of Untouchability. He always said the “I am not anyone’ Guru and I don’t have any disciple”.

Gadgebaba’s words had inspired people from all walks of life from religious people to atheist and from small child to old one.

His simple language had them connect with him more closely . Prabhodhankar Thackeray once said that is was very difficult from him to  recreate Gadgebaba’s words and his Kirtans.

Childhood name of Gadgebaba was Debuji. He spent his early years in Dapure town of Murtijapur which was his mother’s village . Debuji was got married in his teenage. He also had 4 daughters . But he was not interested in the family and he left his home for the cause of makingchange in society . He sacrificed his married life and left home on 1^st February 1905.

He them wandered to various religious places. He also stayed in forests. He always carried one broom with him. And he also carried one earthen pot (Gadga in Marathi) that’s why he became famous as Gadgebaba.

Wherever he went he used to first clean that village. His actions had inspired many during those time. He went on to spread the message of cleanliness and the personal hygiene from village to village.

 It is said that Sant Dyaneshwar had laid the foundation of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra then Sant Gadge baba had took it to the topmost level.

Acharya Atre had once said about Gadgebaba that he is “A huge platform of the Socialism”. He died on 20^th December 1956 at Valgaon near Amravati. The Amravati University had been given the name of Gadgebaba.

Gadgebaba had also created many schools and Dharmashalas in all over the Maharashtra. In 1917 he had established one Dharmashala at Chokhamela . For this mission of creating more Schools and Dharmashalas “Shri Gadgebaba mission” was founded on 8^th February 1952.

Sant Gadgebaba and Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar

Babasaheb and Gadge baba both worked for the upliftment of the backward classes. One fought the battle through all the legal and the political means and the another fought it by creating awareness among people.

 Once Babasaheb was informed that Gadgebaba’s health is not well and he is in hospital. Babasaheb was in Mumbai at that time he had to go for health. But he decided to meet Gadgebaba and went to Hospital.

Babasaheb gifted two blankets to Gadgebaba. Gadgebaba said to Babasaheb “ Doctor why you came to meet me? I am just a Fakir . Yours time is valuable. How powerful you are.”

Gadgebaba and his thoughts

Once there was a speech on Lokmanya Tilak in Pandharpur. When he was giving speech on stage Baba was crossing the from there. Everyone got distracted towards Baba. So Tilak invited him on stage to express his thoughts.

Baba said that  “ Tilak Maharaj please forgive. We people washed your cloths , we iron your shirts , how can we give speech to you. But please do something and  convert all of us to Brahmin”

 Gadgebaba had a blend of Sant and a social reformer. He had done a great work of uniting all caste and creed and educating them with the thoughts of Shivaji and Tukaram.

Baba Died on 20^th December 1956 while he was going to Amravati. The Amravati University was renamed as Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University in his honour.

Maharashtra Government also stated Sant Gadgebaba Gram Swachhta Abhiyan (Cleanliness program) in 2000 in his honour.