Sarva Seva Sangh is busy creating a new chapter of non-violent struggle on the land issue in Banaras. In order to show the glamor of development, the government administration machinery started grabbing the land there. After the death of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and his colleagues had established the Sarva Seva Sangh-Sadhana Kendra in Banaras to propagate Gandhi’s ideas.
If Gandhi is from the opposition, he is also from the party. If there are those in power, there are also those of the governed. If Gandhi belongs to the opposition then he also belongs to the non-opponent. Congress has Gandhi, BJP and AAP also have Gandhi. There is Gandhi of egalitarianism and also of socialism. There is Gandhi of right wing and also of left wing. There is Gandhi for Dalits as well as upper castes. There is a theist’s Gandhi and there is also an atheist’s Gandhi. There is Gandhi of spirituality and also of materialism. There is Gandhi of service policy and also of politics. If he is human then he is also Gandhi of society. There is a Gandhi for the one who prays for all religions and there is also a Gandhi for the one who fasts for Sarvodaya. Gandhi is both a person and a Mahatma. Here as well as there. If they are in the country, they are also abroad. That means Gandhi is omnipresent. And individualistic too. If there is Gandhi in struggle, there is Gandhi in consent also.
“At first they will ignore you. Then they will laugh at you. Will fight, vandalize and beat you. But then victory will be yours.” Mahatma Gandhi gave this mantra of insistence on truth to the entire world for a just and non-violent struggle. Of course it takes patience and time to establish the truth.
But only with time does untruth fade away. The struggle for truth can be done only through restraint, hard work, sacrifice and compassion. Satyagraha is the key to truth. Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated across the country on 2nd October with new senses, new zeal and new enthusiasm. But today instead of presenting Gandhiji’s idea of non-violence for world peace, the government seems to be engaged in establishing absolute power through misgovernance.
Sarva Seva Sangh is busy creating a new chapter of non-violent struggle on the land issue in Banaras. In order to show the glamor of development, the government administration machinery started grabbing the land there. After the death of Mahatma Gandhi, Vinoba Bhave and his colleagues had established the Sarva Seva Sangh-Sadhana Kendra in Banaras to propagate Gandhi’s ideas.
The transfer of land purchased from Northern Railway as per rules took place with the efforts of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, the technical presence of Dr. Rajendra Prasad and the approval of the then Railway Minister Jagjivan Ram. Due to the efforts of JP, a world class research center – Gandhi Vidya Sansthan was also built in the same campus. Books of scholars like Gandhi, Vinoba, JP, JC Kumarappa, Dada Dharmadhikari, J Krishnamurthy, Dhirendra Majumdar, Acharya Ramamurthy, Narayan Desai, Thakurdas Bang and Acharya Shivanand continued to be published from the publication department.
In July-August last year, the government administration illegally took over the land of an organization engaged in the independent development of ideas in the society. The buildings where people engaged in publishing and research work were living were demolished. Destroyed the ideological heritage. The fight for justice began with the heritage liberation movement. The 100-day Satyagraha – ‘Light the Lamp of Justice’ began on Vinoba Jayanti on 11 September. Which will run till December 19, celebrating Gandhi Jayanti, JP death anniversary and birth anniversary, Vinoba death anniversary, Sardar Patel birth anniversary and Human Rights Day.
However, Gandhi’s non-violent fight against injustice began with prayer and ended with prayer. Those protesting would fast throughout the day. There would be conversations among themselves. People were informed about the issue while coming and going. That is, apart from consideration, sacrifice and compassion, strong opposition would have been expressed. New people would be encouraged to join. Similarly, new people would lead non-violent movements with new understanding and new determination. Then the fast would be broken after the evening prayers. By evening they would return to their places and prepare for the next day. In today’s bulldozer rule, this fight may seem meaningless and ridiculous. But there should be a similar non-violent fight in the civilized society for the insistence of truth.
The struggle of Satyagraha remains long, full of pain and sacrifice for some but it also brings peace and harmony to the society. It also gives wisdom to power. And also the courage to correct the illegal methods adopted. In Banaras, Gandhi of power and Gandhi of society are face to face. Vasamaj will keep the lamp of justice burning. There will be hope for the victory of truth and non-violence.