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Acahrya Vinoba Bhave: The Walk Continues After the Walker Printable Version PRINTABLE VERSION
by TOPH, Philippines Oct 29, 2003
Culture   Short Stories

  

Indeed, it was a night of extravagance. Many personalities were seen amongst the crowd. There were ambassadors of different countries. The President of the Republic could also been seen talking in a business-like manner with some of the awardees. There were handshakes and fruit shakes everywhere.

Dean Leopoldo looked intently at the crowd. He was a little nervous. He had reasons to be, primarily because it was the first project of the foundation.

He didn’t mind the passing of the program. Why would he, if there are people other than him responsible for reading these citations? Dean Leopoldo seemed anxious for one thing, when his part came, he walked professionally towards the elevated platform, slowed a little while climbing the mini-stairs, then approached the podium. The coldness of the microphone transferred to his right hand as he held it closer to his face. His left hand arranged the prepared citation. He then read the citation for India’s Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

After reading the citation, he timidly glanced down at the audience with teary-eyes and said, “…ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Bhave can’t be here because of his padyatra…”

The crowds whispered in dismay. Dean Leopoldo faced down and pulled something out of his pocket.

At that very moment, Vinoba Bhave was in silence, closed eyed and cross-sited on the floor and was breathing in a rhythmical manner while reflecting on the things that occurred that day. Pictures suddenly started flashing to his mind. They came to him like pictures in a theatre, however, the play started even before the mighty sun rose from the sky.

While sited, he felt the coldness of the night’s breeze creeping into his bare feet but just ignored it. For there was something else within him that kept him warm.

The play of his life was never static, every scene was fast and some are even faster. There were scenes reminding him of the sweetness of the lemon juice he shared with the Bhoodan Movement. Such sweetness brought them energy to stride from village to village.

As his eyes were closed, he grinned in contentment whenever he recalled landowners giving more than the needed land gift to the landless.

He whispered’ “Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.”

As spirits could move mountains, he believed there was always that “Great power” which rules over all their activities.
Bhave was a disciple to Mahatma Gandhi. In a letter of Gandhi to Shri Narthar, Bhave’s father, he opined, “your son acquired at a very young age high spiritedness and asterism as took me years of patient labor.” While many considered Bhave as Gandhi’s greatest disciple, Gandhi considered Bhave as his greatest son.

Bhave believed in a non-violent revolution. Moreover he believed in a three-fold revolution. “Firstly, I want a change in the people’s heart; secondly, I want to have a change in their live then afterwards a change in the social structure.” he reiterated.

He touched the Untouchables of India not only with his bare hands but also with his heart. He was a reformer, considered by many people in India a Saint.

In the midst of his meditation something urged him to open his eyes. He opened them slowly, stretched his arms and yawn. He stood and approached his old small wooden table and then cross-sits next to it. On top were documents of various paper sizes. There were documents regarding the declaration of many landowners of their land gift, proposed plans for land reforms, letters from the Government of India, however he took priority in a particular letter. He glanced at its content and placed it over.

He closed his eyes again and recited his staccato hymn, “Ahimsa, Satya, Asteya …Nonviolence, Truth, Honesty, Chastity, Temperance, Fearlessness, Religious Tolerance, Independence in Material Need, Avoidance of Class Distinction…Avoidance of Class Distinction…Avoidance of Class Distinction…” The last words reechoed in his mind until there was a complete silence. He peeked outside and saw the vastness of lands. However, he saw more than its vastness. He saw that there was never a problem of land scarcity; it was always the value of the people that cause problems.

Dean Leopoldo then read the message from Bhave, “…I most humbly accept the award given to me. As much as I wanted to go to Manila, I can’t. The walk must continue until the land problem in India is satisfactorily solved.”

These statements brought satisfaction to many in the audience. Vinoba Bhave was the first person in Asia to receive the Ramon Magsaysay Community Leadership Award; moreover he was also the first person who did not attend the presentation. It has been 43 years since then, but the walk still continues after the walker.






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TOPH


Since 2003 I've been an active contributor of Panorama. I am grateful for this online magazine for allowing individuals to be able to share their ideas and expression to other youth across the globe. Exchanges of ideas and aspirations leads to empowerment and spark of inspiration.

Panorama Rocks!
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