Ravi shankar Maharaj- A common man who changed the lives of thousands of outcasts and turned them to the path of freedom struggle, a fist-pumping man who was neither a politician nor a state minister, yet the great man who inaugurated our state of Gujarat is Ravi Shankar Vyas. We all know him by the name of Ravi Shankar Maharaj.
In today’s articles we will get detailed information about the biography of Ravi Shankar Maharaj. It will also be very useful for students to write an essay about Ravishankar Maharaj (Ravishankar Maharaj essay in English).
Ravi shankar Maharaj Biography in English
| Name: | Ravi Shankar Vyas |
| Nickname: | Ravi Shankar Maharaj, the millionaire beggar, Muthi Unchera Manvi, the second Gandhi of Gujarat, the silent servant etc. |
| Date of Birth: | 25 February 1884 |
| Place of Birth: | Kheda district Radhu village |
| Father’s Name: | Pitamber Shivram Vyas |
| Mother’s Name: | Nathiba |
| Wife’s Name: | Surajba |
| Study: | Primary – Sixth standard |
| Area: | Social service, freedom fighter |
| Death: | July 1, 1984, Borsad |
Ravi Shankar Vyas was born on February 25, 1884 (Maha Vad Chaudash of Vikram Samvat 1940) in his Mosal Radhu village in Matar Taluka of Kheda District. But the origin of his family was from Saraswani village near his hometown Mehmedabad. He was born in an Audichya (Tolkiya) Brahmin family. His father Shivram Vyas was a teacher, and his mother Nathiba was a housewife. Maharaj inherited the qualities of honesty, fearlessness and willingness to do anything from his father, and religiousness and thrift from his mother.
Ravi Shankar Maharaj’s studies were nothing special. He studied in primary school up to standard six after which he dropped out to help his parents in farming.
He was married to Surajba. His parents died when he was still young. At the age of twenty, Maharaj was introduced to the ideology of Arya Samaj through the association with Arya Samaj poet Chhotalal. Swami Dayananda’s words “‘Aryans should not be ruled by non-Aryans.'” planted the seeds of national pride in him. The teachings of Swami Ramtirtha and Swami Vivekananda germinated that seed, as a result, he started thinking seriously about society and nation. In 1911, revolutionary nationalist Mohanlal Pandya (“Dungalichor”) died and it had a profound impact on Maharaj.
Meeting of Ravi Shankar Maharaj with Gandhiji –
Ravishankar Maharaj was greatly influenced by the ideology of the Arya Samaj. In 1915, he met Gandhiji, agreed with his ideas, and joined Gandhiji in the freedom and social activism movement. A significant change occurred in his life when he joined Gandhiji’s movement.
At the Godhra Political Conference held in November 1917, Gandhiji called for workers to work round the clock for national service, and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel enrolled himself in it. It had a deep impact on Ravi Shankar Maharaj. It is as if Gandhiji’s speech at the Nagpur Congress session of 1920 initiated him into national service. He abandoned his home in service of his country, handing over the responsibility of his four children – Medhavrat (Panditji), Vishnubhai, Mahalakshmi and Lalita to his wife Surajba.
Ravishankar Maharaj had given up wearing shoes since his shoes were stolen in 1920. In the same year, the National School was established in Sunav, in which he served as principal and peon. The following year, his wife did not agree to sell the house and land and give it to national service. Against his wife’s wishes, he renounced his rights from the ancestral property and devoted his life to the country. He joined the Indian freedom struggle in 1921.
In 1922, British Judge Broomfield charged Gandhi with treason and sentenced him to six years in prison. Ravi Shankar Maharaj wept after hearing this verdict. Gandhi placed his hand on his shoulder and patted his back and entrusted him with the task of reforming and serving the outcasts.
He participated in the Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and started the village-to-village campaign of Haidia Vera Nahi Bharwani. Then, he joined the 1926 Manbardoli Satyagraha. Agrejas sent him to jail for 6 months. He participated in flood relief work in 1927, in which he got to know people well. After this, in 1930, he joined Gandhi at Dandi for violating the Salt Act, and was imprisoned for 2 years Read on–Biography of Mahatma Gandhi
He was one of the first and closest associates of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and, along with Darbar Gopal Desai, Narsingh Parikh, and Mohanlal Pandya, was one of the main organizers of the nationalist movement in Gujarat in the 1920 and 1930.
Vinoba Bhave’s foundation work in Bhudan and Sarvodaya schemes and respecting Gandhiji’s wish, Maharaj joined the service of Patanwadia Commune of Kantha Division of Kheda District, which was considered a thief-bandit. This community was freed from the humiliating practice of compulsory attendance at the police station. Also, creative activities to free them from crimes like theft, dacoity were also started.
With compassionate love, Maharaj awakened the good spirits lying in the depths of thieves-bandits, outlaws, murderers, and drunkards, lit the lamps of humanity in them, and initiated them into a righteous civil life. This supernatural work of Maharaj was immortalized by the poet Zaverchand Meghani through the book “Mansaina Diwa”.
Ravi Shankar Maharaj used to call himself Gandhiji’s postman. He worked to spread Gandhiji’s message from village to village. When communal riots broke out in Ahmedabad in 1941, he fearlessly went to the area and played an important role in pacifying the situation there. He joined the Quit India movement in 1942, in which the British government again imprisoned him.
India gained independence in July 1947, most of the freedom fighters joined politics. But the fist-raised man had no fascination for royalty. He continued his service activities. Vinoba Bhave’s Bhudan movement was propagated from village to village in Gujarat. Taking inspiration from him, many people of Gujarat donated their property/land.
From 1947 to 1952, he made Banaskantha and Mehsana districts his Karmabhumi. Seeing the water problem of the people here, his heart melted. He worked hard day and night and made 48 wells and 51 borings in Radhanpur, Santalpur, Sami and Harij taluks. This contributed to alleviating the water problem of the region to some extent. That is why the people of Banaskantha started to call Ravi Shankar Maharaj as “Boring Wala Maharaj”.
During the three years of 1955 to 1958, at the age of 71, he walked 6,000 kilometers for Bhudan. All his life, he only ate one piece of food in a meal and only ate khichdi. This noble man, who did not spend a single rupee on himself, received donations of crores of rupees and valuable lands. That’s why he is also known as “Millionaire Beggar”.
From 1964 to 1972, Ravishankar Maharaj raised the prestige of Gujarat in the country by actively working with the relief workers of Gujarat during the Bihar drought, Orissa floods, and Bangladesh man-made disasters.
From the time he left home in 1921 until his death, he spent his life in national service. He traveled to thousands of villages in the country without even wearing shoes. By walking in this way, the soles of his feet had also become so strong that even if a thorn got in his foot, it would break. His life mantra was to shine by rubbing. He kept only two pairs of clothes and used to spin his own yarn.
There is little to write about Ravi shankar Maharaj. “From Kotina Tukaram was, the same Kotina is our Ravi Shankar Maharaj.” – These words are from Vinoba Bhave. Mahatma Gandhi also said to Ravi shankar Maharajj, “If God allows exchange, and you become generous, then I will exchange with you.”
Such was our beloved Ravi Shankar Maharaj. That is why the state of Gujarat was established on 1st May 1960 by his auspicious hand to keep such service works of yours always in the hearts of the people. Kudos to such a great man.
Q1: What is the Jivan Mantra according to Ravi Shankar Maharaj?
According to Ravi Shankar Maharaj, the Jivan Mantra is a way of living your life in harmony with the universe. It involves living with love, compassion, and gratitude, and ensuring that every action and thought is in tune with the cosmic rhythm.
Q2:When was Ravi Shankar Vyas Maharaj born?
Ravi Shankar Vyas Maharaj was born on 25 February 1884.
Q3:When did Ravi Shankar Vyas Maharaj die?
Ravi Shankar Vyas Maharaj died on 1 July 1984.
Also read this:-
- Introduction to Sant Kabir Sahib
- Biography of Saint Tukaram
- Information about Narsingh Mehta
- Swami Vivekananda Life and Message
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