Remembering Acharya Vinoba Bhave on His Birth Anniversary

By Amit Kumar

September 11 marks the birth anniversary of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, one of India’s foremost social reformers and a devoted disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Born in 1895 in the village of Gagode in Maharashtra, Bhave dedicated his life to advocating for social justice, non-violence, and rural upliftment.

Inspired by Gandhian philosophy, Vinoba Bhave left his formal education in 1916 to join Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram. Throughout the Indian freedom struggle, he was a committed Satyagrahi, facing imprisonment several times for his non-violent resistance against British rule.

Bhave is best remembered for the Bhoodan Movement, which he launched in 1951. Walking across India, he persuaded landowners to donate land voluntarily to the landless, promoting equitable land distribution without violence or coercion. This movement embodied his belief in compassion and justice.

He earned the title of Acharya (teacher) for his lifelong dedication to education and social service.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave passed away in 1982, but his legacy as a teacher, philosopher, and social reformer remains a beacon for those striving for peace and justice in India.