“I am a man who belongs to another world than this, one that may seem very strange. For I claim that I am moved by love. That I feel it all the time.”
– Vinoba Bhave

Who is this crank?

Naipaul called him a “fool-parody” of Gandhi.

I found him magnificent.

As Gandhi was our most worthy reformer, with the most noble cause, Vinoba is the only Saint I know. Both practiced what they preached. Both lived in our world, not in a mountain cave.

Vinoba was Gandhi’s nearest and truest follower. Guileless. Disarmingly honest. Utterly undiplomatic. He claimed, “no gulf between what I feel and what I say”.

Gandhi chose the little known Vinoba, who’s “purity of motive was unquestionable”, as the first jail-goer in 1940, ahead of Nehru. Vinoba understood that he was to fast to the death on reaching prison. Fortunately Gandhi’s message to “hold off on that for now” reached there in time.

Bapu was “fascinated and overjoyed” by Vinoba and his work. He invariably sent visitors (including me) the 5 km. to Paunaur ashram where Vinoba toiled independently but parallel with his mentor.

Vinoba was a communicator, a simplifier, a translator of Gandhian thought. Though he had not one whit of Gandhi’s humour or charisma, he could convince anyone. Bandits laid down their weapons at his feet and repented.

Vinoba was unbelievably single-minded. His mother suggested he translate the Gita from Sanskrit to his native tongue. He sat down at 5 AM Oct. 7, 1930 and worked until Feb. 6, 1931.

He learned Arabic in order to study the Koran. In fact, he studied all the great religious texts, many in the original, memorizing much, eventually learning 30 languages.

Vinoba noted that Gandhi was “not a very learned man”, too busy to study properly.

Vinoba was a scientist, trusting personal experience. He wanted a minimal diet, finding he could work on as little as 1200 calories / day. He experimented with sleep, variously 2 to 10 hours, eventually settling on 8 / night.

He experimented with, then adopted, regular periods of voluntary silence (as did Gandhi) one day / week. He reported “a remarkable experience of peace”.

He couldn’t see logic in polluting rivers with cremation ashes so, starting with his father, they were buried.

Vinoba loved Gandhi and was utterly devoted. “Bapu (father) was our philosopher’s stone, making heroes out of clay.” That in him Gandhi converted a“savage” to one with “a craze for service”.

“I do not deal in opinions but only in thoughts, in which there can be give and take.”

Vinoba never criticized Gandhi, but often questioned his ideas. He tested Gandhi. “Had he been found wanting, I would not have stayed.” Indeed, when in doubt, Gandhi consulted Vinoba who was “untainted by politics”.

Vinoba took Gandhi’s programme to the next level.“Though we are small men we can stand on the shoulders of giants like the Buddha and Gandhi and perhaps see a little farther.”

Once India was an independent democracy, Vinoba could see no need of non-violent resistance. Instead? “Non-violent Assistance.” The fighter goes to no-mans-land, offers help, willing to die if necessary. He expanded the concept of the Peace Army; one “soldier” for every 5000 population, ready to intervene in case of disturbance.

“I do not want to know your religion or your views, but only what your troubles are. I want to help you get rid of them.”

– Louis Pasteur

Vinoba is most famed (cover Time magazine) for his“Land Gift” movement. He set off on foot walking village to village, rarely staying more than 1 night. After consulting elders, he would approach the wealthiest landlords of the district asking for property to turn over to the village or landless peasants. In this country, few can refuse a truly Holy man.

Vinoba walked 13 years, over 36,000 miles, accepting over 4.4 million acres of land. Admittedly he left behind many problems when he walked on the next day, but the utter simplicity, the scope of this achievement overwhelms me.

Today he would be scheduling appointments with Gates and Turner.

From Vinoba’s we trekked over to the nearby National Leprosy centre. I felt blessed to meet and watch the patients at work. Never have I known such meek, thankful people.

Gandhi destigmatized this disease. The famed poet Parchure was at an advanced stage, considering suicide. Gandhi invited him in, nursing and cleaning his wounds personally.

An army of Indian leprosy social workers then rose up. Rural India of that day was “backwardness, poverty, exploitation, superstition”, “disease all rampant and horrible”, the Director told us over lunch.

Today leprosy is diagnosed early and “cured”(arrested) in an average of 6 months. The children appeared quite normal, to me. They all return home after treatment.

After Gandhi’s death, Vinoba was much involved in the “Centre of Science for Villages”, improving the technologies of village self-sufficiency. They research bee-keeping, compost, solar power, cottage crafts, and the like. There’s even a toilet museum!

Out here in the middle of nowhere you’ll find the modern Kasturba Gandhi hospital and medical school. It’s amazing what has bloomed around these 2 ashrams.

Vinoba was much influenced by his pious mother. Once a “sturdy” beggar came to the door. He got an equal portion of the prepared dinner. When Vinoba protested, she asked, “Who are we to judge who is worthy and who is unworthy? I must regard every person who knocks as God.”

He was never able to convincingly refute that idea.

Gandhi once advised him to “use a magnifying glass to inspect other people’s good qualities and your own faults”. But, later, Vinoba decided to pay no attention to faults in others or in himself. “Good is God.”

“Live affectionately together” was his message. At his ashram he added a 12th vow, “Speak ill of no other person”.

Vinoba’s ashram was modeled on Gandhi’s, a benevolent dictatorship. But Vinoba came to feel this was a weakness. “Problems started as soon as Bapu closed his eyes.”

Vinoba withdrew his guidance, asking his Sadhaks to do what “collectively and unanimously decide, putting aside those proposals, for now, on which there is no agreement.” The 31 inmates, today, mostly women, still decision-make this way.

Vinoba wrote. He wanted to pass on what he had gathered, “Whether it proves to be true knowledge, or some kind of ignorance which I have mistaken for knowledge.” His final book draft he referred to as“Half-formed Mutterings”. But someone published it as “A Nosegay of Thoughts”.

Friendship was important to Vinoba. Gandhi had taught that all are equal, no one should be “special”, not even spouse and children.

But Vinoba recited the names of 1000 friends and colleagues, like the 1000 Names of God, as a prayer each day, just to bring them to mind.

I like that.

Half-formed McMutterings:

The socialist governments of the Nehru clan were not effective, even in India. The consumer’s paradise I envision — highest quality, lowest cost, available when and where needed — can eventually be delivered by the free market.

If, then, enough people evolve to adopt voluntary simplicity that — coupled with the efficiencies of a competitive market place — would provide plenty enough for all. And a surplus to start cleaning-up the planet.

ZPG is essential. That can come with education.

Social activism is essential. We need more Vinobas, not more government welfare.

Philanthropy is essential. Gandhi counted generousmerchant princes among his closest friends. Actually I trust Bill Gates to invest more wise than tax and spend governments.

Dreaming on.

Alpatma McCharles