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On September 11, 2025, Prime Minister paid homage to Acharya Vinoba Bhave, highlighting his role as a spiritual leader, social reformer, and pioneer of the Bhoodan Movement.
 
Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a renowned Indian philosopher, social reformer, and freedom fighter, best known for his leadership of the Bhoodan (land donation) movement and for being a spiritual successor to Mahatma Gandhi.
 
Early Life and Spiritual Inspiration

• Born as Vinayak Narahar Bhave on 11 September 1895 in Maharashtra, Vinoba was deeply influenced by spiritual texts like the Bhagavad Gita, which shaped his philosophical outlook.
• In 1916, inspired by Gandhi’s ideals, he gave up formal education to join Gandhi’s Kochrab Ashram.

Role in Indian Freedom Movement

• Vinoba was closely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, participating in various constructive programs including promotion of Khadi, village industries, education, and sanitation.
• Gandhi selected Vinoba as the first Satyagrahi in the Individual Satyagraha campaign of 1940, marking his prominence as a nonviolent protester against British rule.
• He participated in the Civil Disobedience and Quit India Movements, facing multiple arrests during his activism.

Bhoodan and Social Reform

• Vinoba’s most significant contribution was the Bhoodan Movement, started in 1951 at Pochampally, urging landowners to donate land to the landless poor. He walked extensively across India, collecting over 4.2 million acres for redistribution.
• This movement later expanded to Gramdan (village donation) and Jeevandan (life donation), achieving donations from over 1,000 villages.
• He founded Brahma Vidya Mandir in Paunar, to empower women and promote nonviolence.

Philosophical Legacy

• Vinoba advocated for nonviolence, equality, and compassion, emphasizing the unity of science and spirituality for the welfare of all (Sarvodaya).
• He translated the Bhagavad Gita into Marathi as Geetai, and his teachings continue to inspire movements for social justice and harmony.

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