Introduction
Vinoba was known as 'the man of the land-gift movement amongst the masses. Often, during Vinoba's walk, as he approached a village, young children would come running towards him and start to walk with him. Vinoba would hold their hands and then start running with the children. There would be a boy on each side of Vinoba holding his hand and the other boys would hold those boys' hands. This would create a row of runners. Eventually, all the people walking with Vinoba would start running. It would look like a marathon. Upon arrival into the village, a welcoming meeting would begin, and the children would sit by Vinoba's feet in a group. Sometimes Vinoba would start chatting with the children. There was a time when the children played a major role. This is what happened: Vinoba: "Do you know why we have come to your village?" Children: "Yes, yes we know. You have come to ask for land." Vinoba: "What will we do with the land?" Children: (in chorus) "Distribute it amongst the poor. Give the land to those people who don't have it." Vinoba: "So, now go home and tell your parents that Vinoba is asking for land for the poor and that you must give land to him. But remember one thing, your parents will say, "Son, we are keeping the land for you, how can we donate that?" Then tell your parents, "Do not worry for us, we will do some other work and earn a living." All the children ran to their homes and in the sight. Some of the children had dragged their fathers with them and all those fathers were donating land to evening meeting, all the villagers saw an extraordinary fulfil their 'children's wish' . In the meeting. Vinoba said, "This is not an ordinary thing. God's will is expressed through the words of the children." There was a similar incident in Bettiah in the state of Bihar. Vinoba had to stay there for a month in the government rest house. People from various fields would visit him throughout the day. A twelve-year-old boy came there every day and sat quietly in a corner. Vinoba, who used to roam in the yard every evening, would see the boy. Once, at the beginning of his walk, Vinoba stopped next to the boy and asked him to stand up. The boy stood up and Vinoba held his hand and continued his walk. Vinoba asked him what his name was and he answered "Mohammed". Vinoba said, "Do you know who Mohammed was?" The boy felt embarrassed and kept quiet. Then Vinoba enquired as to where he lived. The house was close by. Vinoba said, "Let's go to your house". The boy was not too enthusiastic with the idea, but Vinoba had already started walking in that direction. His house was a very humble hut, which was covered with a cloth curtain. The door was closed. Upon arrival the boy loudly said, "Mother, open the door; Vinoba has come." The mother, speaking from inside, said that since the boy's father was not at home she could not open the door. Vinoba turned back. Seeing this, the boy started to cry uncontrollably. Everyone around tried to console him, saying that Vinoba would come back when his father came home. The next day at noon Mohammed brought his father, his burqa-clad mother and baby sister to Vinoba. His father told Vinoba that Mohammed had kept crying the whole time and had even refused to have his meal. Even this morning he would not eat anything. "So then I told him, let all of us go to meet Vinoba Mohammed's face was gleaming with happiness. It was very natural for Vinoba to be friends with children. Today's children can also become friends of Vinoba. But in order to create friendship, we must be introduced and that can be easily done. 11 September 1895 is Vinoba's birthday. This year is his 125th birth anniversary year. The whole year is being celebrated all over India. People from all the provinces of India feel a close affinity towards Vinoba because he traversed on foot the whole of India from Kanyakumari (the southernmost tip of India) to Kashmir (the northernmost part of India) and from Dwarka (on the west coast of India) to Assam (the easternmost region in India). He visited many villages in all the provinces. Not only did he learn the local languages of all the regions but also studied the classical literature of those languages in depth. He knew many verses of the saints from various regions by heart. Everyone felt a close connection with him as he beautifully explained the meanings of those verses. His heart was full of love for all the people of the entire world. His love knew no discrimination of any kind such as religion, caste, language, gender, social status etc. Though he was born in a learned upper caste Brahmin family, his heart knew no discrimination. He did all types of manual labour. He would spend hours digging in the field. There was no device to draw the water or a water pump, so with his colleagues he drew water from the well with a Persian wheel and watered the fields.
About The Book
This is not a complete biography of Vinoba, "The man of the land-gift mission'. It will not acquaint the reader fully with his great work or vast literature. This is just a small introduction, particularly for the new generation, presented with the hope that it will generate interest in Vinoba's life and work.
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