Gadge Maharaj (23 February 1876 - 20 December 1956; also known as Sant Gadge Maharaj or Sant Gadge Baba) was an Indian mendicant-saint and social reformer from the Indian state of Maharashtra. He lived in voluntary poverty and wandered to different villages promoting social justice and initiating reforms, especially related to sanitation. He is still revered by the common people in India and remains a source of inspiration for various political parties and non-government organizations.[1]
His original name was Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar. He was born in Shendgaon village in present-day Anjangaon Surji Taluka in Amravati District of Maharashtra to a Dhobi family.[2][3][a] A public teacher, he travelled from one place to another wearing his food pan upturned on his head and carrying his trademark broom. When he entered a village, he would instantly start cleaning the gutters and roads of the village. He also told the citizens of the village that their congratulations would have to wait until his work was done. Villagers gave him money, babaji used that for progress of physical as well as thinking of society. From the obtained money, Maharaj built educational institutions, dharmashalas, hospitals and animal shelters.
He conducted his discourses in the form of "Kirtans" in which he would emphasize values like service to humanity and compassion. During his Kirtans, he would educate people against blind faiths and rituals. He would use Dohas (couplets of a song) by Saint Kabir in his discourses.[citation needed]
He exhorted people to stop animal sacrifice as part of religious rituals and campaigned against vices such as alcohol abuse.
He tried to embody the values that he preached: hard work, simple living and selfless service to the poor. He abandoned his family (a wife and three children) to pursue this path.[4]
Maharaj met the spiritual teacher Meher Baba several times. Meher Baba indicated that Maharaj was one of his favourite saints[5] and that Maharaj was on the sixth plane of consciousness.[6] Maharaj invited Meher Baba to Pandharpur, India, and on 6 November 1954 thousands of people had Maharaj and Meher Baba's darshan.[7]
Gadge Baba highly influenced Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. The reason for this was that the social reform work he was doing by preaching to the people through his "kirtan", Dr. Ambedkar was doing the same through politics. Gadge Baba was also impressed by Babasaheb's personality and work. Gaadge Baba had donated the building of his hostel at Pandharpur to the People’s Education Society founded by Dr Ambedkar. He used to cite the example of Ambedkar while urging the people to get educated. "Look, how Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar became such a learned man by dint of sheer hard work. Education is not the monopoly of any class or caste. The son of a poor man can also obtain many degrees." Gadge Baba had met Ambedkar many times. Ambedkar used to meet him frequently and discuss social reform. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar had described him as the greatest servant of the people after Jyotirao Phule.[8][9][10]
Maharaj died on 20 December 1956 on his way to Amravati, on the banks of river Pedhi near Walgaon.[citation needed] The Government of Maharashtra started the Sant Gadge baba Gram Swachata Abhiyan project in 2000-01 in his honour. This programme awards prizes to villagers, who maintain clean villages.[citation needed] In addition, the Government of India instituted a National Award for Sanitation and Water in his honour.[citation needed] The University of Amravati has also been named in his honour.
HonorsEdit
Gadge Maharaj on a 1998 stamp of India
The postal department of India had honored Gadge Maharaj by issuing a commemorative stamp in his name.[11][12]
NotesEdit
^quote on page 138:Gadge Maharaj or Gadge Baba(1876-1956) was born in a family of the Washerman caste in the district of Daryapur, not too far from the town of Riddhipur in Gautam Raul lived seven centuries earlier
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gadge Maharaj.
ReferencesEdit
^Kulkarni, Sudheendra (24 February 2015). "An icon for Swachh Bharat: To sustain the abhiyan, we should draw inspiration from beloved saint-reformers like Sant Gadge Maharaj". The Indian Express. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
^. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
^Milton Israel and N.K.Wagle, ed. (1987). Religion and Society in Maharashtra. Center for South Asian Studies, University of Toronto, Canada.
^G.N. Dandekar (2009). Shree Gadge Maharaj. Translated by P.J. Godbole. Published by Mrunmayee Prakashan.
^Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher. 14. Myrtle Beach: Manifestation, Inc. pp. 4924.
^Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher. 1. Myrtle Beach: Manifestation, Inc. p.190.
^Kalchuri, Bhau (1986). Meher Prabhu: Lord Meher. 13. Myrtle Beach: Manifestation, Inc. pp. 4571-77.
gadge, maharaj, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, september, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Gadge Maharaj news newspapers books scholar JSTOR September 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gadge Maharaj 23 February 1876 20 December 1956 also known as Sant Gadge Maharaj or Sant Gadge Baba was an Indian mendicant saint and social reformer from the Indian state of Maharashtra He lived in voluntary poverty and wandered to different villages promoting social justice and initiating reforms especially related to sanitation He is still revered by the common people in India and remains a source of inspiration for various political parties and non government organizations 1 Gadge MaharajBornDebuji Zhingraji Janorkar 1876 02 23 23 February 1876Shendgaon Berar Province British India now in Maharashtra India Died20 December 1956 1956 12 20 aged 80 Walgaon Maharashtra IndiaMain interestsReligion kirtans ethics Contents 1 Life and career 2 Relation with Ambedkar 3 Death and legacy 4 Honors 5 Notes 6 External links 7 ReferencesLife and career EditHis original name was Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar He was born in Shendgaon village in present day Anjangaon Surji Taluka in Amravati District of Maharashtra to a Dhobi family 2 3 a A public teacher he travelled from one place to another wearing his food pan upturned on his head and carrying his trademark broom When he entered a village he would instantly start cleaning the gutters and roads of the village He also told the citizens of the village that their congratulations would have to wait until his work was done Villagers gave him money babaji used that for progress of physical as well as thinking of society From the obtained money Maharaj built educational institutions dharmashalas hospitals and animal shelters He conducted his discourses in the form of Kirtans in which he would emphasize values like service to humanity and compassion During his Kirtans he would educate people against blind faiths and rituals He would use Dohas couplets of a song by Saint Kabir in his discourses citation needed He exhorted people to stop animal sacrifice as part of religious rituals and campaigned against vices such as alcohol abuse He tried to embody the values that he preached hard work simple living and selfless service to the poor He abandoned his family a wife and three children to pursue this path 4 Maharaj met the spiritual teacher Meher Baba several times Meher Baba indicated that Maharaj was one of his favourite saints 5 and that Maharaj was on the sixth plane of consciousness 6 Maharaj invited Meher Baba to Pandharpur India and on 6 November 1954 thousands of people had Maharaj and Meher Baba s darshan 7 Relation with Ambedkar Edit nbsp B R Ambedkar Bhaurao Patil with Gadge MaharajGadge Baba highly influenced Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar The reason for this was that the social reform work he was doing by preaching to the people through his kirtan Dr Ambedkar was doing the same through politics Gadge Baba was also impressed by Babasaheb s personality and work Gaadge Baba had donated the building of his hostel at Pandharpur to the People s Education Society founded by Dr Ambedkar He used to cite the example of Ambedkar while urging the people to get educated Look how Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar became such a learned man by dint of sheer hard work Education is not the monopoly of any class or caste The son of a poor man can also obtain many degrees Gadge Baba had met Ambedkar many times Ambedkar used to meet him frequently and discuss social reform Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had described him as the greatest servant of the people after Jyotirao Phule 8 9 10 Death and legacy Edit nbsp Gadge Baba Statue NagpurMaharaj died on 20 December 1956 on his way to Amravati on the banks of river Pedhi near Walgaon citation needed The Government of Maharashtra started the Sant Gadge baba Gram Swachata Abhiyan project in 2000 01 in his honour This programme awards prizes to villagers who maintain clean villages citation needed In addition the Government of India instituted a National Award for Sanitation and Water in his honour citation needed The University of Amravati has also been named in his honour Honors Edit nbsp Gadge Maharaj on a 1998 stamp of IndiaThe postal department of India had honored Gadge Maharaj by issuing a commemorative stamp in his name 11 12 Notes Edit quote on page 138 Gadge Maharaj or Gadge Baba 1876 1956 was born in a family of the Washerman caste in the district of Daryapur not too far from the town of Riddhipur in Gautam Raul lived seven centuries earlierExternal links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gadge Maharaj References Edit Kulkarni Sudheendra 24 February 2015 An icon for Swachh Bharat To sustain the abhiyan we should draw inspiration from beloved saint reformers like Sant Gadge Maharaj The Indian Express Retrieved 10 February 2018 Gadge Baba s Family Background Archived from the original on 16 February 2018 Retrieved 15 February 2018 Milton Israel and N K Wagle ed 1987 Religion and Society in Maharashtra Center for South Asian Studies University of Toronto Canada G N Dandekar 2009 Shree Gadge Maharaj Translated by P J Godbole Published by Mrunmayee Prakashan Kalchuri Bhau 1986 Meher Prabhu Lord Meher 14 Myrtle Beach Manifestation Inc pp 4924 Kalchuri Bhau 1986 Meher Prabhu Lord Meher 1 Myrtle Beach Manifestation Inc p 190 Kalchuri Bhau 1986 Meher Prabhu Lord Meher 13 Myrtle Beach Manifestation Inc pp 4571 77 Sant Gaadge Baba and Dr Ambedkar https www forwardpress in 2017 02 sant gaadge baba and dr ambedkar amp Gadge Baba and Quest For Social Justice https velivada com 2020 02 24 gadge baba and quest for social justice https manovikasprakashan com index php route product product amp product id 1052 Gadge Baba and Quest For Social Justice https velivada com 2020 02 24 gadge baba and quest for social justice Sant Gaadge Baba and Dr Ambedkar https www forwardpress in 2017 02 sant gaadge baba and dr ambedkar amp12 Prabodhan Pandharicha Krantirak Sant Gadgebaba Santosh Arsod https manovikasprakashan com index php route product product amp product id 1052 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gadge Maharaj amp oldid 1144947457, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
