In January, 1959 Vinoba reached Ajmer Sharif during the course of his nationwide tour. He made obeisance at Durgah of Sheikh Salim Chisti. He spoke to the congregation—‘The message of Islam is sublime. It does not discriminate between rich and poor. The charging of interest is forbidden. It provides an ideal framework for democracy. I declare that I am not only Hindu but Muslim and Christian as well.”
While in Kashmir, he received a letter from dacoit Tehsildar Singh who was in line for the hangman’s noose. He wanted to meet Vinoba before dying. Vinoba obliged and it was pointed out that he could inspire the peaceful surrender of Chambal dacoits. Vinoba liked the idea.
He went to the valleys of dacoits and met several dreaded chiefs. His advice resulted in the voluntary surrender by notorious outlaws to the law. The process began on 7 May, 1960.
Vinoba spoke on the dacoit problem—‘No one is born dacoit. Three factors produce outlaws—poverty, spirit of revenge and high handedness of police. The fourth new factor is party politics and elections. Basically dacoits are simple, brave and fearless people. They can be reformed with humane and just treatment and sympathy’.
On 5 August, 1961 Vinoba reached Assam where language riots were flaring up. He tried to douse the inflammed passions with words of wisdom. The people reacted positively. He received 1000 village in Gramdaan.
In 1962, China encroached upon northern frontiers of India. Vinoba condemned China for its betrayal.
In December, 1965 Vinoba met then Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri who was about to leave for Tashkent at the end of the Indo-Pack war to workout a peace treaty. They talked for 90 minutes.
In 1971 India helped Bangladesh gain independence from Pakistani rule. Vinoba himself was against the war but he agreed that the situation was forced on India by the military rulers of Pakistan.
In 1974, India conducted its first nuclear test at Pokhran. Indira Gandhi was the Prime Minister. She was criticized by many. As a Gandhian Vinoba was strictly against nuclear weapons, the symbols of ultimate violence. Vinoba had emotional relationship with Indira and the latter too found solace in his company in her dark hours. Vinoba expressed his faith in Indira and her nationalist policies—‘India has tested a nuclear device but it does not mean that India will manufacture weapons. I am against all weapons. The nuclear power has also great peaceful uses.’
On 26 June, 1975 Indira Gandhi declared ‘emergency’ in the country. Sarvodya leaders like Jaiprakash Narain were arrested and put in jail. Vinoba adopted the posture of ‘Silence’ not because he did not want to comment but because the people were in the habit of twisting statements to their own interests. He thought that the emergency could inculcate the spirit of discipline in the countrymen. But he also knew the fact that the vested interests could use the emergency situation to impose their own arrogance on the country. When he broke his silence a year later, he talked to Indira Gandhi about the fallouts of the situation.
Indira Gandhi held general elections in 1977 following that advice and got routed. The opposition government could not last long. Three years later Indira Gandhi rode back to power on popular sentiment.
Lately, Vinoba was not keeping well. On 5 November, 1982 he suffered heart attack. From 8th November on Vinoba refused to take medicine, water or food.
But miraculously he looked normal which puzzled the doctors. A week later, on 15 November, 1982 he felt difficulty in breathing. The condition worsened and at 9.30 a.m. he stopped breathing totally. His soul had left to meet Gandhiji in heavenly surroundings.
Thus came to an end, the life of the saintly son of India who created new benchmarks in selfless service, discipline, austerity and secular thoughts.
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