Gandhiji used to call his place ‘Satyagraha Ashram.’ For some time Vinayak stayed on in the ashram. Then, an irresistible desire to learn Sanskrit seized him. He consulted Gandhiji about it and asked for a year’s break. Gandhiji agreed. There was also the fact that lately Vinayak had not been keeping well. He left ashram and went to Vai, village of his ancestors. It was a kind of his personal pilgrimage connect with forefathers.
At Vai’s Pragya school Vinayak studied ancient Sanskrit scriptures from Narain Shastri Marathe. One of the scriptures was ‘Brahmasutra’. For six months he toiled over ancient books. The next six months he spent travelling to various villages of Maharashtra. He followed some strict rules during his wandering. Generally he would stay at a village for 3 days during which he gave discourses on Geeta.
All through he lived the life of an ascetic and never indulged into leisurely acts. He ate just enough to stay alive. The extremely frugal life never deterred him. Infact, it gave him great satisfaction. During that period he often wrote to Gandhiji reporting his activities. A letter dated 10 February, 1918 reads—
Reverenced Bapuji,
Months ago I had left Satyagraha Ashram due to illness. Then, I had hoped a 2-3 month stay at Vai would put me back to normal health and I would be able to return to you. But I am still wandering. You must be wondering and having doubts if I would return to you at all or stay alive.
I must admit that I am myself is to be blamed for all this. I had written a couple of letters to Mama Fadke requesting him to let me know if Satyagraha was to be started. If it were to I would at once report to the ashram leaving everything else. Otherwise I would return only on the completion of one year after satisfying the hunger for which I am away from you.
I have left the ashram, even that doubt has taken root because of me because I am not in the habit of writing daily reports. But I do want to reiterate that Satyagraha Ashram lives in my heart. Wherever I may be I strictly adhere to its regulations. I have infact, build up a faith that I am just born for the ashram. So, why should I stay away from it for one whole year?
When I was a ten year old lad I had taken a vow to serve the country remaining celibate all my life. Then I went to high school where I was taken over by the interest in Geeta. My father allowed me to take French as the second language. My love for Geeta remained alit. So, I tried to learn Sanskrit at home on my own to understand Gita in its original form. I also wanted to study Vedanta and Tatvagyan. With your kind permission I got admitted into you ashram. At the same time I found an opportunity to learn Vedanta.
The celibate Sanskrit scholar of Vai, Sh. Narain Shastri Marathe teaches Vedanta and other scriptures to students. From him I also learnt Upanishads. Those were the lures that kept me in Vai for more time than justified. Let me reveal what I did there—
I studied Vedanta, Upanishads, Geeta, Brahmasutra, Shankara Bhashya, Manu Smriti, Patanjali Yog Darshan etc. In addition to them I also delved into Nyaya Sutra, Vaisheshik Sutra and Yagvalkya Smriti.
Now I have no wish to learn more. I will do self-study whatever. The second objective at Vai was the recovery of health, the primary reason. About it—
For regaining health, first I started with about 15 kms long walks. Then I began to grind 2-3 kgs. of grains on the manual stone mill. Today I do regularly 300 Surya Namaskars and walks. My health has improved.
In respect of diet, after first six months I gave up eating salt. No spices. I took a vow never again to consume salt and spices in life. Started drinking milk. After a lot of experimentation I found that milk could not be done without. Still if it is possible I will be ready to give it up too. I lived one month on milk, bananas and lemons. My current food intake per day is as under—
Milk (about ¼ litre), coarse grain bread-2 (about 20 gms), bananas 4-5 and lemon-one. After return to ashram I will fix my diet as per your advice.
Besides the above I don’t feel like eating anything. Some times the above diet also looks richly. The total cost of above diet is less than Rs. 3/-. I will look forward to your advice if any change is required.
My other activities have been—
Geeta class—I taught six students free, the message of the holy book.
Gyaneshwari—The class had 4 students.
Upanishads—Two students attended this class.
Hindi Preaching—I am not proficient in Hindi myself. Still I encouraged my pupil to read Hindi newspapers regularly.
English—Taught two pupil.
Travel—Walked 400 miles (640 kms) on foot so far visiting the historic forts of Rajgarh, Singhgarh, Tarangarh etc. in the course.
Discourses—During stop overs I kept giving talks to the folks on the messages of Geeta. So far gave 50 discourses. From here I will go to Bombay before taking train to Ahmedabad to join you in Satyagraha Ashram.
Library—At Vai I set up a club named ‘Vidyarthi Mandal’ and added a library to it. To run it I started a class of grinding on stone mills. I and 15 students used to work on the mills to raise fund for the books. We would charge paisa for per two seers (1 kg) of grains. The earning went to the library. We were able to buy 400 book in this way. Even boys of rich families attended my classes. There were many people who thought us fools or crazies.
Preaching—I preached the noble values of Satyagraha Ashram.
Old Friends—I have some 10-15 friend in Baroda. They were also very keen for social service works. Three years ago we had set up a club to work for the spread of the mother tongue. I had gone in the annual meeting of the club and proposed an agenda to popularise Hindi.
I have full faith that the club will do good work. It will willing prove to be helpful in your efforts to spread Hindi as common language.
Lastly, as a faithful of Satyagraha Ashram must account for my personal conduct regarding frugal and disciplined living.
I have taken following vows which I am abiding by—
l Taste Fast—As already mentioned I have totally given up salt and spices in my food.
l Frugality—The only possessions I got is—wooden plate, an ashram bowl, loin, blanket and some books. I have taken a vow not to wear vest, coat, cap etc. If needed I wrap my upper body also with the loin.
l Truth, Non-violence and Celibacy—I am avowed to uphold them and in my knowledge I have done nothing to violate them.
What more should I say? I dream and a thought comes that God will use me in some service. With full faith and conviction I can say that my life is ruled by the spirit of your ashram except in one respect. Ashram stays with me as my guiding principle in everyday life. Ashram is my life and goal. The one exception I mentioned is that of cooking food. I tried to cook myself but it didn’t work.
If some Satyagraha or movement is to be started I will present myself at once at only one command from you. Otherwise I will come to you as written above.
There, what changes have taken place at the ashram? How many students are there? What changes should I make in my diet? Will dearly like to know from you.
Please do write to me yourself. It is the request of Vinayak who considers you like father.
I will leave this village in 2-3 days time.
Greetings from
Vinoba
Sometime after joining Satyagraha Ashram the inmates had began calling Vinayak ‘Vinoba’. Infact the inmates were very impressed by the simple saintly lifestyle of young Vinayak. Maharashtra had a long tradition of throwing up saintly figures of sants and mahatmas and babas who greatly influenced the society and created legions of followers. Some inmates of the ashram thought that in young Vinayak they had yet another saint in the making. So, they began to call him ‘Vinoba’ which had a saintly ring to it. Thus, Vinayak became Vinoba.
Vinoba’s letter so excited Gandhiji that he could not help exclaiming, “Gorakh gets the Machchhandara!” (Indian proverbial equivalent of the English ‘David kills Goliath’)
It was Gandhiji’s spontaneous acclamation of Vinoba’s achievements. The youngman’s spirit of sacrifice and the self discipline was incredible. In Vinoba he could visualise a future crusader for non-violence and satyagraha. He at once sat down to write a letter to Vinoba which read as under—
‘What special mission I give you, I don’t know yet. Your love and character drowns me in an attachment. I am incapable of putting you through a test. You have put yourself on your own through a severe testing process. I accept the result and proudly accept father title for your sake. You have fulfilled my yearning.
My belief is that a true father produces a son better in character than himself. A true son is one who improves on the deeds of his father. If his father is truthful, kind and resolute then he must reflect those special qualities in himself. You have done it yourself, so it looks to me.
You have done it because of my inspiration, does not appear so. Hence the status of father you bestow on me, I will take it as your loving gift. I will try to be true to that status. If I act like Hiranyakashipu you shall disregard me respectfully.
It is true that while away from here you have truly lived the ashram discipline. As for your coming back to me, I never had any doubt about it.
Your letters were read out to me by Mama Fadke. God bless you a long life and may you be used in the service of the country Hind, so I wish.
I don’t think you should make any change in your diet regimen. Don’t give up milk yet. Not only that if necessary increase milk intake.
Currently satyagraha is not needed. Yes, we do need honest and learned preachers. It is possible that we might have to start satyagraha in ‘Khera’. Presently I am just a trotter. In a day or two I will go to Delhi. Rest when you come back.
All here wish to see you back.
Bapu’s blessings
Vinoba had made a special place in the heart of Gandhiji with his ascetic discipline. The other inmates of Satyagraha Ashram also loved and respected him as a special one.
Later, Gandhiji spoke about Vinoba overwhelmed by his deeds, “This is a great man. I feel that I have had good relations with Maharashtrians and Madrasis. Madrasis are now not there but no Maharashtrian has ever disappointed me. And among them this Vinoba is simply too much of a good thing!”
