Pioneer of Swachh Bharat: tribute to Sant Gadge Maharaj on his 62nd Death anniversary

NewsBharati    20-Dec-2018
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Mumbai, Dec 20: “Gopala, Gopala, Devaki nandan Gopala”, when ever we heard these lines, we remember only one person with broom in hand who is, Sant Gadge Maharaj.
 
 
Sant Gadge Maharaj or Gadge Baba is a pioneer of cleanliness, not only without but also within.
 
 
Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar , popularly known as Sant Gadge Maharaj or Gadge Baba, was a social reformer, a wandering peripatetic mendicant-saint from Maharashtra, one of the greatest modern-day social reformers in India, worked for, and among, the poorest of the poor.
 
 
His reforms and visions for villages in India is still a source of inspiration for various political parties and non-government organizations.
 
 
Maharaj born in Shedgoan village in Amaravati District of Maharashtra, with the childhood of simple Indian villager became pioneer of Swachh Bharat travelled from one place to another with symbol of his aim, broom in hand and piece of earthly pot on head (Gadge in Marathi).
 
 
When he entered any village, he instantly started to clean roads and gutters of the village, especially the streets of “untouchables’ quarters”, singing songs intermingled with his signature slogan, “Gopala! Gopala! Devakinandan Gopala!” (Gopal is another name of Lord Krishna, son of Devaki.) People would join him and very soon the village would wear a clean look. Thereafter, usually after a common, contributory meal that people of all castes and communities ate together, he would gather the villagers for an interactive session of two-three hours at night.
 
 
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 enlighten the people against blind faiths and rituals. He would use Dohas by Saint Kabir.
 
 
When he cleans the villages, villagers gave him money as a symbol of gratitude, he used this money for establishment of educational societies, Dharamshala, hospitals and animals shelter. He educated people against evil practices of society and superstitions.
 
 
He strongly opposed animal sacrifice under the name of religious rituals and brandished campaign against alcohol abuse. He tried to preached the important values of culture like hard work, simple living and strong commitment toward a service of poor.
 
 
He abandoned his family and all belongings for his path. Baba, scholar who studied in the “University of Life”, was a preacher par excellence. He sang bhajans composed by Bhakti saints, Sant Tukaram being his favorite.
 
 
“Cleanliness is Godliness”, he would retort when some people mocked him for mixing bhajans with broom-work.
 
 
Maharaj died on December 20, 1956 on his way to Amravati, on the banks of river Pedhi near Valgaon.
 
 
The Government of India has started a 'Sant Gadgebaba Swachta Abhiyan' in 2000-01 in his honour. This programme awards prizes to villagers, who maintain clean villages.
 
 
The Amaravati University of Maharashtra is named after him.
 
 
Today, in this modern era, the message given by Sant Gadge Maharaj is still work as course to inspire and enlighten the young minds.