Ravi shankar Maharaj Biography

Ravi Shankar Vyas was born on 25th February, 1884 in the village of Mosal Radhu in the Matar Taluka of Kheda District. His family originally hailed from Saraswani village near Mehmedabad. He came from an Audichya Brahmin family, with his father Shivram Vyas being a teacher and his mother Nathiba a housewife. Ravi inherited qualities of honesty, fearlessness, and a willingness to do anything from his father and religiousness and thrift from his mother.

Ravi's education was not exceptional, as he only completed primary school until 6th standard before dropping out to help with farming. He was married to Surajba, but unfortunately his parents passed away at a young age. At 20, Ravi was introduced to the ideology of Arya Samaj through a friend and poet Chhotalal. The teachings of Swami Dayananda, Swami Ramtirtha, and Swami Vivekananda sparked his interest in societal and national issues. The death of revolutionary nationalist Mohanlal Pandya in 1911 also had a profound impact on him.

Ravi shankar Maharaj Biography

Ravi was greatly influenced by the principles of the Arya Samaj and eventually met Gandhi in 1915. After joining Gandhi's freedom and social activism movement, he underwent a significant transformation in his life. The Godhra Political Conference in 1917 and Gandhi's speech at the Nagpur Congress session in 1920 inspired Ravi to dedicate his life to national service, abandoning his home and children in the process. He stopped wearing shoes after his shoes were stolen in 1920, and worked as both the principal and peon of the National School in Sunav. Despite his wife's opposition, he renounced his rights to his ancestral property and joined the Indian freedom struggle in 1921.

In 1922, Gandhi was charged with treason and sentenced to six years in prison, which greatly affected Ravi. Gandhi consoled him and tasked him with serving and reforming the outcast community. Ravi participated in various satyagraha movements and relief efforts, including the Dandi March in 1930. He was one of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel's closest associates, and played a crucial role in organizing the nationalist movement in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s.

Inspired by Vinoba Bhave's foundation work, Ravi Shankar Vyas joined the service of the Patanwadia Commune of the Kheda District, working to reform and awaken the good spirits of thieves and outlaws. His work was immortalized in the book "Mansaina Diwa" by poet Zaverchand Meghani. He worked to spread Gandhi's message throughout villages, playing a key role in pacifying communal riots in Ahmedabad in 1941. Ravi joined the Quit India movement in 1942, resulting in another imprisonment by the British government. After India's independence in 1947, he continued his service activities, including promoting the Bhudan movement and inspiring many to donate their property.