Vinoba Bhave was a 20th century Indian activist, social reformer, and spiritual teacher best known for pioneering the Bhoodan Movement. He was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi and joined his ashram in 1916, participating in campaigns for khadi, education, sanitation, and hygiene. As a follower of Gandhi, he took part in nonviolent protests against British rule and was imprisoned. In 1954, he launched the Bhoodan Movement, encouraging wealthy landowners to voluntarily donate land to landless farmers, and later expanded it through the Gramdan movement, seeking donations of entire villages. These movements promoted social justice through voluntary redistribution of wealth and land.

1. Acharya Vinoba Bhave
By
Mr. V. VEERANAN
M.Sc. Computer Science., Dip. in Yoga.,
Government Arts College, Melur – 625 106.

2. Who is Vinoba Bhave?
Mr. V.Veeranan, M.Sc. Computer Science, Dip. in Yoga
Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a nonviolence
activist, freedom activist, social reformer and
spiritual teacher. On 11 September 1895, Vinoba
Bhave was born in Gagode village, Raigad,
Maharashtra.
Often called Acharya (Sanskrit for teacher), he
is best known for the Bhoodan Movement.

3. Association with Mahatma
Gandhi
Mr. V.Veeranan, M.Sc. Computer Science, Dip. in Yoga
He read a newspaper report carrying Mahatma
Gandhi’s speech at the newly founded Benaras
Hindu University, and this inspired him so much
that he burnt his school and college certificates
while on his way to Bombay to take his
intermediate examination.
He exchanged letters with Gandhi before
meeting him at the latter’s ashram in Ahmedabad
in 1916.
There, he quit his formal education and
involved himself in teaching and various
constructive programmes of Gandhi related to
Khadi, education, sanitation, hygiene, etc.,

4. Role in Freedom Struggle
Mr. V.Veeranan, M.Sc. Computer Science, Dip. in Yoga
He took part in nonviolent agitations the British
government, for which he was imprisoned.
He was chosen by Gandhi as the first
individual Satyagrhi in a nonviolent movement in
the year 1940. After this event, the unknown
Vinoba Bhave became known to the whole country.
He worked towards eliminating social
inequities. He started the Sarvodaya Movement
which meant “Progrees for all”.
He also created the Brahma Vidya Mandir
which was a small community of women enabling
them to become self-sufficient.

5. Bhoodan Movement
Mr. V.Veeranan, M.Sc. Computer Science, Dip. in Yoga
Bhoodan literally means a donation of land.
As imlied by the name, in this movement, landlords
voluntarily give up land to be distributed to
landless labourers, who would then cultivate the
land.
This is aimed at reducing the gap between the
rich and the poor. Here, the land donors are not
gives any compensation.
In 1954, he started the Gramdan movement
which involved the voluntary donation of whole
villages.
These movements attracted worldwide
admiration for being stellar examples of voluntary
social justice.

6. Mr. V.Veeranan, M.Sc. Computer Science, Dip. in Yoga