Ravishankar Vyas (Aged 100), born on February 25, 1884, in Kheda, Gujarat, India, was a social worker, Indian independence activist, and Gandhian. He was better known as Ravishankar Maharaj. Vyas became an associate of Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 and joined him in his independence and social activism. He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Along with Darbar Gopaldas Desai, Narhari Parikh, and Mohanlal Pandya, he was the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s.
Vyas worked for years for the rehabilitation of the Baraiya and Patanvadiya castes of coastal central Gujarat. He founded Rashtriya Shala (National School) in Sunav village in 1920. Against his wife’s wishes, he left his rights on ancestral property and joined the Indian Independence Movement in 1921. He participated in Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and protested against the Haidiya Tax. He also participated in Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and was imprisoned by the British authorities for six months.
In 1927, he participated in relief work for the flood victims, which earned him recognition. He joined Gandhi in the Salt March in 1930 and was imprisoned for two years. In 1942, he also participated in the Quit India Movement and tried to pacify communal violence in Ahmedabad.
After India gained independence in 1947, Vyas devoted himself to social work. He joined Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan Movement and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In the 1960s, he organized and supported the Sarvodaya Movement. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat would visit him for blessings after taking the oath of office. The memorial dedicated to him is located at Adhyapan Mandir, Vallabh Vidyalaya, Bochasan. He passed away by 1 July 1984, Borsad, Gujarat. India.
Ravishankar Vyas
(1884 – 1984) – (Gujarart)
Ravishankar Vyas (Aged 100), born on February 25, 1884, in Kheda, Gujarat, India, was a social worker, Indian independence activist, and Gandhian. He was better known as Ravishankar Maharaj. Vyas became an associate of Mahatma Gandhi in 1915 and joined him in his independence and social activism. He was one of the earliest and closest associates of Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Along with Darbar Gopaldas Desai, Narhari Parikh, and Mohanlal Pandya, he was the chief organizer of nationalist revolts in Gujarat in the 1920s and 1930s.
Vyas worked for years for the rehabilitation of the Baraiya and Patanvadiya castes of coastal central Gujarat. He founded Rashtriya Shala (National School) in Sunav village in 1920. Against his wife’s wishes, he left his rights on ancestral property and joined the Indian Independence Movement in 1921. He participated in Borsad Satyagraha in 1923 and protested against the Haidiya Tax. He also participated in Bardoli Satyagraha in 1928 and was imprisoned by the British authorities for six months.
In 1927, he participated in relief work for the flood victims, which earned him recognition. He joined Gandhi in the Salt March in 1930 and was imprisoned for two years. In 1942, he also participated in the Quit India Movement and tried to pacify communal violence in Ahmedabad.
After India gained independence in 1947, Vyas devoted himself to social work. He joined Vinoba Bhave in the Bhoodan Movement and travelled 6000 kilometres between 1955 and 1958. In the 1960s, he organized and supported the Sarvodaya Movement. Until his death, it was a tradition that every newly appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat would visit him for blessings after taking the oath of office. The memorial dedicated to him is located at Adhyapan Mandir, Vallabh Vidyalaya, Bochasan. He passed away by 1 July 1984, Borsad, Gujarat. India.
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