Thakurdas Bang (Aged 96), born in 1917, was an Indian Gandhian philosopher and economist who played an active role in the Indian independence movement. He continued to practice and promote Gandhism and Gandhian philosophy even at the age of 95, and was actively involved in Khadi and Sarvodaya movements. As an economics professor at G S College of Commerce, he motivated many students, including Madhukarrao Chaudhari, Justice Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari, and Ramakrushna Bajaj, to participate in the freedom struggle.
Bang was succeeded by his sons, Abhay Bang and Ashok Bang. Ashok chose to work on farming-related issues, while Abhay decided to work for the health of villagers. Abhay and his wife Rani Bang founded SEARCH (the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), a non-profit organization in Gadchiroli that provides rural health services and conducts research.
When bang decided to pursue his career as an economist in the US, he sought Mahatma Gandhi’s blessings. Gandhi advised him with a single sentence, “If you want to study economics, don’t go to the US; go to the villages of India.” This meeting with Gandhi transformed Bang’s life, and he started working with his students in Indian villages, studying the economics of farmers by living like them.
After deciding to stay in India to study village economics, he became involved in movements such as Bhoodan (land donation to landless) and Gramdan (village commune) movements. Being a follower of Jayaprakash Narayan, he joined him in the Sarvodaya movement along with other prominent leaders across the country. He also supported Narayan’s call for non-violent resistance during the Sino-Indian War in 1962. Bang passed away on 27 January 2013.
Thakurdas Bang
(1917 – 2013) – (Maharashtra)
Thakurdas Bang (Aged 96), born in 1917, was an Indian Gandhian philosopher and economist who played an active role in the Indian independence movement. He continued to practice and promote Gandhism and Gandhian philosophy even at the age of 95, and was actively involved in Khadi and Sarvodaya movements. As an economics professor at G S College of Commerce, he motivated many students, including Madhukarrao Chaudhari, Justice Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari, and Ramakrushna Bajaj, to participate in the freedom struggle.
Bang was succeeded by his sons, Abhay Bang and Ashok Bang. Ashok chose to work on farming-related issues, while Abhay decided to work for the health of villagers. Abhay and his wife Rani Bang founded SEARCH (the Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), a non-profit organization in Gadchiroli that provides rural health services and conducts research.
When bang decided to pursue his career as an economist in the US, he sought Mahatma Gandhi’s blessings. Gandhi advised him with a single sentence, “If you want to study economics, don’t go to the US; go to the villages of India.” This meeting with Gandhi transformed Bang’s life, and he started working with his students in Indian villages, studying the economics of farmers by living like them.
After deciding to stay in India to study village economics, he became involved in movements such as Bhoodan (land donation to landless) and Gramdan (village commune) movements. Being a follower of Jayaprakash Narayan, he joined him in the Sarvodaya movement along with other prominent leaders across the country. He also supported Narayan’s call for non-violent resistance during the Sino-Indian War in 1962. Bang passed away on 27 January 2013.
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