Gadge Maharaj

Debuji Zhingraji Janorkar (Devanagiri : संत गाडगे बाबा) (February 13, 1876 - December 20, 1956), popularly known as Sant Gadge Maharaj or Gadge Baba was a saintly social reformer, a wandering mendicant who held weekly festivals with the help of his disciples across Maharashtra. His reforms and visions for villages in India is still a source of inspiration for various political parties and non-government organizations.

Gadge Baba was born in Shedgaon village in Amaravati District of Maharashtra in a washerman's family. A public teacher, he traveled from one place to another wearing his food pan upturned on his head and carrying his trademark broom. When he entered a village, he would instantly start cleaning the gutters and roads of the village. He also told the citizens of the village that their congratulations would have to wait until his work was done. In return the villagers gave money to Baba. From this money Gadge Baba built educational institutions, dharmasalas, hospitals and animal shelters. He conducted his discourses in the form of "Kirtans" (a form of discourse which includes devotional songs by Saints) in which he would emphasize values like service to humanity and compassion. During his kirtans he would educate people against blind faiths and rituals. He would use Dohas (couplets of a song) by Saint Kabir in his discourses.

Gadge Baba died on December 20, 1956 on his way to Amravati, on the banks of river Pedhi near Valgaon.

Legacy

The State Government of Maharashtra runs a village cleanliness programme named after him. The University of Amravati was renamed as the Sant Gadge Baba University.

References

* [http://www.mahawssd.gov.in/sgb/StudyofSgb.htm Government of Maharashtra Article]
* [http://www.ctcraze.com/amravati.htm Amravati Information]
* [http://www.goodnewsindia.com/Pages/content/transitions/gmAbhiyan.html GoodNewsIndia]