Swami Gopal Das

Swami Gopal Das (Hindi:स्वामी गोपाल दास) (1822-1936) was a social worker, educationist, environmentalist and freedom fighter from Churu in Rajasthan state in India.

Childhood

He was born in 1822 in village Bhainrusar situated at a distance of 22 km in north of Churu town in Rajasthan in the family of Chaudhari Binja Ram Kaswan and Smt Nauji Devi. He lost his father in childhood. There was no source of livelihood for her so his mother Nauja Devi came to Churu with Gopal and started his care by doing some labour work.

Came to Churu

Mahant Mukund Das of 'Chhote temple' in Churu provided some support to her mother. Nauja Devi handed over child Gopal to Mahant Mukund Das, who was impressed by the intelligence of the child and sent him to a school run by Pandit Kanhaya Lal Dhandh. Sharp and intelligent, Gopal Das learned the lesson of humanity from a guru and obtained knowledge of Ayurvedic treatment. Looking to talents of Gopal, Mahant Mukund Das declared him his disciple. After death of Mahant Mukund Das, the 19-year Gopal was made the mahanta of Nimbarka sampradaya in his place and became Swami Gopal Das. The personality of Swami Gopal Das was very impressive. He was tall, handsome with well built physique and broad headed wearing khadi dhoti-kurta and turban.

Committed to the welfare of cows

He was all his life committed to the welfare of cow as he considered cow to be an essential part of Indian life and culture. Cows used to suffer greatly during the famine years when Gopal Das arranged fodder and water for cows. There was a 'pinjarapol' (goshala) in Churu, which was at the verge of closure due to insufficient funds. Gopal Das started a fair on 'gopashtami' at this 'pinjarapol' and gave new life to it. The fair is still organized every year.

An environmentalist

He took large chunks of wasteland from the rich Seths of Churu and developed these as pasturelands for the grazing of cows and did extensive plantations. These pasturelands and plantations not only saved the cows but also stopped the expansion of desert. The nearby villagers also got motivated from these works and developed pasturelands in their villages.

Love for tree plantation was there in Swamis from childhood. This becomes clear from his letter written from Sardarshahar to Shri Gigdas to take care of Pipal tree planted by him. It was his efforts that covered the deserted sand dunes with trees. The big trees on both sides of the road from railway station to present Ram temple in Churu town are the result of his hard work and irrigation provided to these trees carrying water over his head.

ocial Services

Swami Gopal Das was a committed social worker. In 1917-1918 Churu was infected by epidemic of plague and malaria. People died in large number. Rest of the people started running out leaving the weak and ill people behind. The town was deserted. The left out people started dying due to no care. There were no people left to even lift the dead persons. At this juncture Swami Gopal Das came to help the left out people by providing food, water and medicines and arranged to lift dead persons for cremation. It became difficult to move around on foot to look after the people so he took a horse and started taking round of the town. The famous poet from Churu Pandit Amolak Chand has written following poetry on the services rendered by Swami Gopal Das during this epdemic in Rajasthani language as under:

:"चूरु शहर में सोर भयो, जद जोर करयो पलेग महामारी ।:लाश पड़ी घर के अन्दर ढक छोड़ चले बंद किवाड़ी ।।:आवत है गोपाल अश्व चढ देखत जहाँ बीमार पड्यो है ।:देत दवा वो दया करके नाथ, अनाथ को नाथ खड्यो है ।।"

The epidemic was so severe that Post and Telegraph services collapsed. Swami Gopal Das arranged the delivery of letters and telegrams to the concerned people. His knowledge of Ayurveda proved a boon at this crisis. With his initiatives and efforts the Ayurveda Vidyapith centers started functioning in Churu.

Public awakening

The social services by Swami Gopal Das were multi dimensional. The Churu area prior to independence was suffering from illiteracy, poverty, famines, and lack of medical facilities. The people were exploited not only by British Raj but also by local Jagirdars. To talk about independence or read a new paper in those days was considered a disloyalty to the crown. Under such circumstances Swami Gopal Das started 'sarvahitkarini sabha' in 1907. The objectives of the sabha were: satya, ahinsa, asteya and brahmcharya. For the first three years he was chairman of the sabha and thereafter minister. The Jagirdars were not happy with the foundation of 'sarvahitkarini sabha' as a result he faced lot of opposition. There was no building of 'sarvahitkarini sabha'. So he vowed that he would not take food till the sabha has its own building. He collected money from various sources for the building of the sabha and survived on fruits only till multi-storied building was ready for the sabha.

He took number of steps to improve the conditions of downtrodden people. To remove untouchability from society, he started 'Kabir pathshala'.

Woman education

Swami Gopal Das believed that woman's education was a first step in the development of society and nation. To spread woman education, first of all, he started a 'sarvahitkaruni putri pathshala'. This institute provided free textbooks to women and also trained them in sewing – weaving so that they can get earnings. This institute provided education to widows also to improve their condition. Later the branches of 'putri pathshalas' were started in neighbouring villages and towns. Taranagar putri pathshala was run by Churu sabha itself.

These initiatives taken by Swami Gopal Das in Rajasthan at a time when even Mahatma Gandhi was not on seen are considered revolutionary. 'Putri pathshala' and 'Kabir pathshala' were considered antireligious activities at that time. On the establishment of putri pathshala, the backward and conservative public had done stone throwing on Swami Gopal Das, but he moved with firmness and was successful in his mission.

Swami Gopal Das raised a voice for compulsory education in Bikaner princely state. The 'sarvahitakarini sabha' in his guidance run a number of libraries, 'putripathshala', 'Kabir pathshala', 'uddyog vardhini sabha', aturalaya and mahilashrama. In addition there were number of constructive activities like shilpshala, sevasadan, anathalaya, goshala etc.

To eradicate social evils sarvahitakarini sabha also took steps like ban on child marriages and old age marriages, ban on use of toxic materials, spread of Hindi and Sanskrit languages etc.

Swami Gopal Das through, sarvahitakarini sabha, also took steps to construct wells, kundas, johars, ponds and renovate old wells and ponds. The works done by sarvahitakarini sabha during famines and epidemics are a landmark in the history of Churu.

The rich Seths of area were very influenced by the honesty and sincerity of Swami Gopal Das. They were ready to provide finances through him. The public park 'Indramani Park' in Churu was established through his efforts. Industrialist J.K.Birla on the initiatives of Swami Gopal Das established the 'Dharmastupa' in Churu. The statues of Krishna, Mahavira and Buddha on this stupa indicate the faith in all religions. Sarvahitakarini sabha did not differentiate between Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Jain.

Freedom fighter

Swami Gopal Das started freedom movement in Churu. He wrote series of articles in magazines on the eradication of social evils and demand for freedom. He invited the national leaders of freedom movement and arranged their lectures in Churu. He started placing photographs of Tilak and Gandhi in public conferences and preached use of swadeshi things. The movement of Swami Gopal Das frightened the princely ruler of Bikaner, who lodged a case of rajadroha against him in 1932 and arrested. He was kept in Bikaner Central Jail for three years. Due to his active involvement in the freedom movement he was elected member of Provincial Congress Committee.

Born in a poor family he had become so revered that the millionaires touched his feet. He was busy throughout his life in the service of the public with no self interest. He died in the month of magha on the banks of river Ganga in 1936.

References

* Dr Mahendra Singh Arya, Dharmpal Singh Dudi, Kishan Singh Faujdar & Vijendra Singh Narwar: Ādhunik Jat Itihasa (The modern history of Jats), Agra 1998

* Parvati Chaudhary: Jat Samaj monthly magazine, Agra, October 1997