Founding Members of Sarva Seva Sangh and Sarvodaya Samaj 1948
FOUNDING MEMBERS OF SARVA SEVA SANGH AND SARVODAYA SAMAJ 1948
Introduction
Mahatma Gandhi wanted to call a meeting of constructive workers at Sevagram
on 2 February 1948. But he was
assassinated on 30 January 1948 . However
the proposed conference did take place, after a slight deferment from 11-15 March 1948. This finally led to the founding Sarvodaya Samaj and Akhil Bharat Sarva Seva Sangh. The meeting was
attended by 47 persons. In a sense they were the founding members . On the occasion of 75
th anniversary of meeting we are giving brief details of the personalities who
took part in the meeting .
SHRIMAN NARAYAN
AGRAWAL (1912-78)
Gandhian thinker, educationist and Principal of
Govindram Seksaria College of Commerce, Wardha,
Member of Parliament, Planning Commission, Ambassador of India in
Nepal, Governor of Gujarat, President of Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Author of
Gandhian Constitution for Free India , Gandhian Plan of Economic development
for India etc.
BIBI
AMTUS SALAM (1907-85)
Born to Zamindar
Pathan family of Patiala, became daughter and close associate of Gandhi, fasted
with Gandhi for 21 days in Noakhali, described
as “moving spirit behind whatever peace has been
achieved in Noakhali” by Gandhi,established Kasturba Seva Mandir, worked for rehabilitation
of refugees Rajpura
ASHADEVI ARYANAYAKAM (1902-1970)
Educationist, joined Shantiniketan and took up responsibility of looking after girls,
on Gandhi’s call came to
Sevgram took up the work of Basic Education
with her husband E.W. Aryanayakam, accompanied Vinoba Bhave in his Bhoodan Yatra
in West Bengal, leader of Shanti Sena, recipient of Padma Shri Award
E.W.ARYANAYAKAM
(1889-1967)
Educationist, Tamil Christian from Jaffna, Sri Lanka,
education at Edinburgh University, worked for Young Men’s Christian Association in England, Joined Shantiniketan
on Tagore’s invitation and became
his Private Secretary, later took pioneering work of Gandhi’s Basic Education at Sevagram with his wife, Secretary of the Hindustani Talimi Sangh
Erudite scholar, born in Meeca, moved to Calcutta, Edited Urdu weekly, Al-Hilal (“The Crescent”),participated in the Khilafat Movement and civil disobedience movements .Twice elected as President of Indian National Congress in 1923 and 1940. First Education Minister of India. Awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1992
KAMALNAYAN
BAJAJ (1915-72)
Eldest
son of Jamnalal Bajaj, brought up under
guidance of Vinoba Bhave, educated at Cambridge University, participated in Dandi
March, assigned Jamnalal Bajaj’s personal assets to a public charitable trust in the spirit of
trusteeship, leading industrialist , diversified
Bajaj Group , Member, Lok Sabha from
Wardha
RADHAKRISHNA
BAJAJ (1905-2007)
A
nephew of Jamnalal Bajaj, took part in Non-cooperation movement, Jaipur
Satyagraha and Quit India Movement, whole life devoted to constructive work, President,
All India Go-Seva Sangh, contributed to Sarvodaya, Bhoodan, Gramdan movements, actively engaged
in the work of Gram Seva Mandal and Mahila Ashram at Wardha
ACHARYA
VINOBA BHAVE (1895-1982)
Born as Vinaayak Narhari Bhave, fellow worker of Gandhi, chosen by Gandhi as the first individual satyagrahi in 1940, moving spirit of Bhoodan, Gramdan movements, Gandhi’s spiritual heir, renowned scholar and author of numerous books, founded Brahma Vidya Mandir, Wardha, awarded Bharat Ratna posthumously in 1983
HRIDAYNARAYAN CHOUDHURY (1901-72)
By giving
up education participated in non-cooperation movement and satyagraha
movements, went to prison several times,
gave up the legal practice, worked in Gandhi Seva Sangh, Wardha, member of
Bihar Assembly from Darbhanga (North) constituency, Deputy Minister(1957-62), holding
portfolios of Gram Panchayat, cooperative, animal husbandry, agriculture etc
SHANKARRAO DEO (1871-1958)
Congress
leader from Maharashtra, General Secretary of Maharashtra Congress Committee,
participated in non-cooperation and quit India movements, renowned Gandhian, Member Constituent Assembly from Bombay, played an important role in the formation
of the Maharashtra State, initiator of India-China Friendship Yatra of
1951, Secretary of Sarva Seva Sangh
MAGANBHAI P. DESAI (1899-1969)
Magan Bhai Desai Gandhian thinker and educationist, worked at Mahila Ashram Wardha in 1935, Registrar of Gujarat Vidyapith from 1937 to 1961, editor of Harijan and author of number of books, associated with number committees related to Khadi, Hindi, prohibition, Sarvodaya, adult education and Gandhi literature
BHAU DHARMADHIKARI (1899-1998)
Sadashiv
Jagannath Alias Bhau Dharmadhikari left college to join the freedom movement,
went to jail several times, exponent of Gandhian thought, author and translator,
teacher at Tilak Vidyalaya, Nagpur, Secretary of Nagpur Provincial Congress
Committee, Member ,Central Province Assembly, editor of Bhoodan Yajna, active in constructive activities
DADA DHARMADHIKARI (1899-1985)
Shankar Trimbak
Dharmadhikari alias Acharya Dada Dharmadhikari, left college studies to join
Non-Cooperation Movement, actively involved in freedom struggle and imprisoned
three times, taught at Tilak Rashtriya
Shala, Nagpur, participated in Bhoodan movement, fine exponent of Sarvodaya philosophy, author of number of books
including Sarvodaya Darshan
Friend and classmate of Acharya Vinoba Bhave, Convener of historic Sevagram Conference in March 1948, came to Wardha along with Vinoba, second Secretary of Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, served as Secretary of Gandhi Seva Sangh till his death, an expert weaver and engaged in constructive activities
R.R. DIWAKAR (1894-1990)
Noted Gandhian thinker and author of many books,joined non-cooperation movement in 1921,President
of Karnataka P.C.C.,AICC Member, Union Cabinet Minister for information and broadcasting (1948-52) and Governor of Bihar (1952-67),Member
of Constituent Assembly, Nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1962,First
Chairman of Gandhi Peace Foundation,
Delhi
DEVADAS GANDHI (1900-57)
Born in Natal, South Africa , fourth son of
the Gandhi , jailed several times for participation in freedom movement, Managing Editor of The Hindustan
Times, Delhi,President of the All India Newspaper Editors' Conference, trustee
of Central Gandhi Smarak Nidhi and Chairman of Gandhi
Films Committee
PURUSHOTTAM GANDHI (1909-2004)
A grandnephew of Gandhi, son of Narandas K. Gandhi, constructive worker and educationist, devoted to the work of Rashtriyashala, Rajkot originally formed in 1921in the wake of Non cooperation movement, as President of Rashtriyasala contributed towards educational, social service activities and the promotion of Khadi and Village Industries
DR PRAFULLA CHANDRA GHOSH (1891-1983)
Inspired by the speech of Gandhi at Dhaka and
met him later at Calcutta, doctorate in Chemistry
from Calcutta University, joined the Non-cooperation movement in 1921, elected to the Constituent Assembly, took up
constructive work in villages including spinning, the first Chief Minister of
West Bengal
DR ZAKIR HUSAIN (1897-1969)
Prominent educationist and Principal, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, Chairman of the Basic National Education Committee which framed Basic Education policy, President, Hindustani Talimi Sangh, Governor of Bihar (1962-67), Vice President of India, President of India from 13 May 1967 until his death, awarded Bharat Ratna in 1963
Devoted
follower of Gandhi, left his practice as an advocate in 1921, worked closely with
Jamnalal Bajaj and Vinoba Bhave , spearheaded
the work of
khadi, led Gramodyog Sangh and served as
Chairman of All India Charkha Sangh, active
contribution in Bhoodan movement, constructive and sarvodaya activities
Dattatreya Balkrishna Kalelkar alias Kakasaheb Kalelkar worked with Tagore and Gandhi, active role in establishing Gujarat Vidyapith and served as Vice-Chancellor from 1928 to 1935, outstanding scholar, thinker, writer and authentic Gandhi interpreter, member of the Rajya Sabha, Chairman of the Backward Classes Commission, author of many books
RAJKUMARI
AMRIT KAUR (1889-1964)
Member
of royal family of Kapurthala State, educated at Oxford University, ardent
follower of Gandhi, participated in Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement, the
TIME Magazine's Woman of the Year
in 1947, Member of Constituent Assembly, India's first Health
Minister, elected President of World Health Assembly
Distinguished
lawyer, participated in Non cooperation movement, Salt Satyagraha and Quit India
movement and went to jail, first Chief Minister of Bombay State, India's
High Commissioner in Britain (1952-54), Chairman of the Official Language
Commission, instrumental in establishment of Pune University ,awarded Padma Vibhushan in 1954
ACHARYA J.B. KRIPALANI (1888-1982)
Jivatram Bhagwandas
Kripalani popularly known as Acharya
Kripalani, ardent disciple of Gandhi, began career as a teacher, actively
involved in freedom struggle, General Secretary /President of Indian
National Congress, Member of Lok Sabha, author
of several books, including Gandhi: His Life and Thought, strongly
denounced Indira Gandhi’s authoritarian rule
SUCHETA KRIPALANI (1908-74)
Began
career as a teacher in Banaras Hindu University, active in Quit
India Movement, married to Acharya Kripalani, worked closely with Gandhi during
the Partition riots, in charge, Women's Department, A.I.C.C., Member, Congress
Working Committee, Member, Lok Sabha, Constituent Assembly, first female Chief
Minister of Uttar Pradesh
JAINENDRA KUMAR (1905-88)
Creative
writer and interpreter of Gandhian vision, active in non-cooperation movement
and imprisoned for involvement in freedom struggle, renowned litterateur of
Hindi and received Sahitya Akademi Award and Fellowship, author of
many works including 'Akal Purush Gandhi', awarded Padma Bhushan,
honorary degree of D. Litt by Delhi University
JOSEPH CORNELIUS KUMARAPPA (1892-1960)
Gandhian
Economist who followed the footsteps of Gandhi, did Bachelor’s in Business
Administration of Syracuse University and Masters from Columbia
University, Editor of Young India, Doctor of Village Industries described
by Gandhi, Secretary of the All-India Village Industries Association, author of
many works including 'Economy of Permanence'
TUKDOJI
MAHARAJ (1909-68)
Manikdev Banduji Ingale, or Tukdoji Maharaj, a national saint
from Maharashtra, author of popular Bhajans, Gandhi liked his bhajans very much, took part
in Quit India Movement and imprisoned, author of Gram Geeta, Founder of All
India Shri Gurudev Seva Mandal for
rural development and village upliftment
HAREKRUSHNA MAHTAB (1899-1987)
Popularly known as Utkal Keshari, participated in Non-Cooperation, Salt Satyagraha and Quit India Movement and imprisoned many times, Chief Minister of Orissa, Governor of Bombay and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Member, Provisional Parliament, 1950—52, Member, First Lok Sabha, 1952—55,Member, Orissa Legislative Assembly, 1956—61
KISHORELAL
MASHRUWALA (1890-1952)
Close
associate of Gandhi from Sabarmati days,
took active part in Salt Satyagraha ,Quit India Movement, Registrar of Gujarat
Vidyapith from 1923-24, President of Gandhi Seva Sangh from 1934 to 1940 , Editor
of Harijan, author of number of books including
Gandhi and Marx, Gandhi Vichar Dohan
KANTI
MEHTA (1920 - 2007)
Trade
Union activist, left studies to join Freedom Movement
in 1942, organized port and dock workers, and textile workers, leader of Indian National Trades Union,
associated with the ILO, founder of Institute for
Miners and Metalworkers Education, Puri which later known as Gandhi Labour Foundation
GULZARILAL NANDA (1898-1998)
Professor of Economics at National College, Bombay, joined the Non-Cooperation Movement and other satyagraha struggles and imprisoned, Parliamentary Secretary (Labour and Excise) to Government of Bombay, Labour Minister of the Bombay Government, Union Minister, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, twice the acting Prime Minister of India
JAYAPRAKASH
NARAYAN (1902-79)
Popularly known as Lok
Nayak , educated at Universities in
United States, returned to India in 1929 and joined the Congress, interned
in Nasik Jail in 1932, organized
the Congress Socialist Party, took part in Quit India and Bhoodan Movement, fought against emergency in
1970s, awarded Bharat Ratna in 1999
JAWAHARLAL
NEHRU (1889-1964)
Gandhi’s political heir, world statesman, gave up legal practice to join freedom struggle and rose to the President of the Congress, took active part in Civil Disobedience movements and imprisoned several times, the first Prime Minister and architect of India, author of influential books on history, awarded Bharat Ratna
SUSHILA
PAI (1905-80)
Found in the company of
Dr. Sushila Nayar, Abha Gandhi, Kanu Gandhi, Rajkumari Amrit Kaur along with Gandhi, attended Gandhi personally,
a prominent Gandhian worker, in 1934 became the headmistress of Vanita Vishram
and later the Secretary of Kasturba Memorial Trust, worked in Noakhali district
in 1947
JHAVERBHAI PATEL (1907-1984)
Joined
Gujarat Vidyapith at the age of 22, received Gram Seva Dikshit from Vidaypith at
the hands of Gandhi, went to Wardha in 1936 and joined JC Kumarappa,worked in All
India Village Industries Association,participated in freedom struggle and
imprisoned, contributed to Planning Commission, Khadi Gramodyog Board and ILO
One
of the earliest associates of Gandhi in his first Satyagraha at Champaran,imprisoned
for involvement in freedom struggle, President of the Congress ,Constituent
Assembly, first Union Minister of Agriculture, first President of India, hailed
as 'Desh-ratna', distinguished lawyer, thinker
and writer, awarded Bharat Ratna in 1962
PYARELAL
(1899-1982)
Left studies to join Non cooperation movement
and actively involved in freedom struggle, secretary to Gandhi after Mahadev
Desai's demise, one of the 79 Dandi satyagrahis , Principal
biographer of Gandhi in The Last Phase' and 'The Early Phase 10 volumes . Two volumes were completed by Dr.Sushila
Nayar
VYOHAR
RAJENDRA SINGH (1900-88)
Participated
in freedom struggle and in Bhoodan Movement, prominent Hindi writer and author of several books, Sarvodaya
worker, made significant contribution
towards promotion of Hindi language, and engaged in social service, closely associated
with All India Charkha Sangh, Harijan Sevak Sangh, Bhoodan Yajna Mandal etc
G.RAMACHANDRAN
(1904-95)
Social reformer and teacher from Kerala, met Gandhi in 1921,
during Gandhi's 21 days fast, educated at Shantiniketan,
influenced by both Tagore and Gandhi, Assistant Secretary, Hindustani Talimi
Sangh, , Secretary, All India Gramodyog Sangh, Chairman, Khadi and Village
Industries Commission, founder Vice Chancellor of Gandhigram Rural Institute
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MRIDULA
SARABHAI (1911-74)
Daughter of Ambalal Sarabhai came under the influence of Gandhi at an early age,
participated in Salt Satyagraha ,
SARLA
DEVI SARABHAI (1896-1975)
Wife of Ambalal Sarabhai, associate of Gandhi from 1915 starting with Ahmedabad Mill Workers Strike, contributed towards freedom struggle, prepared women for the boycott of foreign cloth and picketing, member of Kasturba Memorial Committee and engaged in the work of Kasturba Memorial Trust, trustee of Sabarmati Ashram
SWAMI SATYANANDA
Worked
among the Adivasis, concentrated on their health and hygiene, undertook Gram Seva training Gandhi Smarak Nidhi in
1956, founder President of Rajendra Prasad Ashram, organized Gramdan campaign
in adivasi areas, engaged in running Thakkar Bapa Adivasi hostel, Kasturba Mahila Mandal etc. Associated with Sarvodaya
Ashram, Ramgundam, Warangal
MUNNALAL SHAH (1901-74)
Passed BA in 1928 subsequently LLB, participated in Jungle
Satyagraha in 1930-31 and imprisoned , met Gandhi during Sabarmati phase, active in Harijan Campaign, first
resident of Sevagram Ashram, looked after the ashram cottages, village service, engaged in spinning, cleaning, education of
children etc. ,participated in Bhoodan movement
PANDIT SUNDERLAL (1886-1981)
Came in contact with Gandhii in 1915, participated
in Non-cooperation movement and went to jail 9 times during freedom struggle, President
of Provincial Committee of Central Province, member of Working Committee of AICC,
worked ardently for communal harmony and promotion of Hindustani, author of many books
A.V.
THAKKAR (THAKKAR BAPA) (1869-1951)
Trusted
colleague of Gandhi ,Engineer in Bombay Municipality, left the service to join Servants of India Society,
set up the Bhil Seva Sangh in Dohad and adviser to Gandhi on matters pertaining to tribal and
'untouchables' affairs, General Secretary of Harijan Sevak Sangh, Member Constituent Assembly.
KONDA VENKATAPPAYYA (1866-1949)
Noted lawyer, Graduated from Madras Christian College and did B.L., left legal practice to join Indian National Congress, President of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, elected to the Madras Legislative Council and worked as Secretary of the Congress party, very active in political, social and women's welfare work.
For the Proccedings of Conference both in English and Hindi refer the book:
To download the book:
https://archive.org/details/gandhi.gandhiisgonewhow0000gopa
This was compiled and edited by
Dr.Siby K. Joseph,Director,Sri Jamnalal Bajaj Memorial Library and Research Centre for Gandhian Studies,Sevagram Ashram Pratishthan, Sevagram,
Wardha- 442102, Maharashtra (INDIA) on a request from Sarva Seva Sangh Sevagram.
Email: directorjbmlrc@gmail.com
Mob.9822238341 ( WhatsApp)
https://sevagramashram.org.in/index.php/library-and-research-centre/
https://nonvpi.in/
Last Update September 2023
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