Santbal A Saint with a Difference

SR No.: 001181
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir
Publication Year: 1996
Total Pages: 152
Language: English
Classification: Book_English & Biography
File Size: 9 MB

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Mandal. (Association for Prohibition of Alccolic drinks). He was very anxious to see that the members of the Scheduled Tribes (Adivasis) were made free from addiction of alcohol. But this was not possible so long as old jaggery which was widely used for distillation in breweries was available in plenty. So he talked about this problem to Santbalji when he visited Madhi and emphasised that the sale of old jaggery should be stopped in the
area.
After the evening prayers were over, it was customary for Santbal to give a small discourse on the current social problems. His prayer meeting at Madhi was very well attended and during the discourse which followed, Santbalji thanked the citizens for the warm welcome given to him. But he also said that he was expecting something more from them. So saying, he talked about the evils generated by alcohol addiction and the necessity to fight against alcoholism. After stating this effectively he pointed out how the sale of old dirty smelling jaggery which was unfit for human consumption was being sold in the area for the purpose of distillation and how those who were dealing in the trade of such jaggery were helping liquor intoxication. He said he was begging "Bhiksha” of quite a different type from them to prevent them from trading in unconsumable jaggery.
This appeal had good effect on the audience. One merchant got up and said that he was taking vow not to sell jaggery which was used for distillation. Rest of the audience welcomed this by resounding clappings of hands. Soon other merchants followed. One Parsee gentleman who was doing the business of transport of such jaggery took vow not to transport the same. One merchant who was selling liquor actually manufactured from jaggery stood up and vowed not to trade in it. This changed the whole atmosphere. Jugatrambhai was overjoyed.
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