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Santbalji thereafter moved in Surat District, at many places such as, Vyara, Navapur, Chinchpada, Khatgaon, Khandbara, Raigad and Khapar. Every where he made similar appeals and got very good response.
A reference is made above to the two volumes written by Manibhai Patel about the daily notes taken by him during the course of the Saint's journey from place to place. Following events which are very significant in knowing Santbal's personality and views are taken from these notes.
Fight against Untouchability:
Santbalji never missed to visit Harijan Vas of every village which he visited and always emphasised that casteism and untouchability are the vices from which Indian Society should be free. In 1947 when he visited village Unava he went for "Gochari" (receiving food offerings) to Harijan Vas and accepted food from Harijan families. His only limitation in accepting food was that the person offering food should be completely vegetarian and non-alcoholic. If these two conditions were fulfilled there was no objection on the ground of caste, creed or religion. The Harijan families from whom he received Bhiksha at Unava were fulfiling these conditions. But when the village people knew that the Saint had taken Bhiksha from Harijans they were greatly agitated and could not stomach his ideas.
From Unava Santbal and party went to village Saradhav. There the villagers has declared boycott of Harijans. The moment the party entered this village, people began to inquire whether they had gone there in support of the movment against untouchability. So when in the prayer meeting of the evening Santbalji began to address against untouchability, there was commotion in the meeting and some body shouted saying that if the Saint was to speak against untouchability he should better go
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| SR No. | 001181 |
| Book Title | Santbal A Saint with a Difference |
| 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 |