Santbal A Saint with a Difference

Author(s): T U Mehta
Publisher: Navjivan Prakashan Mandir

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other persons including Shri Jayantibhai Shah agreed to move with him from village to village in this area.
Dahyabhai described his first meeting with Santbalji as under :
"I had no respect for a Jain Saint. However, when I saw him clad in Khaddar my first inhibition had vanished. Since Juthabhai (person to whom he was expected to submit his survey report) was also serving and respecting him. I felt more reassured. At night I found him explaining Gita. This increased my respect for him." (p. 259 of Smruti Granth, Vol. I.)
When Dahyabhai requested him to move in the villages of Nalkantha, Santbal inquired from him necessary details about the people and their problems. Santbalji agreed to move with him and others in Nalkantha villages.
They had to move bare feet only on thorny foot tracks in the villages which were totally unknown, and hence they encountered untold difficulties, not only of residence, but also of food and sleep. Initially people avoided his prayer meetings and sermons. Santbal and party never missed to visit Harijan Vas attached to villages. This gave one more reason to the illiterate village people to suspect his credentials. Vithalgadh was a small principality in this area. Its Ruler was notorious for his reactionary views and feudal exploitation of his subjects. While the party was proceeding towards Vithalgadh they were required to halt at a nearby village and to pass their night there. However, they were unwelcome guests. No sooner they reached the village Gate, some villagers came armed with sticks and asked them to get out. Reason they gave was that the Ruler had prohibited the entry of Khadi-clad people, who were political agitators, in the village. The sky was cloudy and it had begun to drizzle. It was night time and they did not know where to go. One Chhotubhai who was a member of this party and who subsequently became an ardent
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