Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 73

CHAPTER 7
Some Experiments in Social Reconstruction
Fixation of Reasonable Rates of Paddy :
The ideal for which Santbalji was striving was not merely for social reforms here and there. What he was striving for was Social “reconstruction” based on Ethical Values. In the Forward written by him under the title “Prayogni Bhumika" (the basic experiments) to the book written by his close associate Shri Navalbhai Shah on some important events in his life, under the title Sadhuta- ni Pagdandi (Footsteps of Saintliness), he says :
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“Today our social structure is based principally on crass materialism. It is obvious that exploitation, narrow selfishness, injustice by hyprocricy and many other anti-social activities are the inevitable fruits of the society which is based on materialism. It is, therefore, necessary that the whole social structure is reconstructed on a ethical basis so that the social virtues of justice, selflessness and insistence on truth can flourish.
"Today we are giving undue importance to material conforts of life. This may be all right for humdrums of common-place living. However, if we take into consideration many other requirements of a purposeful life, we do feel that our greatest requirement is the
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