Santbal A Saint with a Difference

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

Page 90

Then distinguishing between violent and non-violent revolution, he says :
“Every type of revolution demands sacrifice. A violent revolution is full of blood-shed and therein there is a strong tendency to suck the blood of the opponent. However, a nonviolent revolution is made by sacrificing one's own blood and sweat. Violent revolution involves means foul and fair while nonviolent revolution involves sacrifice which is voluntary.” (Vide p. 139)
We shall now see by referring to certain incidents how these principles were actually put in practice.
Realisation of Co-operative Societies' Dues :
There was a Co-operative Society for five villages. One of the functions of this Society was to give loans to farmers at the time of sowing season to enable them to purchase seeds and manure. Previously the farmers had to obtain finance for this purposes from local money-lenders and pay heavy interest. Now the cooperative society was lending money at reasonable rates. Obviously the work of the Society could not go on smoothly, if the loanees did not repay the loan or its instalments in time. For the first three years, the Society had regular recovery of the loans advanced. On the fourth year there were five defaulters, but no steps were taken against them for recovery. This gave inducement to others with the result that in the next year there were as many as thirty-five defaulters covering two villages even though the crop yield for the year was quite good. The leaders of the Society rightly felt that if this defaulting trend was not checked, one of the main objects of the Society would be frustrated.
The question was how to check it ? One way was to take legal proceedings, and it was in fact suggested by some. It was,
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